AVP, National Accounts Underwriting

The Canada Life Assurance Company • Montreal, QC

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the VP, Underwriting, the AVP, National Accounts Underwriting is accountable for leading a national team of underwriters and driving the profitable growth of the National Accounts segment. This role will champion a high-performance culture grounded in excellence, accountability, and collaboration across a distributed team. The AVP will play a critical role in elevating how we deliver underwriting insight, pricing, and solutions to meet the complex and evolving needs of our largest clients and consulting partners. As a senior leader, you will define and execute strategy, build a high-calibre national underwriting capability, and partner across the Workplace Benefits and Retirement to deliver a differentiated client experience that strengthens retention, drives growth, and positions Canada Life competitively in the marketplace.

Requirements

• 10+ years’ experience in group benefits or related field
• 5+ years’ of leadership experience
• University degree in Finance, Actuarial, Economics, Business / Commerce, or a related field
• Proven talent management and leadership track record, including organizational and individual team member success
• Ability to foster and drive organizational change through innovation and process optimization, change leadership and the development of a strong network of partners
• Enjoys building and fostering meaningful relationships
• Operations and process expertise; previous experience and familiarity with business processes in Group Life & Health
• Deep understanding of underwriting practices and policy development; you understand the linkage between underwriting policy and profitability
• Superior customer service focusing on operational efficiencies and cost effectiveness
• Confidence and competence with key Advisors and consulting houses to drive new business development
• Reliability Status Security Clearance – this can only be completed with candidates who receive an offer of employment. This is a personal security status that is required as a condition of employment before an employee can gain access to Protected B information, assets or work sites as outlined by the Government of Canada website. The cost of submitting these checks will be covered by Canada Life.

Nice To Haves

• CPA, MBA, and FCIA are considered an asset
• Bilingualism is an asset (fluent in French and English) but is required for Quebec only as the position will regularly serve our clients with French and English-speaking needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a geographically dispersed team of underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture focused on engagement, capability building, and succession strength.
• Own the growth agenda for National Accounts, contributing to sales and retention outcomes through disciplined underwriting, innovative solutioning, and strategic decision-making.
• Provide expert guidance on complex, high-value cases, ensuring consistent, high-quality underwriting decisions aligned to risk appetite and profitability targets.
• Leverage deep insights into market dynamics, competitor positioning, and internal performance metrics to shape strategy and inform pricing and risk decisions.
• Build strong, credible relationships with key internal partners including business development, and national consulting houses, influencing outcomes and positioning Canada Life as a preferred partner.
• Contribute to the evolution of underwriting policies and ensure disciplined adherence, providing clarity in interpretation and oversight across the national portfolio.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation in underwriting practices, tools, and processes to enhance efficiency, insight, and client experience.
• Lead the development of tailored strategies and solutions that support and strengthen client retention in a highly competitive segment.
• Identify and address pain points for consultants, and customers, driving improvements that differentiate our offering and enhance ease of doing business.
• Act as a catalyst for change, challenging conventional thinking and advancing new ways of working to strengthen our competitive position.

Benefits

• Opportunities for career advancement
• Access to industry-leading learning programs
• Up to $2,000 annually towards education reimbursement
• Flexible health and dental benefits
• A $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being
• In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Company-matching pension plan
• Share ownership program
• Additional investment options
• Employee recognition programs
• Service milestone celebrations
• Employee discounts
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Mentorship programs
• Social clubs and events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager