Senior Manager, Plans & Programs

At Aviva Canada, we're looking for a Senior Manager, Plans & Programs to lead our Global Corporate & Specialty (GCS) business unit in the Western region.

As a Senior Manager, you will be responsible for the profitable growth, underwriting quality, and performance of the Plans & Programs portfolio across Western Canada. You will drive business development, strengthen broker and program partner relationships, and lead a team of underwriters in delivering sustainable growth and underwriting excellence.

Portfolio Leadership & Underwriting Excellence

• Manage the profitability, growth, retention, and underwriting performance of assigned Programs and Portfolio Solutions business.
• Ensure underwriting quality, service standards, and portfolio management practices align with corporate objectives, underwriting guidelines, and delegated authorities.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including premium growth, rate adequacy, loss ratios, retention, and profitability metrics.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on complex underwriting opportunities, referrals, manuscript wordings, and coverage solutions.
• Analyze market trends, emerging risks, and portfolio results to identify opportunities and recommend actions to improve business performance.
• Oversee underwriting audits, quality reviews, and remediation activities as required.
• Support underwriting consistency and governance through effective application of policies, procedures, and risk management practices

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters.
• Establish performance expectations, annual goals, and development plans that support employee growth and business needs.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and talent management activities.
• Deliver technical training and identify development opportunities to enhance underwriting capability across the team.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that promotes accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
• Act as a trusted technical resource and escalation point for underwriting staff.

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with brokers, clients, program administrators, and other strategic partners.
• Lead the development and presentation of business proposals for prospective and existing business opportunities.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities while supporting the growth of existing Programs and Portfolios.
• Conduct broker stewardship meetings, marketing visits, business reviews, and client presentations.
• Identify opportunities to expand profitable business within established appetite and underwriting guidelines.
• Promptly address and resolve broker and client issues to support long-term partnership success.

Business Planning & Operational Effectiveness

• Support the execution of business plans designed to achieve production, profitability, pricing, and growth objectives.
• Contribute portfolio insights and market intelligence to support business planning activities.
• Monitor and report on monthly and annual portfolio performance, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions where required.
• Support budget planning and forecasting activities for assigned portfolios.
• Develop and maintain underwriting authority statements appropriate to team member capabilities and experience.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, service delivery, and underwriting effectiveness.

Collaboration & Risk Management

• Promote a strong risk management culture and ensure compliance with underwriting authorities, governance standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor portfolio risk exposures and support strategies to improve underwriting results and mitigate emerging risks.
• Partner with Claims, Actuarial, Risk Engineering, CTU, and other stakeholders to ensure sound underwriting and portfolio management decisions.
• Support internal audits, broker reviews, peer reviews, and governance activities as required.

What you'll bring

• University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CIP designation required.
• 8-10 years of commercial Property & Casualty underwriting experience.
• 2 years minimum of people leadership experience.
• Experience managing Programs, Portfolio Solutions, MGA, Delegated Authority, or Specialty business.
• Strong understanding of underwriting principles, portfolio management, pricing, coverage analysis, and risk selection.
• Proven ability to manage profitable books of business and achieve growth objectives.
• Strong broker relationship management and business development skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, and influencing abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

What makes you stand out

• FCIP, CPCU, CRM, or other professional designation considered an asset.

What you'll get

• The salary band for this position ranges from $100,000 – 140,000.
• Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, share plan, health benefits, personal wellness, and volunteer opportunities.
• Outstanding Career Development opportunities.
• We'll support your professional development education.
• Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year.
• Employee driven programs focused on gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity, and inclusion.
• Corporate wellness programs to support our employees' physical and mental health.
• Hybrid flexible work model.