Director of Underwriting and Product Development

Peace Hills Insurance is a growing Canadian insurance company specializing in property and casualty insurance. We have approximately 300 employees with branch offices in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. We are dedicated to providing the best customer service available. Peace Hills Insurance prides itself on being a flexible, positive, and rewarding place to work.

**Director of Underwriting and Product Development**

We currently have an opening for a Director of Underwriting and Product Development. This role is a key member of our Senior Management team and provides strategic leadership in the development, governance, and execution of underwriting products and practices across the organization. Additionally, this role is accountable for shaping and maintaining a forward-looking underwriting framework that ensures product profitability, market relevance, and regulatory compliance and plays a critical role in driving innovation, identifying emerging risk trends, and aligning underwriting solutions with the company’s broader business objectives and growth strategy.

More specifically, the responsibilities would include the following:
**Primary Duties and Responsibilities**
- Serve as the highest non-Executive underwriting referral authority, providing oversight and guidance for the underwriting referral desk to ensure adherence to guidelines and effective decision-making.
- Lead a team of specialists responsible for management and oversight of the product, underwriting processes, commercial rating, and wordings, including collaborating with operations teams to develop resolutions, creating remediation plans, and generating related reports.
- Oversee the development, communication, and maintenance of underwriting guidelines, wordings, and procedures, promoting consistency across branches wherever possible.
- Lead initiatives supporting strategic direction and achieving financial targets, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and efficient implementation.
- Contribute to the development and execution of strategic roadmaps and business planning.
- Analyze initiatives and opportunities comprehensively, providing informed recommendations and action plans to drive results.
- Participate in and contribute to the development of underwriting strategies and business plans.
- Ensure that changes to Personal Lines and Commercial Lines ratings and products comply with various regulatory requirements.
- Engage with and monitor third-party vendors involved in underwriting activities to ensure alignment with organizational standards, compliance, and service quality.
- Maintain an in-depth knowledge of market dynamics, product trends, the competitive landscape, economic changes, and regulatory actions.
- Provide leadership to attract and retain high-quality talent.
- Create an environment that fosters productivity, collaboration, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous learning across the underwriting function.

**Required Qualifications**
- A minimum of 15 years experience within the insurance industry, including a minimum 5 years of leadership experience at the Management Level
- Expert knowledge in P&C products, preferably in both commercial and personal lines
- Demonstrated ability to build efficient and innovative underwriting processes/products
- Experience with project management is an asset
- Advanced knowledge and experience in managing business operations of a P&C insurance company
- Ability to proactively participate in a team environment and be a change leader, while ensuring engagement and alignment of staff
- Exceptional people-management skills are essential with the ability to build strong relationships throughout various levels of the organization and with external broker partners and vendors
- Strong time-management, project management and communication skills
- Proven track record working and collaborating with senior management
- Strong problem analysis and decision-making skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Innovative with the ability to implement new processes, products and adopt technology to support organizational initiatives
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and conflict management skills
- An excellent communicator with high proficiency in listening, writing, verbal communication and consensus building
- Demonstrated initiative and motivation to provide continuous improvement and consistency of company products and procedures

**Working at Peace Hills**

Along with a competitive base pay, Peace Hills understands that by reducing work-life struggles, individuals can enjoy a healthier lifestyle while improving productivity at work. A hybrid work environment may be available.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision care
- Wellness program

Flexible language re