Manager, Underwriting

Overview

At Equitable, we believe work should be a place where you feel supported, inspired, and empowered to grow. In our caring and collaborative environment, your curiosity is encouraged, your passion is recognized, and your contributions truly matter. Together, we create meaningful impact, for our clients, our communities, and each other.

At Equitable, we believe great things happen when we work together. We’re a Canadian mutual company driven by purpose - putting people first and helping Canadians protect today and prepare for tomorrow. If you’re passionate about making a difference and growing your career in an inclusive and collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you. Our culture is built on care, passion and curiosity.

We put people above all else, strive to be our best and welcome new ideas to deliver positive outcomes.

This is a hybrid role. You will work in our office in Waterloo, ON a minimum of two (2) assigned, consecutive days every other week, plus a fifth (5th) assigned day per month. You are welcome to work from the office more than the minimum requirement, and there may be some roles that are required to work in our office more than the minimum requirement.

• Support and develop your team, creating an environment where underwriters feel valued, motivated, and equipped to grow
• Guide the daily operations of the underwriting area to ensure smooth processes and timely decisions
• Thrive in ambiguity, adapting rapidly to shifting priorities while maintaining focus on high‑impact results
• Uphold strong risk management and compliance practices in every underwriting decision
• Build strong relationships with UW managers to create a collaborative, team‑first environment that accelerates shared goals
• Work collaboratively with partners across the organization to stay aligned with our goals and priorities
• Provide thoughtful leadership on escalated or complex cases
• Build meaningful relationships with advisors and distributors, offering support through presentations and visits when needed
• Champion continuous improvement and bring fresh thinking to elevate our processes and client experience

• Ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a team to achieve strong performance
• Skilled at navigating complex underwriting issues and providing clear direction
• Proficient in assessing risk and making sound, data‑driven decisions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with internal and external partners
• Knowledge of underwriting practices and insurance concepts is an asset
• Adept at addressing underwriting challenges and client issues with creative, balanced solutions
• Capable of building strong relationships, with experience in negotiation, and influencing to manage escalations
• Comfortable working under pressure and meeting sales‑driven deadlines
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development

• Career Growth:
  Regular learning sessions and development opportunities
• Total Rewards:
  Incentive pay, annual salary reviews, employer-paid benefits and pension matching
• Time Away:
  Competitive vacation plus one paid volunteer day each year
• Flexibility:
  Healthy work‑life balance with employee wellness always top of mind, complemented by a “dress for your day” approach

At Equitable, we’re committed to fair pay and an inclusive, accessible hiring experience. If you need accommodations or alternative formats at any stage, just reach out to us at  We’re happy to help.

Your base pay will be based on your skills, qualifications, experience and education. In addition to your salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award tied to business performance, plus a wide range of competitive benefits.

If you’re selected to move forward, our Talent Acquisition team will walk you through all the details of our total rewards program, so you know exactly what’s included.

Position Title: Underwriting Manager

Reports To: Director, Individual Underwriting Operations

Department: Individual Underwriting

Term: Permanent Full-Time

This position is open because of an existing vacancy, and we’re looking forward to finding the right person to join our team.

As part of the recruitment process, you will need to go through background screening, as per our company policy.