Senior Underwriter, Programs & Coverholders in Toronto

Are you an experienced Senior Programs Underwriter ready to take the next step with a growing Delegated team in Toronto? Join us and play a key role in expanding our presence across Canada. What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit among our global community of optimists and problem-solvers.

The opportunity: As a Senior Programs Underwriter on the Delegated team, you will apply strong technical expertise and a market-facing approach to grow and manage a complex delegated portfolio. You will independently underwrite and oversee programs, support referrals, and deliver profitable new business while representing Markel as a trusted partner in the market. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative specialty products and support Markel’s global delegated strategy within a high-performing, collaborative environment. Success requires a customer-focused, analytical, and agile mindset. You will underwrite new and renewal business within delegated authority and guidelines, ensuring disciplined, profitable outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

• Applying underwriting tools for accurate risk classification and pricing.
• Maintaining knowledge of Canadian regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrating expertise in coverage, policy wording, and the application of terms and exclusions.
• Underwriting profitable new and renewal delegated authority business, in accordance with underwriting authority levels, guidelines, and strategy.
• Managing and growing a portfolio of delegated underwriting authority programs, including risk selection, coverage negotiation, pricing adequacy, and referrals.
• Driving new business production by identifying, evaluating, and converting delegated program opportunities with brokers and coverholders.
• Acting as a senior referral point within authority, exercising independent underwriting judgement on complex and material risks.
• Reviewing changes to delegated agreements to ensure alignment with underwriting philosophy, governance, and regulatory expectations.
• Participating in coverholder audits, including preparation, discussion of findings, and follow-up actions.
• Collaborating closely with Actuarial, Claims, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, and Underwriting Leadership to support well-governed, commercially sound programs.
• Participating in claims reviews and utilizing loss trends and market data to inform underwriting decisions.
• Maintaining strong underwriting file documentation standards.
• Building and sustaining strong broker and coverholder relationships, representing Markel as a trusted, senior underwriting partner.
• Contributing to underwriting best practices and supporting the development of less experienced underwriters.

Our must haves:

• 5+ years’ property and casualty underwriting experience.
• Successfully underwritten large programs with a strong background in Property and Casualty Lines.
• Professional Lines experience considered an asset.
• Superior relationship management skills proven through established broker relationships.
• Demonstrated track record of generating new business premium.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable with thinking outside of the box.
• University degree, CIP or FCIP designation is preferred.
• Expertise and depth in policy wordings, forms and applicable coverages.
• Excellent presentation skills, comfortable speaking in front of small and large groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a contributing team member.
• Exceptional time management skills.
• Strong business acumen and capable of representing the organization externally.

If you’re ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you!

What’s in it for you?

• A great starting salary plus annual bonus potential & strong benefits package.
• 20 vacation days plus additional floater days per year.
• Fantastic company RRSP, extended health and dental coverage, life insurance, travel insurance, vision care and wellness initiatives.
• Countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career.