Director, Commercial Lines

Join to apply for the Director, Commercial Lines - Liability role at Wawanesa Insurance Job ID: 9601 Employment Type: New Role Working Business Language: English. This role is considered a head-office role and will be required to communicate with internal and external stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language for this role is English. The successful candidate must be fully proficient in English. Salary: 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 the knowledge, skills, experience and anticipated proficiency in the role. The salary range is estimated to be between $180,000 - $210,000 . Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply. About Us: At Wawanesa, we 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 (North York), ON; Kitchener, ON; Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; Quebec City, 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, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life and Western Financial Group. We proudly serve more than 1.7 million members in Canada, with more than 3,300 employees. We donate more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of climate change efforts. We are recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers. Learn more at wawanesa.com. Job Overview: The Director, Commercial Lines Liability Insurance, is a strategic leader responsible for driving underwriting excellence, portfolio performance, and product innovation in commercial liability insurance. This role partners with the VP, Commercial Insurance—Products & Pricing to ensure alignment with Wawanesa’s purpose, values, and business objectives, while fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Responsibilities Lead the development and execution of underwriting strategy, appetite, and governance for commercial liability lines, ensuring decisions reflect prudent risk management and sustainable growth. Monitor market trends, loss ratios, IBNR, leading indicators and emerging risks to inform pricing and product decisions that support members and communities. Champion initiatives to enhance profitability, retention, and growth, collaborating with product, actuarial, and claims teams to deliver innovative solutions. Manage third-party relationships, including reinsurance for legal expense cover, ensuring performance and exploring new opportunities to strengthen offerings. Monitor emerging trends impacting liability Mentor and develop a high-performing team of technical underwriting specialists, fostering accountability, professional growth, and a member-first mindset. Underwriting Governance & Technical Guidance Develop and maintain underwriting guidelines, policy wordings, and risk selection criteria. Provide technical guidance and referral support for complex or high exposure accounts. Ensure underwriting practices comply with internal standards, reinsurance contracts and regulatory requirements. Operational Excellence Identify opportunities for continuous improvements to underwriting systems, workflows, and processes. Oversee underwriting audits and ensure adherence to quality assurance standards. Support enterprise risk management and strategic planning initiatives. Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, reinsurers, industry associations and internal departments (e.g., Claims, Risk Services, Actuarial). Work with Commercial operational VPs to ensure alignment and profitability within these segments. Act as a trusted advisor on relevant transformation initiatives. Represent the company in industry forums and conferences to reinforce thought leadership. Support business development efforts through strategic broker engagement and account planning. Qualifications Minimum 10+ years of experience in commercial liability insurance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role or head office experience. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Risk Management, or related field; advanced degrees or designations (CIP, FCIP, CRM) preferred. Deep knowledge of Canadian commercial insurance markets, regulatory frameworks, and distribution channels. Proven ability to lead teams, manage complex portfolios, and deliver profitable growth. Strong analytical, strategic planning, and decision-making skills. Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities. Preferred Attributes Experience with underwriting automation and digital transformation initiatives. Familiarity with environmental and specialty property risks. Ability to interact with executive leadership and influence strategic direction. Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Belonging We are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and reach out for accommodations during the recruitment process at All applicants are subject to Wawanesa's Privacy Policy. The position may involve the use of AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants, with final decisions reviewed by human recruiters in compliance with applicable legislation. Seniority level: Director Employment type: Other Job function: Business Development and Sales Industries: Insurance Note: This posting contains prospective details and is not a guarantee of employment. Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Wawanesa Insurance." #J-18808-Ljbffr