Senior Underwriter - Ocean Marine

When someone needs insurance coverage for the unique, the unusual, or the unconventional, they come to Burns & Wilcox Canada. Burns & Wilcox Canada offers comprehensive solutions for retail insurance brokers and agents of all sizes. Burns & Wilcox Canada is a subsidiary of the H.W. Kaufman Group. No other specialty insurance organization can match the unique ability of the H.W. Kaufman Group to broker, write, insure and finance the most highly specialized risks in the world.

Burns and Wilcox Canada is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence with a view to providing integration and equal opportunities for all. Burns and Wilcox Canada welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and will accommodate applicants’ disability-related needs in accordance with the respective provincial human rights codes throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If you require a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please inform the Recruiter or contact our Human Resources department at View email address on ca.talent.com or View phone number on ca.talent.com. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. 

The Senior Underwriter, Ocean Marine will be responsible for underwriting, client relations and business development, and providing peer support and mentorship to the Ocean Marine underwriting unit. Using specialized knowledge and expertise in products and the industry, the Senior Underwriter will deliver strategic portfolio management, recommend and implement profitable action plans, develop and maintain relationships with brokers, and promote synergy within underwriting unit. Demonstrated success at strategic thinking, innovation and leadership is critical.

Underwriting Analyzing Risk and Placing Business

• Maintain knowledge of carriers’ underwriting guidelines and/or brokerage markets
• Obtain adequate underwriting information for quoting, binding, and issuing
• Review coverage requirements, prices, and conditions
• Negotiate prices, terms, and conditions
• Submit quality submissions to markets
• Provide consultation to brokers regarding differences between quotes and coverages
• Promptly review inspections to verify quality of risk
• Ensure all renewal business is reviewed and quoted appropriately
• Ensure all files are documented properly to avoid potential E&O’s
• Maintain carrier relationships
• Stay abreast of underwriting practices and maintain licenses and certifications
• Delegate basic underwriting responsibilities to other Underwriters on the team and groom them for ownership of a novice book of business

Sales Client Relations & Strategic Business Development

• Identifies new growth opportunities with key brokers and ensure they are qualified and meet with the organization's appetite
• Develops and executes continuous product development initiatives by identifying areas of opportunity and creating new products that continue to differentiate Burns & Wilcox in the marketplace
• Develop broker clientele by networking to identify new clients and generate lists of prospective focus brokers
• Conduct marketing visits to build broker relationships and advertise B&W offerings
• Maintain existing broker relationships to solicit renewals and generate new business
• Build and develop markets/relationships
• Develop marketing strategies to compete with other companies
• Utilize other Burns & Wilcox offices via referrals to place business
• Ensure prompt and courteous client service is provided to all agents and brokers
• Delegate the sales, marketing, relationship management responsibilities to other Underwriters on the team and groom them for ownership of a novice book of business

Management Supervising and Managing a Team of Associates and other Producers

• Builds a high performing and engaged team, with strong emphasis on development, coaching and supporting team members to achieve their career goals
• Regularly coaches team members, strengthening their underwriting and client support capabilities, and ensuring consistency in decision making across the unit
• Contribute to the selection, hiring, and promotion of producers and associates on your team
• Manage performance of team and ensure accountability, discipline, and recognition
• Define benchmarks for success and performance goals for team
• Set agenda and manage priorities and workload of associate underwriters on your team
• Build team engagement with activities and management techniques
• Train, develop, and nurture underwriters and associate underwriters on the team - skill, process knowledge, competency
• Provide guidance and mentorship to other producers in the office or region
• Cultivate trust, lead by example, and maintain an open door for team
• Conduct regular 11s with each direct report

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• CIP or equivalent industry experience
• Provincial License or eligibility for obtaining
• High Industry Participation
• 5 years of Marine Insurance experience
• 1-2 years of supervisory experience preferred
• Significant underwriting expertise strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of domestic and international Marine markets
• Strong product development capabilities
• Leadership training an asset

Compensation Package

• Base salary range starting at $100,000 plus highly lucrative sales incentive bonus plan
• Health benefits
• Employer matched RRSP
• Employer paid continuing education courses, designations and licensing
• Many opportunities for career advancement