Underwriting Manager - Individual Insurance

Manulife; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian Insurance provider in Ontario is seeking an Underwriting Manager to lead a team in a dynamic environment. Candidates should have strong leadership skills, technical knowledge in underwriting, and proficiency in both English and French. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary range of $80,700 - $145,260 CAD, alongside flexible working conditions and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Health and dental insurance

Mental health support

Flexible working conditions

Generous paid time off

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in managing and mentoring a team of underwriters.
• Ability to handle complex underwriting issues effectively.
• Proficiency in assessing risk based on data-driven decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A solid understanding of underwriting processes and compliance regulations.
• Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities with innovative approaches to challenges.
• Ability to foster positive relationships with internal and external partners.
• Capacity to work under pressure and meet sales deadlines.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
• Fluency in both English and French to serve diverse clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the underwriting team to achieve high performance.
• Manage daily operations ensuring efficient workflow.
• Ensure compliance with risk management guidelines.
• Collaborate with internal partners to align with business objectives.
• Provide expert guidance on complex underwriting escalations.
• Build strong relationships with advisors and distributors.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Technical Underwriting and Insurance knowledge

Problem Solving Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Resilient and adaptable

Life-long learner

Fully bilingual (French/English)

Job description

Overview

Manulife is a leading Canadian Insurance provider, helping people make decisions easier and lives better. Help shape the future you want to see — and discover that better can take you anywhere you want to go.

The Underwriting team is expanding! We are looking for a high-energy, passionate, customer-obsessed and creative individual to join our leadership team to help manage day-to-day operations and drive performance through transformation.

The Underwriting team is 120 strong, consisting of Individual, Affinity, and Group Insurance which supports multiple distribution channels including advisors sold and direct to client markets. We have a diverse product shelf that supports in the underwriting department such as Life, Critical Illness, Disability, Mortgage Creditor, and Health and Dental. The team is also diverse in people and location.

To succeed in this role, you need to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and commit to service excellence through building effective relationships across the organization as well as our external partners. As a representative of Manulife’s brand, you will be expected to model our values and understand our business strategy and mission.

This is a Hybrid opportunity where you will come into the office Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and can work from home on Monday and Friday.

As an Underwriting Manager you will

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of underwriters to ensure high performance and professional growth, and the creation of a positive and productive work environment

• Manage daily operations of the Underwriting area ensuring efficient workflow and processing of policies.

• Ensure underwriting decisions are consistent with our risk management guidelines and compliance regulations.

• Work closely with our internal partners such as Sales, Operations and Product to ensure alignment to our business objectives.

• Serve as a point of contact for escalations and provide expert guidance in complex underwriting issues

• Build and maintain strong external working relationships with our advisors and distributors including presentations to advisors and distribution or office visits when needed.

• Innovative and always looking for opportunities to continually improve our business and serve our customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership: Ability to lead, mentor and motivate a team to achieve high performance

• Decision making skills: Handle complex underwriting issues and provide direction

• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in assessing risk and making data-driven decisions

• Communication Skills: Written and Verbal communication for interacting with internal and external partners

• Technical Underwriting and Insurance knowledge is an asset

• Problem Solving Skills: Strong problem-solving skills to address underwriting challenges and customer issues, with creative solutions that balance risk and reward

• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external partners, including negotiation, influencing and conflict resolutions to manage escalations

• Resilient and adaptable working under business pressures and sales deadlines

• Life-long learner with a dedication to learning and professional development

• Fully bilingual (French/English): The successful candidate will be required to communicate in English and French in order to support clients from various jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

When you join our team

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit the Manulife site at https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Salary and location

Referenced Salary Location: Canada, Full Time Remote. Working Arrangement: Hybrid. Salary range is expected to be between $80,700.00 CAD - $145,260.00 CAD. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.