Director, National Accident Benefits Claims - Operations

Job ID: 10244

Employment Type: New Role

Work Environment: 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; Quebec City, QC, Moncton, NB; Dartmouth; NS.

Working Business Language: English. This role is considered a head‑office role and will be required to communicate with internal and external stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language for this role is English.As such, the successful candidate must be fully proficient in 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: $150,000 - $170,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply.

About The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company

Founded in 1896, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, 100% owned by its members, with more than $4.1 billion in annual revenue and $12.5 billion in assets. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Wawanesa is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance solutions throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, a leading national distributor of personal and business insurance. In March of 2026, Wawanesa entered into an agreement to acquire Everest Insurance Company of Canada to strengthen its commercial insurance capabilities and advance its long‑term growth strategy. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.8 million members and we are home to more than 3,000 employees across Canada. The company actively gives back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $4 million annually to charitable organizations, including more than $2 million each year in support of people on the front lines of climate change. Learn more at 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 Director, National Accident Benefits provides strategic and operational leadership for the Accident Benefits claims function, with accountability for performance, consistency, and outcomes. This role ensures the delivery of high‑quality, fair, and consistent claims outcomes aligned with corporate objectives, regulatory requirements, and member expectations. The Director translates enterprise claims strategy into operational plans, performance frameworks, and governance practices. This includes driving consistency, technical excellence, member experience, and financial performance across the Accident Benefit portfolio. This role partners with executive and cross‑functional stakeholders to influence claims strategy, oversee risk, and lead initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, support transformation, and sustain performance across Accident Benefits claims nationally.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Accident Benefits claims function, translating enterprise direction into operational plans, priorities, and performance outcomes.
• Implement and continuously refine claims strategies, policies, and best practices to improve operational effectiveness, technical excellence, and service delivery.
• Align Accident Benefits claims operations to ensure consistent, high‑quality claim outcomes, strong productivity, and exceptional member experience.
• Monitor key performance indicators and claims trends (including quality, cycle time, and financial performance), using data to implement actions to improve efficiency, mitigate risk, and enhance outcomes.
• Responsible for financial performance of the Accident Benefits portfolio, including claims cost management, expense oversight, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Provide effective leadership, coaching, and direction to Claims Managers and/or leaders, building strong leadership capability, succession pipelines, and a high‑performance culture.
• Guide the coordination of workforce planning, talent development, and performance management activities to ensure effective resourcing and capability within the Accident Benefits function.
• Ensure effective governance of claims practices, including oversight of complex, high‑exposure, and litigated claims, while ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Engage and create alignment with Legal, SIU, QA, and other internal stakeholders to ensure consistent application of claims practices, effective risk management, and strong technical outcomes.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as required to support business objectives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Property & Casualty claims experience, including Accident Benefits.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, including leadership of leaders and development of leadership capability.
• Experience leading multiple teams, regions, or a functional claims portfolio.
• Post‑secondary education or equivalent experience.
• Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation required or preferred; advanced designation (e.g., FCIP) considered an asset.
• Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate effectively within a matrix structure.
• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders, build succession pipelines, and foster a high‑performance culture.
• Proven experience in building influential relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to provide steady, effective leadership in complex, high‑pressure environments, while maintaining sound judgment, accountability, and focus on business outcomes.
• Proven ability to drive clarity and eliminate confusion through effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience effectively leading cross‑functional transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong expertise in Accident Benefits legislation, claims management, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting governance, risk management, and litigation practices within a regulated environment.
• Strong financial acumen, including accountability for claims cost performance, expense management, and forecasting
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.

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 the recruitment process for 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.

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