Manager, Underwriting

Manulife’s insurance business is a dynamic and industry leading area that includes a world-class underwriting organization. The Underwriting team is expanding! We are looking for a high energy, passionate, customer obsessed Manager, Underwriting to join our leadership team to help manage day to day business operations and drive performance through transformation.

To succeed in this role, you need to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and commit to service excellence through building effective relationships across the organization at all levels. As a representative of Manulife’s brand, you will be expected to model our values and understand our business strategy and mission.

Reporting to the Underwriting Managing Director, this role is primarily responsible for operational effectiveness and developing and supporting our strategy to ensure timely, cost-effective service.

The role provides overall management direction as well as building and leading a successful Underwriting team. This is accomplished through effective recruitment, retention and development of staff and the creation of a positive work environment that encourages participation, ownership, responsibility, innovation, initiative, integrity, and a sense of pride in the operations and in Manulife.

This is a hybrid work arrangement which requires the successful candidate to come into office 3 days per week (Tues, Wed, Thurs) to best lead their team.

About the Team

The Underwriting Team is 120 strong consisting of Individual, Affinity, and Group business which supports multiple distribution channels including Advisor Services, Managing General Agencies, and National Accounts. The business services both advisors sold and direct to client markets. Several product lines such as Life, Critical Illness, Disability, Mortgage Creditor, and Health and Dental is handled in the underwriting team.

The team is also diverse in people and location. We have people in all offices as well as Work Smart individuals. The Underwriting team is responsible for risk assessment, analyzing experience, and projecting trends.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage service delivery of the Underwriting area within the established service level agreements, handling escalated customer issues and ensuring the operations provide real value to our customers.
• Take personal ownership of consistently meeting standards and targets.
• Maximize efficiency of staff by recruiting and developing highly cohesive and motivated teams, evaluating individual and team performance, addressing performance related concerns, initiating corrective action, conducting staff performance appraisals, managing reward and recognition, and talent management.
• Provide leadership and technical direction for the development of staff, and the creation of a positive and productive work environment.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external working relationships including presentations to advisors and distribution or office visits when needed.
• Ensure ongoing partnerships and collaboration.
• Work with multiple teams in all locations to ensure quality and service.
• Innovative and always looking for opportunities to continually improve our business and serve our customers.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience along with demonstrated leadership skills and accountabilities including staff development and team engagement.
• Excellent understanding of Insurance Products and Industry knowledge – underwriting background.
• Outstanding relationship skills, building strong relationships with internal and external business partners.
• Resilient and adaptable working under business pressures and sales deadlines.
• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to effectively work with a remote and geographically diverse team.
• Willingness to problem solve directly with key stakeholders.
• Strong operations orientation.
• Results Oriented.
• Presentation skills.
• Dedication to learning and professional development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual (French & English) an asset – If in Québec, the successful candidate must communicate in English and French to support clients from various jurisdictions outside of Quebec.
• University or college degree in a related discipline such as medical, research or financial.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.