Job Description

Date: Aug 19, 2022 Location: Remote - Canada, CA Company: Wawanesa Insurance

We’re proud to give our employees the flexibility to choose how and where they want to work. In this role, you can decide whether your preference is to work from home (remote), work from the office or a hybrid of time spent at both. You may live in and work in any of the following locations: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador and/or the Yukon.
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, founded in 1896, is Canada’s largest mutual insurer, with $3.9 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10.5 billion. Wawanesa Mutual, with executive offices in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa General, which offers property and casualty insurance in California and Oregon; Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada; and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Western Canada. With more than 5,700 employees, Wawanesa proudly serves more than two million policyholders in Canada and the United States. Wawanesa is thrilled to be named one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes for 2022. This certification recognizes us as a leading employer and reinforces that we’re a company that values our people for who they are and the work they do to support our customers, communities, and brokers. Wawanesa is also a Manitoba Top Employer for 2022 recognizing that we are an exceptional place to work. Wawanesa actively gives back to organizations that strengthen communities where it operates, donating well above internationally recognized benchmarks for excellence in corporate philanthropy.
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

Working under minimal supervision, the Senior Underwriter - Specialty Lines is responsible for analyzing the acceptability of complex and high premium business according to company guidelines by working collaboratively with our sales team and providing value added expertise and service to both potential and existing policyholders, in response to quote inquiries, renewal ratings and requests for changes to insurance coverage.
Job Responsibilities

• Perform risk analysis using group underwriting principles and tools as well as external data sources for the purposes of quoting, negotiating, and authorizing the acceptance of risk
• Review complex group insurance requests for quotations and underwriting requirements to evaluate the degree of risk involved through assessment of claim history, occupational hazards, financial background, insurable interest and other information pertinent to the decision, for both the Traditional and Specialty lines of business
• Determine eligibility for policy renewals based on company guidelines and retention targets
• Communicate decisions and respond to brokers, agents, and third party distributors requests in a prompt and professional manner
• Provide excellent customer service and build positive relationships with internal and external clients
• Maintain an excellent understanding of rating procedures, wordings, underwriting policies and regulations
• Act as a subject matter expert on Traditional and Specialty insurance policies, processes, regulations, and audit
• Mentor less experienced team members and plan and present training material and sessions
• Participate in periodic work reviews for quality assurance purposes.
• Support the development and implementation of transformational change.
• Maintain positive working relationships with internal and external parties, including networking at industry events.
• Influence team members in a positive manner and provide short term direction effectively working towards team goals
• Work effectively towards the department Key performance indicator (KPI) goals of the team
• Communicate with reinsurance partners about special situation and additional risk acceptance where appropriate
• Comfortable handling distribution partner relationships
• Perform other duties as assigned
  

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education or related business experience
• Five years of Group/Specialty underwriting experience in progressively senior roles
• Completed Group Benefits Associate (GBA) and actively pursuing Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) Designation
• Advanced understanding of group insurance principles
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to review information carefully and comprehensively
• Strong mathematical, analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify, develop and implement appropriate solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present information in a convincing manner
• Strong time management skills with the ability to handle changing priorities and fluctuating work volumes to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent decision-making skills with the ability to provide justification.
• Ability to multi-task and monitor progress to meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to change and perform effectively under pressure.

Wawanesa provides its employees with a respectful, challenging and rewarding environment where they can maximize their potential while contributing to the company’s goals. Our full-time permanent employees are provided with highly competitive compensation packages (salaries, generous vacation allowance, leave top up, annual bonus plan, premium free benefits and a pension plan). Wawanesa provides a stable environment for its employees in today’s challenging markets.

Wawanesa is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that is equitable and inclusive for all. Wawanesa provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to an individual’s protected status: race/ethnicity, colour, religion, creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, pregnancy/childbirth or related conditions, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected status. Accommodations are available upon request throughout all aspects of the selection process. Candidates requiring accommodations may contact, in confidence, jobs@wawanesa.com.
If you are interested in this exciting, challenging position with Wawanesa, apply today with your Resume.

All Wawanesa job applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy.