Lead Wording Specialist - Personal Lines
Date: Dec 8, 2025
Location: North York - Toronto, ON (Hybr, CA Moncton, NB (Hybrid), CA Dartmouth, NS (Hybrid), CA Montreal, QC (Hybrid), CA Calgary, AB (Hybrid), CA Hybrid - Canada, CA Wawanesa, MB (Hybrid), CA Kitchener, ON (Hybrid), CA Ottawa, ON (Hybrid), CA Edmonton, AB (Hybrid), CA Vancouver, BC (Hybrid), CA Winnipeg, MB (Hybrid), CA
Company: Wawanesa Insurance
Job ID: 9604
Employment Type: New Role.
Working Business Language: English. This role is considered a head-office role and will be required to communicate with internal stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language utilized is English.
Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is only one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering that we provide to our employees. In addition to salary, full-time and part-time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top-up programs and provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and pension plan.
The salary offered for this role is determined with consideration to various factors, including but not limited to: your work location, local labour market conditions, external market salary data, internal pay equity and the knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary offered is estimated to be within the following range: $110 000- $125,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply.
About Us
At Wawanesa, we offer a hybrid work environment that offers flexibility to our employees in balancing in-office (2 days per week OR 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations: Winnipeg, MB; Wawanesa, MB; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Lethbridge, AB; Toronto (North York), ON; Kitchener, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Moncton, NB; Dartmouth; NS.
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa Mutual”), founded in 1896, is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,300 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. We are also proud to be recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers. To learn more visit wawanesa.com.
We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience and advancement on a growing team.
Job Overview
The Lead Wording Specialist – Personal Lines is responsible for personal lines auto and property insurance product wordings. This role defines and governs wording standards across personal lines, ensuring clarity, compliance, and competitive positioning. Acting as a strategic leader and subject matter expert, the Lead Wording Specialist influences corporate risk and compliance strategy, represents the company in regulatory and industry forums, and drives wording initiatives that shape customer experience and product integrity.
Job Responsibilities
- Define and lead wording governance framework for personal lines.
- Establish wording standards and best practices that align with corporate risk appetite and strategic objectives.
- Make and defend strategic decisions on wording changes impacting underwriting, claims, and compliance.
- Serve as the primary liaison with regulators and industry associations on policy language matters.
- Represent the company in industry committees and consultations to influence legislative and market practices.
- Monitor and interpret regulatory changes and competitor trends to proactively shape wording strategy.
- Collaborate with internal teams (claims, legal, underwriting, compliance) to ensure wording supports operational and strategic goals.
- Engage external stakeholders, including regulators, industry bodies, and occasionally brokers, to maintain alignment with market standards.
- Oversee audits and reviews of policy wordings to ensure clarity, enforceability, and compliance.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce ambiguity and enhance customer understanding.
- Act as an informal leader and mentor, providing guidance to wording specialists and product teams.
- Develop internal training programs on policy language interpretation and best practices.
Qualifications
- Completion of post-secondary education or relevant professional designation (ie. FCIP, CIP) considered an asset.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in insurance contract drafting and governance.
- Strong understanding of Canadian insurance regulations and industry standards.
- Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives and influence external stakeholders.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills with legal and technical precision.
- Bilingualism in English and French is considered an asset.
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Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
At Wawanesa, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our people – this is supported by having a representative workforce.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including racialized persons, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, gender-diverse and neurodiverse individuals, and anyone who can contribute to the further diversification of thought and ideas.
We aim to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out in confidence to jobs@wawanesa.com.
All Wawanesa job applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy.
Please note that this position may involve the use of AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants. All final decisions are taken or reviewed by human recruiters and human hiring leaders in compliance with all applicable legislation.