Underwriting Manager

Jobtailor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a Senior Director of Group Benefits Underwriting in Toronto to lead underwriting strategy for health, life, and disability coverages. You will steer a team, set risk appetite, and partner with carriers to maintain profitability and competitiveness.

Responsibilities include mentoring underwriters, refining guidelines, analyzing data, and communicating with clients and brokers. This role demands strong leadership and strategic vision in a dynamic market.

Qualifications

• 5+ years relevant experience in group benefits underwriting.
• Post-secondary education is an asset; industry certifications are advantageous.
• Proven understanding of group benefits underwriting with increasing responsibilities.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills for underwriting decisions.
• Excellent communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee underwriting process for group benefits products including health, life, disability.
• Evaluate applications using guidelines to ensure profitability and competitiveness.
• Lead a team evaluating risks and setting coverage levels and premiums.
• Collaborate with carriers to set competitive premium rates.
• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
• Develop and refine underwriting guidelines and policies.
• Maintain relationships with clients, brokers, and partners.
• Coach and train staff; manage sales incentives and goals.
• Provide underwriting support during client presentations and meetings.
• Monitor performance and report trends to senior management.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Education

Post-secondary education asset

Industry certifications advantageous

Tools

Underwriting software

Data analysis tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Oversee the underwriting process for group benefits products, including group health, life, disability, and related coverages
• Evaluate applications using underwriting guidelines, policies, and principles to ensure profitability and competitiveness
• Manage team evaluation of risks associated with group insurance applications
• Review group data, claims history, medical information, and other relevant factors to determine coverage levels and premium rates
• Collaborate with carriers to set competitive and sustainable premium rates
• Drive continuous process improvement to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience
• Develop and refine underwriting guidelines and policies based on industry trends, competitive analysis, and company objectives
• Maintain relationships with clients, brokers, and partners
• Identify new business opportunities through networking and referrals
• Manage and train sales staff; implement sales incentive programs and goals
• Educate BBD and Partner Solutions about underwriting processes and third-party administrator capabilities and limitations
• Develop innovative solutions to complex problems
• Liaise with Marketing on sales campaigns and strategy
• Collaborate with internal departments to strengthen relationships and confidence with Supplier Partners
• Represent client needs internally
• Set team goals and objectives with the VP, Distribution TPA+
• Provide underwriting support during client presentations and meetings; address stakeholder inquiries
• Use data analytics and reporting tools to monitor performance, trends, and metrics; generate reports for senior management
• Hold the team accountable for objectives and goals
• Coach the team to anticipate customer needs and provide appropriate products and services
• Report successes and improvement areas
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging risks
• Complete a small number of quotes and participate in negotiations and resolutions
• Guide day-to-day Underwriting team activities
• Conduct training sessions on product knowledge and industry expertise
• Support employee performance, development, and career progression
• Foster manager-employee dialogue regarding expectations, progress, accomplishments, compensation, and development
• Promote high performance and team cohesion
• Ensure staff comply with industry codes of conduct, securities laws and regulations, and BBD operating and HR policies

Requirements

• 5+ years relevant experience or similar role
• Post-secondary education an asset; Industry certifications are advantageous
• Proven understanding group benefits underwriting, with a track record of progressively increasing responsibilities
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team of underwriters
• In-depth knowledge of group insurance products, underwriting principles, and risk assessment
• Familiarity with insurance regulations and compliance requirements specific to group benefits
• Analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to make sound underwriting decisions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams, clients, and brokers
• Strong conflict resolution ability; experience dealing with escalation processes & procedures
• Proficiency with underwriting software, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office suite

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in group benefits underwriting, including risk assessment, compliance with insurance regulations, and the development of underwriting guidelines. Proven ability to lead and develop teams while driving process improvements and maintaining strong client relationships.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Group Benefits Underwriting
• Risk Assessment
• Leadership and Team Management
• Underwriting Software Proficiency
• Data Analysis

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Group Insurance Products
• Underwriting Principles
• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Conflict Resolution

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Team Motivation
• Customer Needs Anticipation
• High Performance Promotion

Certifications & Qualifications

• Industry Certifications

Industry Keywords

• Insurance Regulations
• Compliance Requirements
• Group Benefits
• Continuous Process Improvement
• Client Relationship Management

Tools & Technologies

• Underwriting Software
• Data Analysis Tools
• Microsoft Office Suite