Director of Underwriting

Job Overview

A collaborative leader, working with the Regional Vice President, Regional Leadership team and Executive Office, the Director of Underwriting will manage the Commercial/ Personal portfolios in the region in order to achieve targeted performance for both short and long-term goals. Furthermore, they will be responsible for the regional underwriters and implementing the strategic underwriting, pricing and product direction of Personal/ Commercial Lines insurance, including loss control recommendations in their region. The role is directly responsible for customer and broker experience, employee engagement and business results.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage the portfolio Commercial/Personal risks in the Region, to achieve targeted performance for both short- and long-term goals. 
• Maximize technology and optimize process excellence, allowing underwriters the opportunity to perform efficiently and effectively.  
• Evaluate the economic and industry environment in the Region to identify trends or risk management issues that may impact the Region’s ability to achieve goals and influence those risks by working collaboratively with Executive Office.
• Partner with brokers to attract those risks aligned with the underwriting and pricing appetite of the Region and the organisation. 
• Manage both individual and the team  performance through effective personal coaching, engagement in training activities, leadership development of supervisors, fair and frequent performance discussions and annual appraisals.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures including underwriting guides and the effective use of reinsurance. 
• Influence the underwriting culture of the Region and at a national level, supporting the company’s risk appetite and loss control programs.
• Be a champion of change management and a change agent when required. 
• Lead effective hiring of new team members and ensure retention goals are achieved. 
• Analyze portfolio risk and regional underwriting performance with recommendations of an informed course of action to the Regional Vice President and Executive Office. 
• Develop annual Regional operating plans in partnership with the National team   including building regional strategies, operating tactics, target benchmarks and contribute to the development of National strategies and business plans.
• Create the Regional expense budget for Commercial Insurance, including staff numbers and forecasting.
• Ensure a robust succession planning process is in place for the Region.
• Foster positive working relationships with internal and external parties/ brokers, other regional offices and industry associations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of underwriting experience including Commercial Underwriting.
• Post-secondary education and/or completion of a Property and Casualty Industry Designation (FCIP/CIP).
• Exceptional leadership capabilities with the ability to motivate and engage high performing teams while leading change.
• Proficient in the use of technology tools in the underwriting of insurance and working with brokers.  
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to present information or arguments in a convincing manner.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to select, recommend a course of action and implement best solutions. Timely and effective decision-making skills with the ability to provide data to justify action. 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present information in a convincing manner to a large audience.
• Strong customer service and broker management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and monitor progress, to consistently meet and exceed expectations.
• Ability and willingness to travel across Canada and within the Region.

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