AVP, CXO Strategy & Transformation

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 155,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation and bonus

Share Ownership Program

Great Place to Work recognition

Job summary

Sun Life is seeking an accomplished AVP, CXO Strategy & Transformation to drive an integrated CXO vision and client platform strategy across the Canadian business. This senior role integrates strategy, transformation, analytics and governance to connect investments with client and financial outcomes.

You will partner with senior leaders to build insights, sharpen decision-making and move a large, multi-disciplinary function from reporting to action, while embracing Sun Life’s values and hybrid

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategy, transformation, business management, consulting, financial services, client experience, operations, technology enablement or related corporate leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting enterprise transformation, strategic planning, portfolio management, executive governance or performance management.
• Experience working with senior executives and governance forums, including development of concise, decision-oriented executive and Board materials.
• Ability to translate complex business, financial, technology, risk and client information into clear strategic recommendations.
• Experience designing or improving performance-management frameworks, business reviews, dashboards or executive reporting.
• Strong financial and analytical capability with interpretation of cost structures, investment trade-offs and metrics.

Responsibilities

• Shape and steward the CXO Strategy & Transformation agenda across client experience, engagement, digital, marketing, data and partners.
• Build transformation capability, governance, metrics and management routines to move strategy into execution.
• Lead insight-driven performance by connecting business, client, financial and risk data for executive decisions.
• Modernize executive reporting with monthly/quarterly reviews linking strategy, investments and outcomes.
• Guide portfolio and investment prioritization to align resources with strategic priorities and risk reduction.
• Develop executive narratives for leadership and Board with clear progress and trade-offs.
• Advance the CXO Office’s AI strategy and investment governance.
• Lead through influence across a matrix of stakeholders to accelerate execution.

Skills

Strategy

Transformation

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Analytical thinking

Team leadership

Problem solving

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

Role Summary

Reporting to the Vice-President, Experience, Planning and Transformation, CXO, the AVP, CXO Strategy & Transformation will help drive the development and stewardship of an integrated CXO vision and Client platform strategy and execution within CXO and across SL Canada. This role will act as a senior strategic integrator across the CXO mandate—bringing together strategy, transformation, performance reporting, analytics, to tell a cohesive story. The successful candidate will help build insights discipline, and change capability required to simplify how CXO works, sharpen decision-making, and ensure investments are clearly linked to client, advisor, sponsor, business, risk, and financial outcomes. The role requires a strong mix of strategic thinking, business management, financial and analytical acumen, executive-level communication and pragmatic execution. The candidate will be expected to work closely with CXO leadership, Canadian business partners, Finance, Technology, and Global partners, and senior stakeholders to develop a cohesive CXO-wide narrative, strengthen performance management, programmatically manage spend and priorities, and ensure the function is operating with appropriate risk, auditability, and governance standards. This is a high-impact role for a proven strategy and transformation leader who can connect the dots across complex domains, turn data into insight, create structure from ambiguity, and help move a large, multi-disciplinary function from reporting activity to driving measurable action.

What will you do?

• Shape and steward the Client Experience Office strategy and transformation agenda, connecting priorities across client experience, engagement, digital, marketing, data and business partners.
• Build the transformation capability and operating disciplines needed to move strategy into execution, including governance, prioritization, metrics, decision forums and management routines.
• Lead an insight-driven performance approach, partnering with Data and Finance to connect business, client, financial, operational and risk information to executive decision-making.
• Modernize performance management and executive reporting, creating monthly and quarterly business reviews that clearly connect strategy, investments, initiatives, outcomes, risks, dependencies and decisions.
• Guide portfolio and investment prioritization, helping ensure resources and spend are aligned to strategic priorities, client and business outcomes, sales enablement and risk reduction.
• Develop executive-level strategic narratives and recommendations for senior leadership and Board-level audiences, simplifying complex issues and clearly articulating progress, trade-offs, risks and required decisions.
• Advance the Client Experience Office’s AI strategy, helping leaders determine appropriate areas for investment, experimentation, capability development and leadership attention.
• Lead through influence across a complex matrix, partnering with Finance, Technology, Data, Digital, Marketing, Operations, Risk and business leaders to strengthen alignment, simplify ways of working and accelerate execution.

What you’ll need to succeed?

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategy, transformation, business management, consulting, financial services, client experience, operations, technology enablement or related corporate leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting enterprise transformation, strategic planning, portfolio management, executive governance or performance management.
• Experience working with senior executives and senior governance forums, including the development of concise, decision-oriented executive and Board materials.
• Ability to translate complex business, financial, technology, risk and client information into clear strategic recommendations and executive narratives.
• Experience designing or improving performance-management frameworks, business reviews, scorecards, dashboards or executive reporting.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including experience interpreting cost structures, investment trade-offs, technology spend, operational metrics and business performance.
• Demonstrated success partnering across Technology, Finance, Data, Digital, Marketing, Operations, Risk and business teams within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Experience leading teams, developing talent and improving operating models or ways of working.
• Strategic problem solving and the ability to identify the implications behind quantitative and qualitative information.
• Sound judgment and the ability to prioritize opportunities based on business value, feasibility and risk.
• A pragmatic, action-oriented approach to moving complex initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Clear, concise executive communication and the ability to influence across functions and levels.
• Collaborative leadership with a commitment to coaching and developing others.

What's in it for you?

• A competitive salary and bonus program, based on market scale
• A flexible group insurance program starting on your first day of work to meet your needs and those of your family.
• Our Share Ownership Program gives you the opportunity to invest in Sun Life while benefiting from employer matching contributions.
• We are proud to be included in Great Place to Work's 2026 list of Canada's Best Workplaces.

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results. Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to [e-mail]. We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you. We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling. We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Salary Range: 155,000/155 000 - 225,000/225 000 Job Category: Business Development - Non Actuarial Posting End Date: 12/11/2026

Shine together

At Sun Life, you can be your most brilliant self. Our supportive, flexible, and inclusive work environment is one where you – and your career – can thrive. Whatever your aspirations, collaborative leaders and colleagues are ready to help you learn, grow, and succeed. Make life brighter We’re a global company with a passion for people. Our purpose is to help Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. As a team of 30,000 across 26 countries, our impact is far-reaching, and locally relevant There’s power in numbers. As part of Sun Life’s growing team, you have an impact on people in your community and around the world. Shape the future With an optimistic eye on a brighter future, we drive to innovate. Be part of leading change, push boundaries and try new ways of working. Use data to drive bold actions. Be agile and pivot as we test and learn. At Sun Life, we’re driving transformation, sustainability and innovation for our Clients, employees, partners, and communities. Join us. Together, we can make the future brighter. Join a top employer for a brighter future. Visit Sun Life Careers