About Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) has been British Columbia's leading perks provider for over 80 years. We are an independent, not‑for‑profit society with strong roots in BC’s health care system. We provide health, dental, life, disability, and travel coverage to 1 in 3 British Columbians through employee group plans and individual plans.
Perks
Work‑life balance with flexible working hours of 7 hours per day, Monday to Friday (i.e., 35 hours per week).
Paid vacation starts at 3 weeks per year, and increases with years of service.
Hybrid work environment (i.e., a combination of work from office and work from home days).
Generous benefits, including extended health, dental, and life insurance; these benefit premiums are 100% paid by PBC.
Company pension contributions after 1 year of service.
Education allowance up to $1,000 per calendar year.
On‑site gym, cafeteria, and access to virtual doctors and counsellors 24/7 via our Employee Family Assistance Program.
About the Position
We are searching for one permanent Level 2 Underwriter to join our Underwriting team.
This position is unionized and part of the CUPE 1816 Bargaining Unit.
This position is paid at hourly rates and receives wage increases in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
The wage for this position is $5,882 per month to start (equivalent to $70,584 per year) and then progressing up to $6,833 per month.
Job Summary
Under the broad managerial direction of the Assistant Manager, Underwriting, the Level 2 Underwriter reviews new business opportunities, renewal requests and contract amendments for potential and existing brokerage and major clients who fit within established Level 2 parameters for group, premium size, and underwriting method such as fully insured, Administrative Services Only and refund accounting. The role assesses eligibility and risk based on multiple underwriting considerations, identifies declines, calculates rates and prepares proposal and renewal package documentation, participates in inter‑departmental quote rate review processes, reviews New Group Set Up packages, prepares customized reports for brokerage and major clients, and identifies underwriting options for containing client costs. The Underwriter pursues creative solutions that balance client needs against PBC’s ability to deliver on commitments and contributes to process improvement and tool enhancement.
Job Duties
Customer, Client, and Member Service: Prospective New Clients
Review new business opportunities, potential brokerage, and major account clients that fit within established Level 2 parameters for group, premium size, and underwriting method such as fully insured, Administrative Services Only in arrear and budgeted and refund accounting.
Analyze Requests to Quote to assess eligibility and degree of risk, including reviewing industry type, years in business, existing benefits, family content, occupations to be covered, dates of hire, location, salary levels, participation, age distribution, benefit levels, classing criteria, non‑standard ownership, collective agreement impacts if in a unionized environment, and other risk factors.
Identify factors which result in a decline of opportunities to quote.
Assess incumbent carrier experience and adjust premiums and claims when necessary.
Calculate rates for benefits based on results of analysis using department tools and determine applicable charges.
Conduct peer reviews for quotes within established authority limits.
Submit quotes for review, advise,
and approval to Blue Cross Life in accordance with established parameters.
Consult with Group Business to explore alterations in plan design to accommodate group situations while still remaining competitive.
Participate in inter‑departmental quote rate review process for new business opportunities involving large complex groups and high‑risk impacts.
Respond to general inquiries related to PBC guidelines, questionnaires, benefits inquiries, etc.
Generate and distribute the final proposal document to Group Business, according to established service level objectives or deadlines requested by client, broker, or Group Business.
Attend case‑related internal meetings as needed to support Group Business.
Review new group set‑up packages by assessing impact of any changes occurring in group risk assessment factors since the original quote was made, recalculating pricing if required, consulting with Group Business to determine appropriate action in the event of rate changes, preparing group history summaries, volume reports, rate breakdowns for benefit type, and other documentation associated with new group set‑up, keying rate and charge inputs for approved new groups in systems, calculating reinsurance percentage in accordance with established parameters, and conducting quality assurance reviews on new group set‑ups.
Customer, Client, and Member Service: Group Renewal and Retention of Existing Clients
Review renewals and requests for benefit changes in group contracts for existing brokerage and major clients, assess risk, and determine renewal rates or rate changes by analyzing claims experience, credibility, group size, industry and economic influences, rating method and other factors that could influence pricing or ability to renew.
Assess requested basic amendments to plan design to determine impact and make adjustments on premium and claims when necessary.
Identify and pursue upselling opportunities.
Follow underwriting authority guidelines, contract authority limits and company standards.
Calculate rates for benefits, conduct peer reviews for renewals within established limits, submit renewals for review, advise, and approval to Blue Cross Life in accordance with established parameters.
Consult with Group Business and other stakeholders to determine degree of leeway present for negotiating alternate pricing or plan alterations to preserve existing relationships while managing costs.
Generate renewal packages including all required documentation and forward for processing and distribution.
Edit rate and charge inputs for amended or renewal rates, and conduct quality assurance reviews on amendments.
Prepare and reconcile financial statements for Refund accounting and Budgeted ASO clients to determine balance remaining in client account, implement strategies to recover deficits or decline to renew.
Reconcile accounts for final financial position (e.g., final contract/policy amount, issuing invoices or refunds, etc.).
In partnership with Group Business and other team members, prepare customized reports for brokerage and major clients on claims, premiums paid, transfers,
disability and other financial or client experience data; compile, balance and reconcile client expenses and other financial statements; on an ongoing basis, identify underwriting options for containing client costs, particularly in the areas of plan design, and pursue creative solutions that balance client needs against PBC’s ability to deliver on commitments.
Key rate and charge inputs for approved quotes/proposals in system; edit amended or renewal rates; update rate and charge structures in system and/or create documents for automatic entry into the system in time to meet billing requirements.
Respond to inquiries from other departments and provide approvals if required and within scope of authority; consider impacts and consult with management for complex inquiries prior to approval.
General Team and Department Support
Advise Level 1 Underwriters on underwriting decisions falling within Level 2 limits and approve new business quotations, renewals, and amendments.
Identify opportunities to improve underwriting processes and tools, and provide input and recommendations to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service.
Participate in department training sessions and present case studies to the team when requested.
On a one‑to‑one and team basis, support new employees by demonstrating the execution of specific tasks and duties, and share knowledge and experience on request.
Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of underwriting practices, policies and procedures, system requirements and other information related to the provision of underwriting through continuous learning initiatives.
On a relief basis, perform all duties of the Level 1 Underwriter and/or Underwriting Assistant, as assigned.
Perform other assigned duties related to the provision of underwriting and administrative support which do not affect the rating of the job.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in business, economics, finance, mathematics, or related field.
4 years of previous related experience, including:
2 years in a Level 1 Underwriter position, Junior Underwriter position, Group Underwriter position, or equivalent.
Completion of 4 courses in the FLMI or CEBS programs (144 hours), or equivalent.
Demonstrated proficiency with advanced Excel and intermediate Word.
Completion of an Advanced Excel course (36 hours), or equivalent.
Completion of an Intermediate Word course (18 hours), or equivalent.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
PBC is an Indigenous Works employer of choice, an Insurance Business Canada Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award winner, one of Canada’s Greenest employers, a Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) employer partner, and a Pride at Work partner. We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and employees feel empowered to freely participate and contribute regardless of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place or origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. To request an accommodation in completing this job application, testing, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to
[email protected]. These accommodation requests will be reviewed confidentially and, on a case‑by‑case basis, by Human Resources.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
📌 Level 2 Underwriter (British Columbia)
🏢 Pacific Blue Cross
📍 British Columbia