The Senior Program Underwriter is a senior underwriting role responsible for underwriting profitable new and renewal business within Markel Canada’s delegated underwriting platform, while providing technical leadership, market presence, and strategic contribution to the business.

Are you an experienced Senior Programs Underwriter ready to take the next step with a growing Delegated team in Toronto? Join us and play a key role in expanding our presence across Canada.

What part will you play?

If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit among our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special!

The opportunity:

As a Senior Programs Underwriter on the Delegated team, you will apply strong technical expertise and a market-facing approach to grow and manage a complex delegated portfolio. You will independently underwrite and oversee programs, support referrals, and deliver profitable new business while representing Markel as a trusted partner in the market.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative specialty products and support Markel’s global delegated strategy within a high-performing, collaborative environment. Success requires a customer-focused, analytical, and agile mindset.

You will underwrite new and renewal business within delegated authority and guidelines, ensuring disciplined, profitable outcomes. Responsibilities include applying underwriting tools for accurate risk classification and pricing, maintaining knowledge of Canadian regulatory requirements, and demonstrating expertise in coverage, policy wording, and the application of terms and exclusions.

This position may be filled at the Executive Underwriter or Senior Underwriter level, depending on experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated capability, with compensation and scope aligned to the level of hire. Join us and play a key role in expanding our Program presence across Canada.

What you'll be doing:

Underwrite profitable new and renewal delegated authority business, in accordance with underwriting authority levels, guidelines, and strategy.
Manage and grow a portfolio of delegated underwriting authority programs, including risk selection, coverage negotiation, pricing adequacy, and referrals.
Drive new business production by identifying, evaluating, and converting delegated program opportunities with brokers and coverholders.
Act as a senior referral point within authority, exercising independent underwriting judgement on complex and material risks.
Review changes to delegated agreements to ensure alignment with underwriting philosophy, governance, and regulatory expectations.
Participate in coverholder audits, including preparation, discussion of findings, and follow‑up actions.
Collaborate closely with Actuarial, Claims, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, and Underwriting Leadership to support well‑governed, commercially sound programs.
Participate in claims reviews and utilize loss trends and market data to inform underwriting decisions.
Maintain strong underwriting file documentation standards.
Build and sustain strong broker and coverholder relationships, representing Markel as a trusted, senior underwriting partner.
Contribute to underwriting best practices and support the development of less experienced underwriters.

Our must haves:

5+ years’ property and casualty underwriting experience.
The individual has successfully underwritten large programs with a strong background in Property, and Casualty Lines. Professional Lines experience considered an asset.
Superior relationship management skills proven through established broker relationships.
Demonstrated track record of generating new business premium.
Entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable with thinking outside of the box.
University degree, CIP or FCIP designation is preferred.
Expertise and depth in policy wordings, forms and applicable coverages.
Excellent presentation skills, comfortable speaking in front of small and large groups.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as a contributing team member.
Exceptional time management skills.
Strong business acumen and capable of representing the organization externally.

If you’re ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you!

Who we are:

Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.

We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better | We enjoy the everyday | We think further

What’s in it for you?

A great starting salary plus annual bonus potential & strong benefits package.
20 vacation days plus additional floater days per year.
Fantastic company RRSP, extended health and dental coverage, life insurance, travel insurance, vision care and wellness initiatives.
There are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career and we can provide the support needed to do just that!

Pay information:

90-135k This is a new role.

This salary range reflects the expected base compensation for the role across Canada. Placement within the range will depend on a number of factors, including experience, qualifications, and the scope of responsibilities. As part of our commitment to transparency and supporting our people, we share this range in good faith and in accordance with applicable legislation.

Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.

Our recruitment process may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with tasks such as initial resume screening, interview scheduling and candidate matching. While AI enhances our efficiency, human oversight remains integral to the final decision-making process to ensure fairness and mitigate potential biases.

This posting reflects an existing vacancy within our organization.

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Senior Underwriter, Programs & Coverholders

Markel

Job Description