Bilingual Director, Advanced Underwriting in Vancouver

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Location: hybrid, work from home

As a Director, Advanced Underwriting, you’ll be joining one of Canada’s top insurers. We’re known for not only our strength in the market, but our commitment to our people. Underwriting goes beyond risk assessments here. We’re focused on making thoughtful, well-informed decisions that provide financial security to Canadians and their loved ones.

By joining Sun Life, you become part of a high-performing team, led by passionate professionals with extensive experience in the field, industry knowledge, and a passion for mentorship. Our continuous learning pathways and skills development opportunities ensure endless growth for you as you advance in your career.

This role will be reporting to our Chief Underwriter and Claims Risk Officer. We’re looking for someone with extensive experience in both medical and financial risk selection. You must be comfortable working with management, product, and reinsurance partners to deliver positive outcomes on challenging files. A commitment to Client-first, proactive communication and partnership with our advisors and distribution team are critical aspects to this role.

Joining our team at Sun Life means you can expect:

• A hybrid working environment, giving you the best parts of in-office collaboration and work from home flexibility
• Flexible Benefits from the day you join, meeting the needs of you and your loved ones
• Our stock ownership program and pension plan give you the chance to invest in Sun Life with company matching opportunities
• An annual bonus based on company and individual performance
• Paid vacation based on experience, 5 care days available for self-care or care of others (e.g. family or others you may support) and 10 personal illness days to support your well-being
• Our unique sabbatical program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every 5 years
• Investment in not-for-profit organizations that are important to you
• Maternity/Paternity top-up program so you can focus on your growing family

What will you do?

• Analyze insurance applications and evidence of insurability
• Apply holistic underwriting expertise in all areas of underwriting including medical, financial and lifestyle factors to make sound and competitive underwriting decisions
• Negotiate decisions with our reinsurers, in accordance with reinsurance treaties and internal rules
• Effectively communicate and explain decisions to advisors and/or Clients’ physicians, as required.
• Build strong relationships with business leaders, distribution teams, and advisors while delivering exceptional service and expertise
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and bring forward recommendations for solutions
• Contribute to a positive environment through teamwork, a spirit of innovation, and professional development
• Attend and participate in regular High Net Worth case reviews to share knowledge and support team development.
• Provide mentorship to other underwriters

What do you need to succeed?

• Decision Making Authority >$10,000,000 + for Life, $1,000,000 of Critical Illness
• Exceptional analytical, judgement, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Client and results focus, proactive service orientation to support our business goals
• Strong knowledge of medical and financial risk factors
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meet tight deadlines and balance completing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with our internal and external partners
• 10-15 years of experience as an Individual Life Underwriter
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Specialized training: ALU certificate and commitment to ongoing education with a goal of attaining the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU) and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designations
• Bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada and worldwide

Other Details

• Some travel and representation at industry and sales events
• We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you.