Director, Pensions Policy and Governance

Release Date: 10/13/2023
Staff Reference: clhia careers

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Imagine a job where YOU can utilize your exceptional interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with both internal and external teams.

Add a great collaborative team, a challenging variety of work, excellent work life balance, and you have imagined a job at the CLHIA.

About the CLHIA

CLHIA is the respected voice of Canada's Life and Health insurers. Our work concerns the lives of all Canadians. We work alongside our members to advance public policy solutions that ensure a sound and vibrant life and health insurance industry that allows Canadians to enjoy greater financial security and access to valuable supplementary health benefits. Every day at the CLHIA, we bring:

• our authentic selves to the job
• our best ideas to every challenge
• our open minds to other perspectives
• our full trust in one another’s abilities
• our commitment to exemplify respect, accountability, teamwork, and excellence in how we work together; and
• our genuine enthusiasm for a job well done – whether it’s your own achievement or someone else’s.

We are a stable and secure association that has been busier than ever. We are a small close-knit team that works together to make sure the association runs smoothly. This position is currently a hybrid position where you are expected to attend the Toronto office at least 2 days a week.

The Right Fit

We believe the kind of person you are matters. We have a culture of respect and caring, and we want employees who will thrive in our environment. When we hire, we consider your potential and how you may fit with our team.

You will succeed here if you are:

An excellent communicator – you will be collaborating with not only our internal team but with stakeholders and member companies. Your ability to communicate clearly and with several different parties will support your success.

Independent – you are self-motivated and manage your time well. You are able to organize your day to meet often conflicting priorities and deadlines.

Flexible – this is a position where you will have to approach an issue through different angles and the ability to analyze a situation or problem.

A Team player - you work well and efficiently with others.

The Position:

Reporting to the Vice President, Taxation, Pension and Reporting, the Director, Pensions Policy and Governance contributes to serving the life and health insurance industry's collective interests in the Group Retirement Plans area to optimize both the accumulation and decumulation aspects of pension solutions and administration, including ensuring an efficient and effective legislative and regulatory environment.
The position package includes:

• Prescription, dental and paramedical benefits, with employer paid premiums
• A defined contribution pension plan with employer matching
• We also offer a competitive compensation package
• 4 weeks paid vacation
• 10 sick days
• 2 floater days
• Hybrid work model based out of our Toronto office

What you will be working on:

1. Department and Policy/Operational Management:

• Participate in setting priorities and work plan for pension policy and governance to assist the industry to build consensus on policy positions to advocate and attain desired legislative and regulatory outcomes.
• Develop communications as applicable to the role, including:
  • To provide technical advice and promote understanding of the industry’s practices,
  • To share new policies, practices, and standards.
• Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of the role’s portfolio including key issues of interest, concern and overall environment affecting the industry relating to the role and broader context:
  • Keep current on best practices, member company/industry's products, and government programs and their impacts.
  • Monitor and identify emerging developments including legislative, regulatory or standards changes, assess the implications for the organization/industry and keep stakeholders informed of developments and the status of developing issues.
• Proactively keep the VP informed of department/industry issues and emerging developments and make recommendations on opportunities to improve and streamline services provided to members considering opportunities/risks/costs etc.
• Liaise with CLHIA colleagues to share information and integrate with other departments.

2. Stakeholder Relationships and Industry Leadership:

• Identify, build, and maintain effective relationships and communication with all relevant stakeholders in group retirement plans to achieve operational goals.
• Lead and manage the CLHIA committees and working groups related to the department and work closely with members and/or stakeholders to build consensus on industry policy positions.
• Public speaking and speaking with the media may be required, in consultation with the Vice President Government Relations, to ensure industry’s policy positions are advanced.
• Accountable for industry guidelines, related to the pensions, including their development, updates and maintenance to promote sound, equitable and efficient business practices for pension administration.

What you will bring:

Professional qualifications and Experience

• University degree in related field
• 7 - 10 years of relevant expertise/experience, with some managerial experience, within the pension and or life and health insurance/financial services, or a manager in advisory firms specializing in pensions policy, administration and governance and related products
• CPA, Canadian Institute of Actuaries designation (F.C.I.A.), OR LLB or equivalent
• One or more of CFP, CLU, CEBS, FLMI designations
• Thorough understanding of pension legislation/regulations and related taxation (e.g. Canadian personal and estate taxes)
• Knowledge of database applications

Skills and Competencies

• Analytical, problem solving, and research skills needed to analyze issues, develop options and recommendations
• Ability to develop evidence-based public policy/advice and decision-making as required
• Demonstrate behaviours reflective of high professional standards of conduct aligned with the organization’s core values
• Proven advisory and consultation skills as well as customer service focus
• Management and leadership skills with proven experience to contribute to applicable strategies and tactics, as required/applicable
• Bilingual (English, French) language skills are an asset but not required

How to apply:

Please submit your resume to clhiacareers@clhia.ca

The CLHIA is committed to ensuring fair and inclusive employment practices. On request, we provide accommodation for applicants with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. If you require accommodation, please advise us. We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.