AVP, High Net Worth - Insurance Operations

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues – experts in their fields – who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients – who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description

Reporting to the Chief Underwriter, the AVP, High Net Worth – Insurance Operations is accountable for leading the strategic direction, underwriting excellence, and premium client experience for Sun Life’s High Net Worth (HNW) and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) segments within Insurance Operations. This role combines deep technical underwriting expertise with client‑centric and servicing leadership to deliver industry‑leading risk assessment, advisor experience, and white‑glove client service.

What will you do?

• Provide senior technical leadership across medical, non‑medical, financial, and complex underwriting risk assessment for HNW/UHNW cases.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing underwriting & new business team, fostering a culture of coaching, mentorship, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Champion a premium service model, ensuring a relationship‑led, client‑centric experience and high‑touch end‑to‑end service, from application entry to policy issue.
• Partner closely with Distribution, Pricing, Reinsurance, and New Business teams to ensure a seamless, end‑to‑end client and advisor experience.
• Drive consistency, speed, and clarity in underwriting decision‑making, aligned with Sun Life’s risk appetite and market competitiveness.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex or high‑profile cases and provide advanced underwriting authority.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with advisors, reinsurers, and internal stakeholders to strengthen Sun Life’s position in the HNW market.
• Lead, champion and enforce process optimization and innovation initiatives focused on improving client experience and reducing cycle times.
• Embed accountability for outcomes, performance metrics, and service standards across the HNW underwriting ecosystem.
• Stay current on industry trends, tax and regulatory changes, and emerging underwriting practices to inform strategic decisions.

Leadership Accountabilities

• Build and sustain an inclusive, high‑performance culture focused on client outcomes and operational excellence.
• Develop talent pipelines and succession plans to ensure long‑term capability in High‑Net‑Worth new business & underwriting.
• Drive employee engagement and capability development through coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Lead change management initiatives aligned with transformation of the HNW underwriting model.

What do you need to succeed?

• 10+ years of underwriting experience, with deep expertise in large case and High Net Worth Underwriting.
• Advanced knowledge of medical, financial, legal, and reinsurance risk assessment.
• Strong leadership experience with a proven ability to build, drive and lead high‑performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and cross‑functional partners.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with an understanding of the impact of underwriting decisions.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship management skills.
• Experience driving operational transformation or service model redesign is an asset.
• Bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec for frequent interactions with English and French‑speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

What's in it for you?

• Working together, sharing common values, and encouraging growth & achievement.
• Flexible benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family.
• Recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Women and Best Workplaces with Most Trusted Executive Teams.
• Opportunity to join one of our many Inclusion Networks that foster connection, inclusivity, and community.
• Charitable giving through the You Give, We Give program allows you to contribute back to your community – with company matching in many cases.

The base pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted and may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to base pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in incentive plans discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.

Diversity and inclusion are core to our values. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e‑mail a request to View email address on ca.talent.com.

We are proud to be a hybrid organization offering employees the choice and flexibility to work from office or virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you. Several work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process.

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, and interview scheduling.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range: 140,000 – 225,000

Job Category: Underwriting – Individual

Posting End Date: 10/07/2026