AVP/VP, Insurance Program Manager in Toronto

Salary Range: 150,000 CAD to 215,000 CAD Annually

Who We Are: A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance coverages and outstanding service to customers and brokers around the world. We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives and strive to foster an inclusive environment that enables all our team members to bring their best selves to work.

BHSI has an exciting opportunity for an AVP/VP, Program Manager in our Toronto office. As part of the BHSI Canada Programs team, this role will have meaningful ownership of a growing portfolio of commercial insurance programs across Canada, with accountability for underwriting performance, program governance, partner relationships, and the evaluation and execution of new opportunities.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategy, execution, and performance of assigned programs, using underwriting results, premium growth, portfolio mix, loss trends, rate, exposure concentrations, data quality, expenses, commissions, and other relevant indicators to support disciplined, profitable growth.
• Build trusted, productive relationships with Program Administrators, MGAs, brokers, associations, Third-Party Administrators, and other distribution partners to strengthen customer and partner outcomes and create long-term value.
• Identify, evaluate, and advance new program opportunities that align with BHSI’s strategy and underwriting appetite, balancing commercial potential with sound risk selection and operational readiness.
• Lead due diligence for prospective programs by evaluating business plans, historical loss performance, underwriting guidelines, program structure, data and bordereaux, policy forms, operational capabilities, and governance.
• Drive the onboarding of approved programs in partnership with Product, Actuarial, Claims, Legal, Compliance, Operations, IT, and Finance, establishing clear ownership, effective handoffs, and timely execution.
• Establish and maintain program-specific underwriting guidelines, authority levels, referral criteria, audit practices, and controls that promote integrity, consistency, simplicity, and sustainable performance.
• Exercise sound underwriting judgment on referrals outside delegated authority and collaborate with BHSI product-line experts to reach timely, well-supported decisions.
• Lead program strategy, audit, remediation, and renewal reviews, developing recommendations on capacity, underwriting terms, authority, pricing, commission structure, and growth plans based on performance insights.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated commercial property and casualty insurance experience, with the ability to independently manage complex underwriting, program or portfolio responsibilities. Approximately 10+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience with program, MGA, delegated authority or portfolio underwriting models, including evaluating underwriting approach, controls, performance and partner capabilities.
• Strong technical underwriting knowledge in one or more commercial insurance lines, with the ability to work across multiple products and develop expertise in adjacent areas.
• Knowledge of the Canadian commercial insurance market and experience developing productive relationships with brokers, MGAs, Program Administrators, affinity/association partners or comparable distribution partners.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen, including experience interpreting loss information, pricing and rate metrics, bordereaux, portfolio trends, financial results and program economics to support actionable decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence stakeholders, including Product, Actuarial, Claims, Legal, Compliance, Operations, IT and Finance.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience preferred; CIP, FCIP, CPCU or another relevant insurance designation is an asset.
• Ability to travel within Canada and occasionally to the United States as business needs require.

BHSI Offers:

• A competitive package and exciting growth opportunities for career-oriented teammates.
• A dynamic, action oriented, and thoughtful environment centered on always doing the right thing for our customers, teammates, and our other stakeholders.
• Benefits that support your life and well-being, which include: Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision benefits, Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Defined Contribution Pension Plan with Company Match, Generous holiday and Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Parental Leave.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. The base salary range for this position in Toronto, Canada is $150,000 CAD to $215,000 CAD along with annual bonus eligibility. Total compensation for a candidate is determined by relevant skills, location, and experience.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The teammate may perform other related duties as needed to meet the ongoing requirements of the organization.

BHSI complies with Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and has a process in place that provides accommodations for job applicants and teammates with disabilities upon request.