Lead Underwriting Strategist

At Manulife, we are a prominent financial services organization dedicated to simplifying decisions and enhancing the lives of our clients and team members globally. Our commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement reflects our core values, which guide our operations. We believe that when our colleagues are healthy, respected, and meaningfully challenged, we all succeed. Join us to advance your career, make a significant impact, and drive transformative change with our dynamic team.

Work Arrangement

Hybrid

Position Overview

The Opportunity

Manulife's insurance division is a diverse and leading sector that encompasses a top-tier underwriting team. We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic, and customer-focused individual to join our leadership group, overseeing daily operations and enhancing performance through innovative strategies.

Reporting to the Director of Underwriting, the Underwriting Operations Manager will be accountable for operational efficiency and for shaping and supporting our strategic initiatives to deliver timely and cost-effective services.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the service delivery of the Underwriting division, ensuring compliance with established service level agreements, addressing escalated client concerns, and guaranteeing that operations provide substantial value to our clients.
• Take personal responsibility for consistently achieving performance standards and objectives.
• Enhance staff productivity by recruiting and nurturing cohesive, motivated teams, assessing individual and team performance, addressing performance issues, conducting performance reviews, managing recognition programs, and overseeing talent development.
• Provide leadership and technical guidance for staff development, fostering a positive and productive workplace culture.
• Establish and maintain robust internal and external relationships, including delivering presentations to advisors and conducting office visits as necessary.
• Ensure ongoing collaboration and partnerships.
• Collaborate with various teams across locations to maintain quality and service standards.
• Continuously seek opportunities for business improvement and enhanced customer service.

Impact Creation

This role is pivotal in providing overall management direction and in building and leading a successful Underwriting team. Success in this position is achieved through effective recruitment, retention, and development of personnel, along with fostering a workplace that promotes participation, ownership, accountability, innovation, initiative, integrity, and pride in operations.

To excel in this role, you must thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and commit to service excellence by cultivating effective relationships across all organizational levels. As a representative of Manulife's brand, you will embody our values and align with our business strategy and mission.

The Underwriting team comprises 120 professionals handling Individual, Affinity, and Group business, supporting multiple distribution channels including Advisor Services, Managing General Agencies, and National Accounts. The team manages various product lines such as Life, Critical Illness, Disability, Mortgage Creditor, and Health and Dental. Our team is diverse, with members located in various offices and remote settings. The Underwriting team is responsible for risk assessment, experience analysis, and trend projection.

Motivational Factors

• You prioritize customer needs, actively listening, engaging, and acting in their best interest.
• You think innovatively, exploring ways to leverage your agile approach to achieve business results.
• You enjoy teamwork and thrive in collaborative environments.
• You take ownership of challenges and develop solutions focused on key priorities.
• You uphold integrity, doing what is right and advocating for transparency.
• You contribute to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for all.

Qualifications

• Bilingualism is required for candidates in Québec (French/English) to effectively support clients from various jurisdictions.
• Proven leadership capabilities and accountability, particularly in staff development and team engagement.
• Strong understanding of Insurance Products and industry knowledge, with an emphasis on underwriting, particularly in living benefits.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, fostering strong connections with internal and external partners.
• Resilience and adaptability in high-pressure situations and sales deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Capability to work effectively with a remote and geographically diverse team.
• Willingness to engage in problem-solving directly with key stakeholders.
• Strong operational focus.
• Results-oriented mindset.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits packages.
• Opportunities for career growth that encourage you to pursue your passions and acquire new skills.
• A focus on advancing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies promoting a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership training opportunities.

Our Commitment to You

• Values-first culture: We embody our values daily and collaborate to bring them to life.
• Boundless opportunities: We create pathways for learning and growth at every career stage.
• Continuous innovation: We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We cultivate an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship: We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and positively impacts society and the environment.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group dedicated to simplifying decisions and enhancing lives. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Asia, Canada, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. At the end of 2022, we employed over 40,000 individuals and served more than 34 million customers globally.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace diversity and strive to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customer base. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement, and compensation practices, ensuring all programs are administered without discrimination.

We prioritize removing barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will assist applicants requesting reasonable accommodations during the application process. All information shared during this process will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.

Salary & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide range of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and wellness programs. We also provide various retirement savings plans and financial education resources. Our generous paid time off program includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, along with statutory leaves of absence.