Director, Underwriting

WHO ARE WE?

The GroupHEALTH Family of Companies is a leading Canadian provider of employee benefits, made up of GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions, GroupSource, Manion Wilkins & Associates Ltd, and Disability Management Institute and an additional 7 operating companies.

GroupHEALTH holds substantial controlling interest of the above companies and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Munich Re New Ventures, a division of Munich Re-one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance, and insurance-related risk solutions.

YOUR ROLE

As the Director, Underwriting you will provide strategic leadership, responsible for overseeing the Underwriting Team and driving operational excellence across the department.

Reporting to the Vice President of Underwriting, you will ensure that all underwriting processes, from quote intake to renewals, are efficient, accurate, and aligned with company goals.

You will lead process improvement initiatives, develop team members, and collaborate with senior underwriters and other subject matter experts across department lines to create innovative solutions that balance high closing ratios with appropriate financial outcomes.

You will be an escalation point for special situations that can have significant impacts on the insurance performance of certain groups and will work directly with sales and external Partners in putting together the strategy and the pricing that will get clients across the line, both on quotes & renewals.

You will be involved in the analysis and review of all blocks of business, most with GroupHEALTH, but also involved on the GroupSource business.

With a focus on scalability and continuous improvement, you will play a key role in shaping the underwriting function and driving the overall success of the organization which translates to high sales and high client retention targets.

This position requires strong leadership skills, extensive experience in underwriting or group benefits, and a proven ability to manage complex projects and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.

YOUR IMPACT

• Instill a culture of process improvement and operational excellence within the team..
• Collaborate with other departments to drive cross-functional process improvements.
• Mentor and manage first-level leaders, providing support and guidance to achieve quarterly and annual objectives.
• Contribute to succession planning and leadership development initiatives.
• Hire, train, and evaluate underwriting staff, fostering an environment of continuous development.
• Manage resources effectively to meet departmental goals, particularly around service level agreements (SLAs) and by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Lead projects that drive business strategy and process improvements from initiation through implementation.
• Oversee documentation, training, and communication strategies for new processes.
• Work closely with senior underwriters to develop creative, proactive underwriting solutions that balance high closing ratios and appropriate financial outcomes.
• Lead the development of underwriting guidelines and process best practices for intake, quotes, sold cases, medical underwriting, and renewals.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness in the production of quotes and reports, as well as in the processing of sold groups.
• Collaborate with New Business, Client Service, Finance, and BI teams to ensure data flows correctly into the system and is accurately reflected in business operations.
• Increase underwriting bench strength and contribute to increasing group insurance knowledge across the organization.

WHAT TO EXPECT

First 3 Months :

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Family of Companies (FOC) and the organizational structure.
• Meet with GroupHEALTH leadership and key department heads to understand cross-functional relationships.
• Familiarize yourself with current systems, tools, and processes related to underwriting operations.
• Review ongoing strategic initiatives and evaluate upcoming challenges and opportunities.
• Build relationships with the Munich team for regular operational underwriting reviews.

6 Months :

• Develop and monitor departmental KPIs to track performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Lead two key operational initiatives aimed at improving process efficiency and effectiveness.
• Build a deep understanding of GroupHEALTH's benefits and product offerings.
• Develop working relationships with each line of business to ensure a cohesive approach to underwriting.

12 Months :

• Establish yourself as a leader and mentor within the team, promoting teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Implement process improvement frameworks across underwriting operations.
• Launch an organization-wide initiative promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Execute the strategic business plan and deliver measurable results.
• Becoming a key contributor in the review / analysis of the performance of various blocks of business.

THIS IS YOU

• Bachelor's degree in Bbusiness Aadministration, Actuarial Science, Finance, Risk Management, or a related field; Master's degree or professional certification (such as CEBS, FLMI, or FSA) is strongly preferred.
• 5-8+ years of leadership experience, including managing teams in underwriting, operations, or related fields.
• Proven track record of driving process improvement initiatives and leading large-scale projects in complex organizational environments.
• 5+ years of experience in group benefits, underwriting.
• Strong experience working with CRM systems and familiarity with Agile project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior leadership in strategic decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and working in a data-driven, numbers-focused environment.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

• Comfortable and competitive compensation and benefits.
• Enjoy a minimum of 4 weeks' vacation with our company-wide policy.
• Benefit from flex days to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Engage in wellness programs to support your well-being.
• Grow your skills and knowledge through our employee education program.

YOUR COMPENSATION

At the time of this posting, the estimated annual base salary for this position is $135,000-145,000 . Individual compensation within this range is determined by factors such as job-related skills, relevant experience, and education / training.

This range reflects the annual base salary only and does not encompass our comprehensive total rewards, benefits, and bonuses that we proudly offer.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING FOR GroupHEALTH

Professional Development

We are a fast-growing company and as a result, there are ample opportunities for career growth and professional development when you join our team.

From a transparent promotion structure and defined career paths to a wide range of learning and development opportunities, we do what it takes to invest in your career and help you hone your skills so you can grow alongside us!

Health & Wellness Benefits

We offer a comprehensive array of health and wellness benefits that provide choices so you can tune your benefits plan to fit your unique needs.

Events and Socials

When you join our team, you'll enjoy everything from virtual company-wide teaching and training days, industry events, team social events and much more!