VP, Automobile Liability Underwriter

Job Description

Are you looking for your next opportunity?

Sompo has an opportunity for a Vice President, Automobile Liability Underwriter for our Sompo Canadian Casualty team.

The VP, Automobile Liability Underwriter leads the strategic, technical, and production underwriting direction of the Auto Liability portfolio across Canada. Reporting into the Canadian Head of Casualty, this role oversees underwriting governance, product wordings, compliance with federal and provincial regulations, and the development of underwriting talent. The manager is accountable for profitable growth, broker engagement, operational build-out, and long-term planning to support a competitive and sustainable portfolio.

Location: This position will be based out of our Toronto, Canada office. We strive for collaboration, which is why we offer a work environment where our employees thrive and develop long-lasting careers.

What you'll be doing:

Production Underwriting & Market Engagement
 

• Drive profitable new business and renewal production within the Automobile Liability portfolio, balancing growth objectives with disciplined underwriting.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, MGAs, and key distribution partners across Canada.
• Represent the company in market meetings, negotiations, and industry events as a senior technical authority.
• Support underwriters on complex accounts, large submissions, and strategic opportunities to enhance win ratios and retention.

Underwriting Leadership & Portfolio Management
 

• Lead the underwriting strategy for Automobile Liability, ensuring alignment with corporate risk appetite, pricing adequacy, and profitability targets.
• Oversee complex and referral underwriting decisions, providing expert guidance on risk selection, pricing, and coverage structure.
• Monitor portfolio performance, identify trends, and implement corrective actions to improve loss ratios and underwriting discipline.

Policy Wordings & Product Development
 

• Own the maintenance of Automobile Liability policy wordings, endorsements, and underwriting guidelines.
• Collaborate with legal, claims, actuarial, and product teams to ensure clarity, consistency, and competitiveness of coverage offerings.
• Lead initiatives to introduce new products or enhancements based on market needs, regulatory changes, and emerging risks.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance
 

• Ensure underwriting practices comply with all applicable federal and provincial regulations, including FSRA, AMF, OSFI guidance, and provincial insurance acts.
• Maintain strong governance frameworks, including audit readiness, documentation standards, and adherence to internal controls.
• Partner with Compliance and Legal teams to interpret regulatory changes and implement required updates to underwriting processes and wordings.

Training, Coaching & Talent Development
 

• Develop and deliver training for underwriters on technical underwriting, regulatory requirements, wordings, and emerging trends.
• Mentor underwriters at all levels, fostering a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and career development planning for the underwriting team.

Operational Build-Out & Process Optimization
 

• Lead the build-out of underwriting infrastructure, including workflows, assist with tool development, rating methodologies, and documentation standards.
• Drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, consistency, and service quality across the underwriting function.
• Collaborate with IT to implement underwriting technology solutions, automation, and data-driven decision tools.

Strategic Planning & Cross-Functional Collaboration
 

• Contribute to annual business planning, including forecasting, capacity planning, and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with actuarial, claims, distribution, and product teams to ensure alignment on pricing, risk appetite, and market strategy.
• Provide insights on competitive positioning, emerging risks, and long-term portfolio strategy.

What you'll bring:
 

• 8+ years of underwriting experience in Automobile Liability or Commercial Auto, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior technical role, minimum of 15 years in underwriting-related roles.
• Demonstrated success in building an auto solution.
• Demonstrated success in production underwriting and broker relationship management.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian auto insurance regulations, rating frameworks, and provincial differences.
• Expertise in policy wordings, coverage analysis, and underwriting governance.
• CIP, FCIP, or equivalent designation strongly preferred.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong customer service orientation, with a focus on building and maintaining relationships with brokers and other stakeholders.
• Ability to travel as required
• French language proficiency (spoken and written) is an asset.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $240,000 CAD Actual compensation for this role will depend on several factors including the cost of living associated with your work location, your qualifications, skills, competencies, and relevant experience.

At Sompo, we recognize that the talent, skills, and commitment of our employees drive our success. This is why we offer competitive, high-quality compensation and benefit programs to eligible employees.

Our compensation program is built on a foundation that promotes a pay-for-performance culture, resulting in higher incentive awards, on average, when the Company does well and lower incentive awards when the Company underperforms. The total compensation opportunity for all regular, full-time employees is a combination of base salary and incentives that gets adjusted upfront based on overall Company performance with final awards based on individual performance.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It does not restrict the management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Sompo offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth and development. 

Sompo is committed to employment practices, including recruitment and hiring practices, that are inclusive and accessible. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available. Should you require accommodation, please contact human resources at jgibson@sompo-intl.com. 

Visit our website at www.sompo-intl.com