Assistant Vice President, Manufacturing Sector

Role Summary

Lead the product for the Manufacturing portfolio in Canada. In this national role you will drive profitable growth through underwriting, portfolio management, business development, and team leadership while expanding our presence in the manufacturing sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the Manufacturing underwriting strategy.
• Monitor portfolio performance and take actions to improve profitability and optimize growth opportunities.
• Build, manage, and inspire a dedicated underwriting team, providing leadership, coaching, and mentorship.
• Provide technical and market insights for developing technical wordings, product development, and underwriting guidelines.
• Work with Business Development to develop and implement a strong distribution strategy, tracking key performance indicators.
• Drive premium growth by coordinating product‑expert underwriters across lines such as General Liability, Property, and E&O to offer a comprehensive market proposition.
• Strengthen and maintain key broker and client relationships, positioning Markel as a leader in the manufacturing insurance space.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders—underwriting, claims, actuarial, data & analytics, marketing—to enhance product offerings and improve customer experience.
• Ensure strong market visibility and reputation by actively engaging with industry bodies and thought‑leadership initiatives.
• Foster collaboration with Markel colleagues in Canada and internationally to align strategies and share best practices.
• Champion a positive, collaborative team culture, driving high performance and innovation.
• Work with underwriting leadership to monitor authority levels, update guidelines, and conduct periodic audits for underwriting excellence.
• Proactively identify new market opportunities and product offerings, supporting cross‑sell opportunities by identifying client needs.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of manufacturing insurance underwriting and/or leadership experience in Canada.
• Superior leadership skills with experience managing people.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Excellent strategic thinking and long‑term vision.
• Demonstrated ability to influence key stakeholders and lead transformational change.
• High energy, proactive self‑starter with a strong sense of urgency.
• Strong interpersonal skills and executive presence.
• Ability to travel as required.

What You Will Bring

• Extensive experience in underwriting, broking, or leadership roles within the Canadian manufacturing insurance market.
• Strong technical expertise in manufacturing‑related product lines and a proven track record of developing and executing profitable growth strategies.
• Established relationships with brokers and clients in the manufacturing sector.
• Ability to lead, inspire, and develop a high‑performing underwriting team.
• Strategic mindset with a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to problem‑solving.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Collaborative mentality and the ability to work effectively with cross‑functional teams.
• Strong understanding of and exposure to claims, actuarial, and loss control functions.
• Proven ability to leverage data and analytics in underwriting strategy to improve results.
• Undergraduate degree preferred; industry designations (e.g., CIP, CRM, FCIP) are an asset.

Compensation

Base salary range: 120–160k CAD. The exact placement will depend on experience, qualifications and scope of responsibilities. This range reflects the expected base compensation for the role across Canada.

EEO Statement

Markel celebrates a diverse workforce and is an equal‑opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with disabilities will be provided with reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful.

Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process may use artificial intelligence tools for tasks such as initial resume screening, interview scheduling and candidate matching. While AI helps enhance efficiency, human oversight remains integral to the final decision‑making process to ensure fairness and mitigate potential bias.

Conclusion

If you are ready to make an impact, we would love to hear from you.