Director, Product & Underwriting Innovation

The Opportunity

The Director, Product & Underwriting Innovation is a forward-thinking leader responsible for identifying, developing, and launching new products, services, and underwriting methodologies that will help define the future of our business. The Director will own the product & underwriting innovation pipeline from strategic planning and roadmap development to launch, ongoing management, and profitability. Drive increased and optimized underwriting sophistication through an innovation lens, leveraging advanced analytics and third‑party vendors to enhance risk segmentation and decisioning, enabling more efficient execution and scalable, profitable growth. The Director will lead a small, agile team to build a robust innovation pipeline, taking novel ideas from concept through to market launch. This individual will be the central force driving a culture of innovation, ensuring our product & underwriting portfolio remains relevant, competitive, and positioned for future growth, including the targeting of new or emerging growth markets.

What to Expect

New Product & Underwriting Development & Incubation: Lead the end-to-end development lifecycle for new products and underwriting mechanisms, from initial ideation and concept validation to pilot program design and execution. Champion a "test and learn" approach, using pilot results and data to iterate on product design and go-to-market strategy. Oversee the operational and technical integration required to successfully launch new products into the market.
Product & Underwriting Innovation & Optimization: Continuously scan the P&C landscape to identify and analyze emerging trends, Insurtech advancements, and new business models. Develop and maintain a strategic innovation roadmap and a pipeline of new product & underwriting concepts for Personal Insurance. Build compelling business cases for new product & underwriting investments, securing buy-in and resources from senior leadership.
Customer Experience & Retention Initatives: Champion appropriate CX-led initiatives, including mobile app campaigns and proactive customer and employee education to ensure successful rollout and adoption of new innovation concepts. Analyze customer feedback and behavioral data to identify and implement key levers to improve retention and customer lifetime value.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration: Partner with leaders across multiple areas, including Underwriting, Pricing, Technology, CX, Claims, and Marketing to ensure alignment and support for innovation initiatives. Act as the primary evangelist for new product & underwriting concepts within the organization, effectively communicating their value and strategic importance.

What You Bring

Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, or a related field. An MBA or Actuarial background is considered an asset.
10+ years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, with a significant focus on personal lines. 5+ years of direct experience in product management, product development, or underwriting. 3+ years of formal people leadership experience, with proven success in leading and developing high-performing teams. Proven experience in developing and launching successful insurance products, with a track record of driving key metrics like acquisition and retention.
Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) or Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP) designation is preferred.
Deep understanding of the Canadian personal insurance market, including both broker and direct channels, with specific knowledge of the Ontario and Quebec market dynamics.
Strong knowledge of underwriting principles, product pricing, and customer segmentation.
Deep curiosity and knowledge of emerging trends, technologies, and business models impacting the P&C industry.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable strategy
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and pilot programs from conception to implementation.
The ability to work effectively and influence across product, pricing, data management, analytics, claims, distribution, and technology teams by translating underwriting risk insights into pragmatic product design decisions that balance growth, profitability, and customer value.

Salary Range: $134,300 - $184,300