AVP, Compliance Technology and Innovation

sunlife; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Life in Toronto is seeking an AVP, Compliance Technology and Innovation to lead the transformation of Compliance capabilities with analytics and AI-enabled solutions. You will shape the technology roadmap, oversee governance, and partner with Compliance, Risk, Internal Audit, Technology, and business leaders to drive enterprise outcomes.

The role requires extensive leadership in regulatory governance and technology-enabled risk management, with a focus on scalable, compliant solutions and

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in Compliance, Risk Management, or Governance.
• Experience leading enterprise transformations and strategic initiatives.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and governance practices.
• Ability to leverage analytics, automation, and AI in regulated environments.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication.
• Strategic problem-solving with a results-driven mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the vision and roadmap for Compliance Technology and Innovation.
• Lead enterprise transformation programs and governance initiatives.
• Oversee operations, platform enhancements, release management, and automation efforts.
• Design scalable analytics, dashboards, and AI-enabled solutions for risk decisions.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and reporting to executives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Problem solving

Decision making

Education

University degree in Business/Finance/Law/Tech

Tools

GRC platforms

Analytics tools

BI tools

AI/GenAI solutions

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you'll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

The AVP, Compliance Technology and Innovation provides strategic leadership for Compliance transformation, technology enablement, innovation, analytics, and operational risk management. This role is accountable for advancing Compliance capabilities through the execution of the Compliance Technology Roadmap, oversight of strategic initiatives, deployment of data-driven and AI-enabled solutions, and establishment of strong governance practices that enhance regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and business outcomes. The role partners closely with Compliance, Risk, Internal Audit, Technology, and business leaders to drive innovation, continuous improvement, and enterprise alignment.

What will you do?

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Compliance Technology, Innovation, Insight & Analytics.
• Lead transformational initiatives that enhance Compliance effectiveness, operational efficiency, and risk management capabilities.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify priorities, align investments, and deliver strategic business outcomes.

Compliance Technology & Operations

• In collaboration with technology partners, oversee Compliance technology operations, platform enhancements, release management, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Drive automation and process improvement opportunities that strengthen Compliance oversight while reducing manual effort.
• Partner with technology teams to ensure solutions remain effective, scalable, and aligned to evolving business and regulatory needs.

Innovation, Data & Analytics

• Lead the design and deployment of scalable analytics, automation, AI, and GenAI-enabled solutions that improve Compliance decision-making and productivity.
• Advise on the delivery of actionable insights, dashboards, reporting, and performance metrics to support risk management and executive decision-making.
• Foster a culture of innovation through experimentation, capability development, and adoption of emerging technologies.

Governance, Risk & Stakeholder Management

• Support operational risk management, business continuity, governance, and regulatory initiatives across Compliance teams.
• Build trusted relationships with senior compliance leaders and key stakeholders across the organization.
• Represent Compliance on enterprise-wide technology initiatives and provide executive reporting, insights, and recommendations.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams across Technology, Innovation, and Analytics functions.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and results-oriented culture focused on continuous learning and improvement.
• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, and leadership coaching.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Significant leadership experience within Compliance, Risk Management, Governance, Technology, Analytics, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide transformation programs and strategic initiatives.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks, governance practices, operational risk management, and control environments.
• Experience leveraging technology, analytics, automation, and AI to solve complex business challenges.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, influencing, and executive presentation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities with a results-oriented mindset.
• University degree in Business, Finance, Law, Risk Management, Technology, or a related field.
• Advanced knowledge of project, program, and portfolio management practices.
• Experience with Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) platforms and Financial Crimes compliance technology solutions.
• Strong understanding of data analytics, reporting, visualization, and business intelligence tools.
• Experience implementing automation, AI, and GenAI solutions within a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of financial services regulatory frame