Senior Bilingual Underwriting Consultant

Our Individual Insurance Senior Underwriting Consultants, responsible for the risk management of our Underwriting and Claims operations, are integral to supporting our business growth strategy in the increasingly digital insurance-buying environment, where simple processes and quick decisions are table stakes.  They help design and deliver risk-based monitoring, controls, reporting, and education programs that provide assurance to our Senior Leadership Team, Product Risk Management, and our reinsurers that our underwriting decisions appropriately manage mortality, morbidity, and financial risk and that our systems and processes are aligned to both company policy and regulatory requirements.  They rely on their depth and breadth of underwriting experience, curious nature, drive for continuous learning and improvement, and enthusiasm for using data insights to continuously evolve how we manage risk.

Position Responsibilities:

Risk Management

• Audit underwritten applications to ensure underwriting decisions, correspondence and processing were followed in accordance with established guidelines and policies

• Audit underwriting tools, both internally-developed and vendor-supplied, to ensure decisions and output are within expected, pre-determined ranges

• Monitor new business application and policy change trends for risk indicators and action identified concerns accordingly

• Review potential nondisclosures for contract rescission and assist management with book of business reviews

• Review contestable claims for potential misrepresentation during underwriting

• Provide underwriting subject matter expertise on cases in litigation

• Assist in the oversight of underwriting operational controls to ensure that internal processes are compliant with all Risk, Legal, Regulatory and Privacy requirements

• Support management with underwriting risk assessments and recommendations on new product or business initiatives

Leadership & teamwork

• Lead and/or support risk management programs as assigned

• Recommend training opportunities for staff based on audit learnings

• Provide mentorship to more junior colleagues and serve as a subject matter expert for management

• Coordinate and support management with internal audits

• Liaise with Sales, Compliance, Legal as needed with respect to advisor monitoring and trending

• Build and maintain strong relationships across IIC, Operations, Group Risk, and with other stakeholders such as reinsurers

Reporting & Analysis

• Provide input on and monitor Underwriting and Claims key risk indicators (KRIs) and risk management program key performance indicators (KPIs)

• Analyze audit, claims, rescission, underwriting, and application trends to recommend changes to philosophy, procedures, education program, systems/tools and development of new controls

• Prepare formal reports for senior leaders and external reinsurance partners

Continuous Improvement

• Support management with department education planning and delivery

• Assist management with research projects pertaining to risk assessment and our internal underwriting manual development

• Partner with Advanced Analytics, our internal reporting team members, and other key stakeholders to continually enhance our risk management programs and controls using data-driven insights and methodologies

Required Qualifications:

• 7 or more years of underwriting experience working at high approval limits

• Strong knowledge of Manulife’s Individual Insurance business/products and operations across underwriting, new business, policy service, and claims

• Intermediate or higher experience with MS Office suite including Excel, PowerBI and PowerPoint, with a desire and ability to develop advanced skills

• Curiosity combined with strong analytical skills; ability to define, research and resolve problems

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and work independently under deadlines

• Growth mindset with ability to be flexible and exercise judgment in a changing environment

• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills

• Strong knowledge of medical science, technology and terminology and their impact on mortality and morbidity

• Fully bilingual (French/English): The successful candidate will be required to communicate in English and French in order to support clients from various jurisdictions outside of Quebec.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want. 

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. 

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected].

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [email protected] for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [email protected] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.