Group Underwriter

First Canadian is a national organization and we are experiencing unprecedented growth!

We aim to hire bright, hard-working people who share our values. We seek employees who are committed to learning, career growth, and opportunity. We take pride in being an organization that our employees support long-term. We believe in our employees and celebrate their success by asking for employee opinions and feedback so that we continue to be a Great Place to Work.

We award our team with the following

• Off work 1 hour early on Fridays.
• Earned Time-Off Program and vacation.
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.
• On-site gym.
• Educational assistance and career development.
• Employee benefits.
• Health and Wellness spending account.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• A Culture Team dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and employee programs.
• Employee recognition and appreciation events.
• French is not required for this role but is an asset, an uplift of 5% is applied after the probationary period for qualified professional level French bilingualism (both spoken and written)

Check out our company page for all the information on why we believe First Canadian is an employer of choice!

If you are motivated to succeed by helping people, then this is the opportunity for you!

The Group Underwriter is a key role within our growing Group Benefits team, based in Downtown Edmonton and reporting to the Manager, Group Underwriting. This role is responsible for applying underwriting best practices to evaluate, rate, and negotiate pricing for both new and existing group benefits clients.

As a developing subject matter expert, the Group Underwriter will support underwriting decisions and will collaborate closely with the sales team to ensure competitive and sustainable solutions. This role will also provide strategic support to sales partners while staying informed on industry trends and legislative changes that influence the group benefits landscape.

Essential Responsibilities

• Evaluate, price, propose rates and strategies for Group Dental, Vision, Prescription Drugs, Other healthcare, Life, AD&D, Critical Illness, and Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance.
• Perform underwriting functions associated with manual and experience rating.
• Analyze information on industry, past claim history and trends, financial conditions, demographics, legislative changes, policy provisions and other standard criteria to calculate renewal rates.
• Manage assigned workload to meet internal productivity and project timelines.
• Understand region-specific sales strategies and trends to inform sales processes.
• Assess level of risk based on established underwriting guidelines and business risk tolerance levels.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to support negotiations related to plan design, deviations, expenses, price, rate guarantees and rate increase capping to attain new business and renew existing business.
• Provides recommendations to reduce risk while meeting clients’ needs.
• Contributes to the identification and development of best practices workflows and procedures.
• Maintains knowledge of industry related information, including mental health and wellness initiatives, economic changes, provincial drug plans and updates to legislation.
• Provides support to sales partners and the team regarding quotes, renewals, and related procedures.
• Ensures timely and accurate financial tracking.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Actuarial Sciences, or an equivalent field is required.
• 2-5 years of related underwriting experience in the insurance or group benefits industry is a strong asset.
• Strong background in data-driven decision-making, underwriting analytics, and portfolio management is required.
• Experience with complex risk assessment, policy pricing, is an asset.
• Experience with regulatory compliance in underwriting in multiple provinces or at a national level is an asset.
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation, Group Benefits Associate (GBA), or Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation, or equivalent is an asset.
• Advanced skill with Microsoft Office (Word/Excel) is required.
• Fluent in English with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is required.
• Fluent in French with proven competencies in verbal and written communication is an asset.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check, education verification, and employment reference checks is required before employment.

Thank you for considering our organization.

If you are bilingual there will be a French and English assessment as a part of the recruitment process.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. Accommodations are available upon request.