The Manager, Group Underwriting is a key leadership role within our growing Group Benefits team, based in Downtown Edmonton and reporting to the Head of Group Benefits. This role is responsible for applying underwriting best practices to evaluate, rate, and negotiate pricing for both new and existing group benefits clients.
As a subject matter expert, the Manager, Group Underwriting will guide underwriting decisions and will collaborate closely with the sales team to ensure competitive and sustainable solutions. This role will also provide coaching, mentorship, and strategic support to sales partners while staying informed on industry trends and legislative changes that influence the group benefits landscape.
Essential Responsibilities:- Evaluate, price, propose rates and strategies for Group Dental, Vision, Prescription Drugs, Other healthcare, Life, AD&D, Critical Illness, and Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance.
- Perform underwriting functions associated with manual and experience rating.
- Analyze information on industry, past claim history and trends, financial conditions, demographics, legislative changes, policy provisions and other standard criteria to calculate renewal rates.
- Manage assigned workload to meet internal productivity and project timelines.
- Understand and communicate region-specific sales strategies and trends to inform sales processes.
- Determines level of risk based on established underwriting guidelines and business risk tolerance levels.
- Negotiates with key stakeholders regarding plan design, deviations, expenses, price, rate guarantees and rate increase capping to attain new business and renew existing business.
- Provides recommendations to manage risk while meeting clients' needs.
- Supports the identification and development of best practices workflows and procedures.
- Maintains knowledge of industry related information, including mental health and wellness initiatives, economic changes, provincial drug plans and updates to legislation.
- Provides guidance, training and mentorship to sales partners and the team regarding quotes, renewals, and related procedures.
- Ensures timely and accurate financial tracking.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Actuarial Sciences, or an equivalent field is required.
- 10+ years of related underwriting experience in the insurance or group benefits industry is required.
- Experience in supervisory capacity is an asset.
- Strong background in data-driven decision-making, underwriting analytics, and portfolio management is required.
- Experience with complex risk assessment, policy pricing, is an asset.
- Experience with regulatory compliance in underwriting in multiple provinces or at a national level is an asset.
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation, Group Benefits Associate (GBA), or Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation, or equivalent is an asset.
- Advanced skill with Microsoft Office (Word/Excel) is required.
- Relocation to the Edmonton area is required as the role is full-time in-person.
- Fluent in English with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is required.
- Fluent in French with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is an asset.
- Successful completion of a credit check, criminal background check, education verification, and employment reference checks is required before employment.
There will be a French and English assessment as a part of the recruitment process for eligible bilingual candidates.
