Director, Compliance, Risk and Controls

Job ID: 9528 Working Business Language: English; this role is considered a head‑office role and will be required to communicate with internal stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language utilized is 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 are provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and a 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 your knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary offered is estimated to be within the following range: $170,000 – $220,000. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply. About Us: At Wawanesa, we’re proud to 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; Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; Toronto, ON; Kitchener, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Moncton, NB; Dartmouth, NS. The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa Mutual”), founded in 1896, is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada. Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,600 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to communities through charitable donations of more than $3.5 million annually, including over $2 million in support of people on the front lines of climate change. We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and who seek diverse experience and advancement on a growing team. Job Overview The Director, Compliance, Risk and Controls – Personal Lines is the business‑unit compliance officer (BUCO) for Wawanesa’s Personal Lines business. The senior leader is responsible for establishing and overseeing a robust first‑line compliance regime within Wawanesa’s Canadian property and casualty personal lines operations and for overseeing a team focused on supporting the Personal Lines business compliance requirements. The role ensures that business practices align with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk management frameworks. Reporting to the VP, Chief Compliance Officer, and acting as a trusted advisor to the SVP Personal Lines and other operational leaders, the Director drives strategic compliance initiatives, embeds a culture of accountability, and ensures operational resilience through proactive risk mitigation and control oversight. Job Responsibilities Lead the development and execution of first‑line compliance strategies, frameworks, and controls tailored to Personal Lines operations. Member of the senior leadership team, representing Wawanesa on all regulatory and risk control decisions for Personal Lines. Consult Personal Lines team on all regulatory and risk matters, providing recommendations for ELT approval. Design and implement risk‑based compliance programs, including monitoring, testing, and reporting mechanisms. Conduct compliance risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for identified risks. Oversee first‑line testing of controls, analyze results, and ensure timely remediation of deficiencies. Monitor regulatory changes and assess their impact on business operations; lead implementation of required changes. Collaborate with oversight functions and the legal team to ensure alignment on regulatory interpretations and compliance expectations. Champion compliance culture across Personal Lines, promoting ethical conduct and regulatory awareness. Manage compliance‑related communications, attestations, training, and audit support. Lead regulatory remediation and transformation initiatives, ensuring sustainable compliance outcomes. Act as liaison between personal lines operational teams and oversight functions. Provide strategic input into enterprise‑wide compliance and risk programs from a business‑unit perspective. Maintain detailed documentation of compliance activities and prepare reports for senior leadership and regulators. Qualifications University degree in Law, Business Administration, Risk Management, or a related field. Minimum 10 years of experience in compliance, risk management, or governance within the financial services industry. Professional certifications such as CRM, CCEP or equivalent are preferred. Deep understanding of Canadian property and casualty insurance regulations, including OSFI guidelines, provincial insurance acts, and privacy legislation. Proven experience designing and operationalizing first‑line compliance frameworks, including risk identification, control development, monitoring protocols, and issue escalation processes within a large‑scale insurance or financial services environment. Proven ability to lead compliance programs and influence senior stakeholders. Strong analytical skills with experience in risk assessment, control design, and remediation. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; capable of delivering training and facilitating cross‑functional collaboration. Experience with GRC tools, compliance automation, and regulatory change management systems. Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and drive operational excellence. #LI-JB2 Wawanesa is proud to be one of Manitoba’s Top Employers, a Kincentric Best Employer in Canada and a Forbes Best Employer in Canada, recognizing an exceptional place to work. 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. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including racialised 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr