Director, Underwriting and Claims Risk Management

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

• $110K — $180K *
US-Anywhere
+ 7 other locationsRemote
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in individual life underwriting across multiple business lines
  • Prior approval authority of $10 million for life and $1 million for critical illness
  • Proficient in AI and models impacting underwriting results
  • Experienced in product development and risk assessment adherence
  • Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic environment
  • Strong statistical and actuarial analysis capabilities
  • Bilingual in French and English required for Quebec

Responsibilities

  • Redesign existing programs to manage mortality and morbidity risk
  • Develop performance management tools for compliance with underwriting guidelines
  • Assess and report on mortality/morbidity experiences to the Corporate Chief Underwriter
  • Provide expertise in complex underwriting cases and make final risk decisions
  • Review Business Unit policies to ensure underwriting compliance
  • Update Director on any non-compliance instances
  • Build relationships with global underwriting and pricing teams for collaborative success
  • Assist in improving methodologies based on risk analysis and findings

Benefits

  • Collaborative and interactive team environment
  • Career development opportunities with continuous learning programs
  • Hybrid work model for flexible working conditions
  • Unique Sabbatical Program for extended time off
  • Recognition as a top workplace in Canada
Full Job Description
Job Description:

Location: hybrid, work from home

The Director of Corporate Underwriting and Claims Risk Management is a high performer in the underwriting risk community who thrives on the challenge of applying innovative problem-solving skills and solutions that align with Sun Life's risk tolerance. As a member of the Corporate Risk team, this person will foster a forward thinking, collaborative, and results oriented mindset within the team and key stakeholders throughout the Sun Life Enterprise. This position is a global risk role and will interact and liaise with risk management teams across the world.

What will you do?
  • Direct and complete activities related to the redesigning of existing programs to manage mortality and morbidity risk as they pertain to the underwriting risk management framework for the enterprise.
  • Develop performance management tools and processes to ensure compliance with the Enterprise Underwriting Operating Guideline.
  • Assess mortality and morbidity experience and report to the Corporate Chief Underwriter with thorough investigation of findings, assessment of any material risk implications, and recommendation for corrective actions.
  • Serve as an expert resource for referral of complex medically underwriting cases and financial underwriting risks. Make final decisions on complex underwriting risks within stated approval authority.•
  • As Second Line of Defense, review and challenge the Business Unit's policies and practices to ensure compliance to the Underwriting Enterprise Operating Guideline.
  • Provide updates to the Director, Risk Controls and Compliance regarding any non-compliances to the UWEOG.
  • Develop strong relationships and partnerships with the Global Underwriting teams, product and pricing teams, Insurance Risk team and internal and external reinsurance partners.
  • Under the direction of the VP, Chief Underwriter, assist in driving changes to methodologies and practices which may present unfavorable mortality/morbidity experience through research, analysis of medical and non-medical risk factors, and presentation of key findings to underwriting leadership.
What do you need to succeed?
  • Minimum 10 years experience as an individual Life Underwriter, underwriting of multiple lines of business or products for multiple distribution channels.
  • Previous life approval authority of $10,000,000 and critical illness approval authority of $1,000,000.
  • Knowledge of and practical application of various risk assessment tools such as AI, risk propensity models, automated underwriting workflows, and various point of sales tools such as direct to consumer, and how they impact mortality/morbidity results as well as a strong understanding of non-medical issues such as fraud.
  • Knowledge of product development practices and concepts and assessment of risk to the organization, adherence to UWEOG and corporate risk appetite.
  • Ability to learn on the fly and with limited knowledge and in a dynamic work environment, as well as take a project from ideation to implementation.
  • Ability to apply underwriting, statistical analysis, mathematical, and actuarial knowledge.
  • Well-developed interpersonal as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and make complex decisions in a risk setting.
  • As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

Reasons why should you join us under the sun
  • A collaborative and interactive team environment.
  • Opportunities to own your career development with programs to continuously learn, build skills, grow through coaching and more.
  • As a hybrid organization, you and your leader use business and Client needs to choose where you work, at home or in the office.
  • Our unique Sabbatical Program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every five years.
  • We are proud to be on the 2026 Best Workplaces in Canada list by Great Place to Work.


The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Salary Range:
110,000/110 000 - 180,000/180 000

Job Category:
Underwriting - Individual

Posting End Date:
09/10/2026

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