Sr. Underwriting Specialist, ART and Fronting

Job summary

The Senior Underwriting Specialist will manage a portfolio of ART and Fronting programs while ensuring profitable growth and alignment with risk appetite. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design customized risk financing solutions and maintain strong relationships with brokers and clients.

Job details

Experience Aviva Individually we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually these are just words, but together they are our Values – Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence. At Aviva Canada, we put people first, our employees, our customers, and our communities. We’re proud of a culture built on care, inclusion, and collaboration, where your voice matters and your growth is supported. We’re not just about insurance; we’re about making a real difference by protecting what matters most. The Opportunity Aviva Canada is seeking a Senior Underwriting Specialist, ART & Fronting to support the growth and management of its Alternative Risk Transfer (ART), and fronting business across Canada. As a subject matter expert, you will partner with brokers, clients, underwriting, actuarial, finance, legal, claims, and reinsurance stakeholders to develop and deliver innovative risk financing solutions. This role is ideal for a commercially focused insurance professional who combines strong technical expertise with the ability to build trusted relationships and navigate complex insurance structures. As an individual contributor, you will influence business outcomes through underwriting excellence, technical leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration, rather than direct people management. What you’ll do Underwrite and manage a portfolio of ART and Fronting programs, ensuring profitable growth and alignment with Aviva's risk appetite. Develop and maintain strong relationships with brokers, captive owners, reinsurers, risk managers, and key client stakeholders. Evaluate complex risk financing structures, including captive programs, fronting arrangements, and other alternative risk transfer solutions. Collaborate with underwriting, actuarial, claims, finance, legal, and reinsurance teams to design and deliver customized client solutions. Analyze portfolio performance, profitability, retention, and growth opportunities, recommending actions to improve results. Support new business development efforts by identifying and pursuing opportunities within the ART and fronting marketplace. Provide technical expertise on captive insurance structures, risk retention mechanisms, reinsurance, funding approaches, and program design. Ensure compliance with regulatory, governance, and reporting requirements related to captive and fronting programs. Act as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor, influencing business decisions and supporting strategic initiatives across the organization. What you’ll bring 7+ years of experience in commercial insurance, alternative risk transfer (ART), reinsurance, or risk financing. Strong understanding of captive structures, fronting arrangements, reinsurance principles, and commercial insurance products. Experience working with complex commercial clients, brokers, and multi-stakeholder environments. Strong financial and analytical skills, including evaluating funding structures and risk financing solutions. Knowledge of captive insurance regulatory and governance requirements. Proven ability to influence stakeholders, lead initiatives, and drive results without direct authority. Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills. What makes you stand out Direct experience with Captives, ART, and Fronting programs. Strong understanding of complex risk financing and reinsurance structures. Ability to combine technical underwriting expertise with business development and portfolio growth. Established broker, client, and industry relationships. Strategic mindset with the ability to translate complex concepts into practical client solutions. Experience working with large commercial or national accounts and customized insurance programs. What you’ll get Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, share plan, health benefits, personal wellness, and volunteer opportunities. Hybrid flexible work model . Outstanding career development opportunities. We’ll support your professional development education. Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year. Employee-driven programs focused on gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity, and inclusion. Corporate wellness programs to support our employees’ physical and mental health. Please note that we may use AI tools to help us through the recruitment process. This is a new position which has been posted internally & externally. Aviva Canada has an accommodation process in place to provide accommodations for employees with disabilities. If upon commencement of employment you require a specific accommodation because of a disability, please contact your Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged. This process applies throughout your career with Aviva Canada.

What you’ll do

The Senior Underwriting Specialist will manage a portfolio of ART and Fronting programs while ensuring profitable growth and alignment with risk appetite. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design customized risk financing solutions and maintain strong relationships with brokers and clients.

Requirements

Candidates must have 7+ years of experience in commercial insurance, ART, or reinsurance with a deep understanding of captive structures and fronting arrangements. Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills are essential for this role.

Benefits

• Annual bonus • Retirement savings • Share plan • Health benefits • Personal wellness • Volunteer opportunities • Hybrid flexible work model • Professional development education • Competitive vacation package • Corporate wellness programs

Listed skills

• Regulatory Compliance · Preferred
• Negotiation · Preferred
• Financial analysis · Preferred
• Stakeholder Management · Preferred
• Business development · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Underwriting
• Alternative Risk Transfer
• Fronting
• Captive insurance
• Reinsurance
• Risk financing
• Portfolio management
• Stakeholder management
• Financial analysis
• Strategic thinking
• Negotiation
• Relationship management
• Risk appetite
• Regulatory compliance
• Business development
• Influencing Skills
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Program Design
• Portfolio Analysis
• Insurance Captives
• Influencing Without Authority
• Relationship Management
• People Management
• Business Decisions
• Technical Leadership
• Analytical Skills
• Actuarial Science
• Mental Health
• Business Development
• Management
• Communication
• Disabilities
• Finance
• Governance
• Innovation
• Insurance Products
• New Business Development
• Presentations
• Profitable Growth
• Relationship Building
• Risk Appetite
• Risk Financing
• Strategic Thinking

Job areas

• Finance & Accounting
• Management & Leadership
• Consulting
• Underwriting Specialist
• Property / Casualty Underwriter
• Insurance Representatives
• Financial and Investment Analysts