Director, Underwriting and Claims Risk Management

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.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Location: hybrid, work from home

The Director of Corporate Underwriting and Claims Risk Management is a high performer in the underwriting risk community who thrives on the challenge of applying innovative problem-solving skills and solutions that align with Sun Life's risk tolerance. As a member of the Corporate Risk team, this person will foster a forward thinking, collaborative, and results oriented mindset within the team and key stakeholders throughout the Sun Life Enterprise. This position is a global risk role and will interact and liaise with risk management teams across the world.

What will you do?

• Direct and complete activities related to the redesigning of existing programs to manage mortality and morbidity risk as they pertain to the underwriting risk management framework for the enterprise.
• Develop performance management tools and processes to ensure compliance with the Enterprise Underwriting Operating Guideline.
• Assess mortality and morbidity experience and report to the Corporate Chief Underwriter with thorough investigation of findings, assessment of any material risk implications, and recommendation for corrective actions.
• Serve as an expert resource for referral of complex medically underwriting cases and financial underwriting risks. Make final decisions on complex underwriting risks within stated approval authority.·
• As Second Line of Defense, review and challenge the Business Unit's policies and practices to ensure compliance to the Underwriting Enterprise Operating Guideline.
• Provide updates to the Director, Risk Controls and Compliance regarding any non-compliances to the UWEOG.
• Develop strong relationships and partnerships with the Global Underwriting teams, product and pricing teams, Insurance Risk team and internal and external reinsurance partners.
• Under the direction of the VP, Chief Underwriter, assist in driving changes to methodologies and practices which may present unfavorable mortality/morbidity experience through research, analysis of medical and non-medical risk factors, and presentation of key findings to underwriting leadership.
  

What do you need to succeed?

• Minimum 10 years experience as an individual Life Underwriter, underwriting of multiple lines of business or products for multiple distribution channels.
• Previous life approval authority of $10,000,000 and critical illness approval authority of $1,000,000.
• Knowledge of and practical application of various risk assessment tools such as AI, risk propensity models, automated underwriting workflows, and various point of sales tools such as direct to consumer, and how they impact mortality/morbidity results as well as a strong understanding of non-medical issues such as fraud.
• Knowledge of product development practices and concepts and assessment of risk to the organization, adherence to UWEOG and corporate risk appetite.
• Ability to learn on the fly and with limited knowledge and in a dynamic work environment, as well as take a project from ideation to implementation.
• Ability to apply underwriting, statistical analysis, mathematical, and actuarial knowledge.
• Well-developed interpersonal as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and make complex decisions in a risk setting.
• As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

Reasons why should you join us under the sun

• A collaborative and interactive team environment.
• Opportunities to own your career development with programs to continuously learn, build skills, grow through coaching and more.
• As a hybrid organization, you and your leader use business and Client needs to choose where you work, at home or in the office.
• Our unique Sabbatical Program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every five years.
• We are proud to be on the 2026 Best Workplaces in Canada list by Great Place to Work.

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

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.

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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