Manager of Underwriting Excellence, GS

People Corporation•Toronto, ON

13d

About The Position

The Manager, Underwriting Excellence is responsible for leading the delivery, consistency, and continuous improvement of underwriting operations while supporting the strategic objectives of the Underwriting Department. This role combines technical underwriting expertise, operational leadership, and people management, overseeing a small team of analysts and ensuring high-quality underwriting output across new business, renewals, and special projects. The Manager partners closely with the VP of Underwriting and Pricing, Sales, and Service teams to support revenue growth, operational efficiency, and underwriting excellence across regions, with a strong focus on evaluation, reporting, and process optimization. People Corporation is a national provider of benefits, retirement, wealth, wellness, and human resource solutions, serving over 20,000 clients representing nearly 3 million Canadians. The company offers customized solutions and is committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and clients feel valued, respected, and supported, aiming to build a diverse workforce.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive experience in group benefits underwriting, with demonstrated expertise in pricing, renewals, and plan design
Post-secondary education in business, finance, mathematics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and industry experience
Proven leadership experience managing small teams including coaching, performance management, and capacity planning
Advanced analytical and financial acumen, with strong ability to interpret claims data, loss ratios, and trend analysis to support pricing and profitability decisions
Demonstrated experience managing large and complex blocks of business, including renewal analysis and carrier negotiations
Strong track record in operational excellence, including development of underwriting frameworks, service standards, and performance metrics
Hands-on experience with underwriting tools, automation, and Excel/VBA-based models, driving efficiency and accuracy improvements
Experience leading or supporting strategic initiatives, including system integrations, TPA conversions, and process redesign projects
Strong understanding of governance, controls, and regulatory reporting requirements within the group benefits industry

Nice To Haves

Progress toward or completion of relevant industry designations (e.g., LLQP, CEBS, GBA)

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day directions, coaching, and mentorship
Review and approve work to ensure accuracy, consistency, and quality standards
Manage team workload, prioritization, and capacity planning
Conduct performance evaluations, feedback, and development planning
Identify skill gaps and coordinating training and cross-training initiatives
Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture
Establish and maintain underwriting performance metrics and reporting frameworks
Monitor service levels, turnaround times, and quality benchmarks
Deliver regular reporting and insights to leadership on productivity, workflow efficiency, renewal outcomes, pricing trends, and block performance
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through data analysis
Recommend and implement improvements to processes, tools, and workflows
Support governance through documentation, controls, and audit readiness
Oversee and support delivery of new business quotes, renewal pricing, and plan design analysis
Review complex cases and provide technical guidance
Ensure consistency in underwriting practices across regions
Oversee underwriting tools, pricing models, and automation enhancements, experience reports, renewal documents, and claims analytics
Responsible for all the regulatory reporting with partner carriers
Drive automation of reporting and documentation processes
Partner with IT and Operations to improve data infrastructure
Lead and oversee renewal analysis for major blocks of business
Lead negotiations with insurers and carrier partners to optimize outcomes
Provide strategic recommendations on pricing, pooling, and funding arrangements
Ensure alignment with organizational profitability and growth objectives
Maintain strong relationships with internal teams and carriers
Act as key underwriting contact for complex cases and escalations
Ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines and financial controls
Identify control gaps and recommend improvements
Maintain ownership of team deliverables and SLAs
Lead initiatives for efficiency, standardization, and automation
Support product development and reporting enhancements
Provide regular updates to leadership
Maintain clear prioritization and execution of work
Drive accountability and continuous improvement
Act as a technical leader and mentor
Deliver training and promote best practices
Encourage knowledge sharing and development