AVP, HNW Underwriting

Manulife • Waterloo, ON

61d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a senior member of our Underwriting leadership team, the AVP, High Net Worth Underwriting drives the underwriting experience and risk management in the Canadian segment large case market. Reporting directly to the VP of Underwriting and Claims and Chief Underwriter, this individual liaises with advisors, wholesalers, reinsurers, pricing actuaries, tax and estate planning professionals. They are also responsible for fostering a forward thinking, collaborative, results-oriented environment for professional large case underwriters, underwriting directors and field underwriting consultants through active hands-on leadership. This team supports sales which generates 40 to 50% of annual NRP with premiums ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to multi-million dollar premiums.. Face amounts for cases in this market range from $5,000,000 up to our market capacity of over $280,000,000. The AVP High Net Worth Underwriting will be recognized in the Canadian insurance underwriting community as a high performing underwriting leader who thrives on the challenge of applying innovative problem-solving skills to provide the best of class client onboarding experience.

Requirements

• 10+ years of underwriting experience
• Extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of risk assessment – medical, nonmedical, financial, legal and compliance
• Strong operational management background
• Strong knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of life insurance product features, distribution, retention management, reinsurance and pricing practices
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills
• Sound decision making skills
• Relationship-building
• Exceptional communication at various levels with various internal and external audiences
• Strong financial acumen - understanding of the financial impact of underwriting decisions to the company
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with various levels with the organization
• Excellent presentation skills
• A leader who attracts and retains top talent and has proven leadership skills with high engagement results

Nice To Haves

• Bilingualism (English and French) is a strong asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

Responsibilities

• Provide deep technical leadership and underwriting risk perspective on medical, nonmedical, financial, custom pricing and new business processes
• Lead by inspiring coaching, mentoring, and developing a team of specialists, both current team and future underwriters in the pipeline for large case underwriting
• Maintain a strong reputation as a market leader in High Net Worth cases and be the key contact for Manulife’s High Net Worth advisors
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with advisors including the development and maintenance of customized processes for these advisors and their support staff
• Work independently across pricing, product, customer service and new business functions to ensure consistent experience for advisors
• Influence stakeholders within Cdn Segment to optimize and prioritize HNW service
• Provide senior leaders with information related to pending business in order to estimate the impact of the HNW business on sales and NBEV forecasting
• Work directly with senior leaders on high profile cases
• Stay current on sales concepts, tax changes and market trends to ensure risks accepted align with our values and risk appetite
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with and negotiation skills with reinsurance partners
• Promote excellence and consistency in underwriting risk assessment
• Champion and advocate for a positive and consistent underwriting experience for all clients
• Willingness to challenge existing practices and assumptions and focus on change based on customer and advisor experience
• Provide a consistently high sense of urgency and flexibility in an environment of continual growth and change
• Provide guidance and model resilience in a high-pressured environment
• Keep abreast of underwriting developments, emerging trends and industry practices

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed