Director, Commercial Lines - Liability

Job : 9601

Employment Type: New Role

Working Business Language: English. This role is considered a head-office role and will be required to communicate with internal and external stakeholders across Canada where the primary business language for this role is English. The successful candidate must be fully proficient in English.

Salary: At Wawanesa, salary is only one component of a holistic, comprehensive and competitive offering that we provide to our employees. In addition to salary, full-time and part-time permanent employees are eligible for an annual bonus plan, leave of absence top-up programs and provided with generous vacation time, personal days, premium free benefits and pension plan. The salary offered for this role is estimated to be within the range: $180,000 - $210,000.

Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are still encouraged to apply.

About Us: At Wawanesa, we offer a hybrid work environment that provides flexibility to balance in‑office (2 days per week OR 15 hours per week in a Wawanesa office) and remote work. You may work from any of the following locations:
Winnipeg, MB;
Vancouver, BC;
Calgary, AB;
Edmonton, AB;
Toronto (North York), ON;
Kitchener, ON;
Ottawa, ON;
Montreal, QC;
Quebec City, QC;
Moncton, NB;
Dartmouth, NS. The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (“Wawanesa Mutual”), founded in 1896, is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue and assets of $10 billion (CAD). Wawanesa Mutual, with its National Headquarters in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada, and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Canada.

Wawanesa proudly serves more than 1.7 million members in Canada, and we are home to more than 3,300 employees distributed across the Canadian regions and communities where we operate. We give back to organizations that strengthen communities, donating more than $3.5 million annually to charitable organizations, including over $2 million annually in support of people on the front lines of climate change. We are also proud to be recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers.

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We are currently looking for dedicated, driven, and enthusiastic individuals who thrive in an environment that welcomes change and are looking for an opportunity for diverse experience and advancement on a growing team.

The Director, Commercial Lines Liability Insurance, is a strategic leader responsible for driving underwriting excellence, portfolio performance, and product innovation in commercial liability insurance. This role partners closely with the VP, Commercial Insurance—Products & Pricing to ensure alignment with Wawanesa’s purpose, values, and business objectives, while fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Lead the development and execution of underwriting strategy, appetite, and governance for commercial liability lines, ensuring decisions reflect Wawanesa’s commitment to prudent risk management and sustainable growth.
• Monitor market trends, loss ratios, IBNR, leading indicators and emerging risks to inform pricing and product decisions that support our members and communities.
• Champion initiatives to enhance profitability, retention, and growth, collaborating with product, actuarial, and claims teams to deliver innovative solutions.
• Manage third‑party relationships, including reinsurance for legal expense cover, ensuring performance and exploring new opportunities to strengthen our offerings.
• Monitor emerging trends impacting liability.
• Mentor and develop a high‑performing team of technical underwriting specialists, fostering accountability, professional growth, and a member‑first mindset.

• Develop and maintain underwriting guidelines, policy wordings, and risk selection criteria.
• Provide technical guidance and referral support for complex or high exposure accounts.
• Ensure underwriting practices comply with internal standards, reinsurance…