Director Compliance

Canada Life; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 128,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Health and wellness

Time off

Financial security

Rewards and recognition

Community emphasis

Job summary

Canada Life is seeking a Director, Compliance to provide strategic oversight and leadership for regulatory compliance across Canada Operations and Corporate Functions. The role leads a team of compliance professionals delivering advisory services, with a focus on accountability, change management, and continuous improvement in a highly regulated environment.

The role reports to the AVP, Central Business Risk & Controls and involves partnering with the Global Capabilities Centre in Bengaluru and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in compliance and risk management.
• University degree in business, law, finance, risk management, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks in federally or provincially regulated insurance.
• Ability to lead through change and drive accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high‑performing compliance team.
• Provide advisory services and effective challenge to risk and controls.
• Monitor regulatory developments and implement required controls and policies.
• Partner with business leaders to embed a culture of compliance.
• Oversee regulatory reviews and coordinate responses with regulators.
• Coach leaders and build succession pipelines within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Education

University degree in business, law, finance, risk management, or related field

Job description

Permanent Full Time

We are looking for a Director, Compliance to provide strategic compliance leadership within the Canada Operations and Corporate Functions Business Risk and Controls team.

The Director, Compliance is responsible for leading a team of compliance professionals that provide advisory services, oversight and effective challenge to Canada Operations and Corporate Functions. This role requires a strong people leader with demonstrated success in building and developing high-performing teams, leading through change, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups to drive accountability, execution, and continuous improvement within a highly regulated environment.

Reporting to the AVP, Central Business Risk & Controls, the Director is accountable for the effective management of regulatory compliance risk across Canada Operations including contact centres, operational functions, and corporate support areas. The role provides strategic leadership and subject matter expertise on regulatory requirements and emerging compliance risks, oversees the implementation and ongoing effectiveness of compliance programs and controls, and partners closely with business leaders to foster a strong culture of compliance, support sound decision-making, and protect the organization from regulatory and reputational risk.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be in one of the following head office locations: Toronto, London, Montreal, or Winnipeg.

What you will do

• Lead through change by setting clear priorities, driving accountability and execution, and building strong partnerships across a matrixed organization.
• Lead and maintain effective compliance programs, ensuring they remain aligned with company standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and assess regulatory developments, identify business impacts and compliance gaps, and guide stakeholders in implementing the business practices, controls, policies, and procedures required to maintain compliance.
• Provide compliance oversight and strategic advisory support to the Global Capabilities Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, helping leaders identify and manage regulatory compliance risks.
• Partner with supported businesses to design, implement, and document key controls; identify and remediate control gaps, monitor progress; and report material issues and remediation, and provide status to senior leaders and compliance partners.
• Stay current with regulatory developments and upcoming changes to ensure internal policies and procedures remain up to date.
• Lead or support engagement with regulatory bodies, as appropriate, and coordinate responses to internal and external compliance reviews.
• Coordinate reviews of new regulations to assess current state and required future state and support remediation to align to new regulatory requirements.
• Support the COBE (Canada Operations and Business Enablement) and Risk and Compliance Committee (RCC) through clear reporting, timely issue escalation, and oversight of remediation progress and outcomes.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team comprised of leadership and individual contributor roles. Build a high-performance culture through clear expectations, meaningful coaching, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.

What you will bring

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in compliance, risk management, governance, audit, regulatory oversight, financial services, or a related discipline, including experience leading teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• University degree in business, law, finance, risk management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• High degree of familiarity with compliance frameworks within federally and provincially regulated insurance organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership and sound judgement, with the ability to make timely, risk-informed decisions in complex and highly regulated environments.
• Exceptional prioritization and execution skills, with the ability to balance competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and maintaining a risk-based perspective.
• Strong people leadership capabilities, with demonstrated experience setting clear expectations, coaching, and developing leaders and individual contributors, managing performance, and building succession and talent pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, business partners, compliance stakeholders, and external parties to influence decisions and advance shared objectives.
• Ability to a complex, matrixed organization by clarifying accountabilities, aligning diverse stakeholders, and advancing work across organizational boundaries.
• Results-oriented, with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities and the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations and practical solutions.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including the ability to prepare executive-level presentations, reports, and recommendations.

The base salary for this position is between $128,200.00 - $178,200.00 annually. This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc). If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Canada Life

We’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. Our company is trusted by 1 in 3 Canadians and contributes to the strength of communities across the country.

We’re looking for people who live our values everyday: we step up, we do the right thing, and we deliver – for our customers, communities and each other. Are you someone who always strives to do the right thing, who steps up for themselves and others, and who delivers with impact? Then we want to hear from you!

What we offer

We’re committed to supporting our employees through every stage of their career. Here’s what you can expect as a full-time or part-time permanent team member:

• Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to$2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
• Health & Wellness:Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.
• Time Off:In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Financial Security:Company-matching pension plan,share ownership program and additionalinvestment options.
• Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
• Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.

Learn more about Canada Life.

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact [e-mail]. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.