Director Distribution Excellence

Empire Life; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus program

Education/tuition reimbursement

Employer-funded benefits package

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Empire Life is seeking a Director of Distribution Excellence to lead training, enablement, and strategic initiatives for Retail Distribution. You will champion learning, drive digital support initiatives, and align programs with corporate goals, reporting to the VP of Retail Distribution.

The role emphasizes data-driven training, change management, and collaboration across cross-functional teams, with hybrid travel for events and training sessions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in insurance/financial services.
• Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Education or related field; postgraduate is an asset.
• Proven expertise in sales practices, training, and distribution management.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory processes and compliance in insurance/financial services.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching abilities, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with digital tools, CRM platforms, and presentation software.
• Strong change-management capability with adoption of new processes/digital tools.
• Bilingualism is a strong asset.
• English proficiency required for nationwide postings.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of strategic training and continuous learning initiatives for internal teams and external partners, utilizing advanced systems and e-learning platforms to upskill stakeholders on sales strategies, compliance, and digital acumen.
• Implement a data-driven approach to training, conducting comprehensive performance assessments to evaluate impact and continuously refine programs for better business outcomes.
• Act as the centralized resource for change management and strategic account management across Retail Distribution, ensuring all enablement efforts align with organizational goals.
• Provide strategic leadership in designing and implementing cost-effective compliance and risk management frameworks that meet regulatory standards.
• Oversee events and digital support, including advisor events, council meetings, and workshops, and manage CRM platforms and advisor portals.
• Partner with Senior Management to define strategic goals and ensure training/digital initiatives align with corporate objectives and sales targets.

Skills

leadership

sales enablement

training and development

data-driven training

change management

CRM platforms

presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Education or related field

Postgraduate degree

Tools

CRM platforms

Advisor portals

e-learning platforms

Job description

Location: Hybrid - Kingston, Toronto or Montreal

Empire Life is looking to hire a Director Distribution Excellence to join our Retail Distribution team! We are actively seeking candidates to fill a current, open position.

The Director Distribution Excellence champions training and development, sales enablement, distribution practices, and the effective execution of events and digital support initiatives. This leadership position is responsible for enhancing the skills, knowledge, and overall effectiveness of Empire Life's distribution team, providing support to our various partners and ensuring alignment with corporate goals. The Director will lead the team responsible for fostering continuous learning, enabling internal sales teams, providing first-class programs for advisors, implementing best practices, and deploying innovative digital solutions. The Director reports directly to the Vice-President, Retail Distribution.

Why pursue this opportunity

Our mission

- provide expertise and intelligent solutions to help Canadians navigate life with confidence.

The opportunity

- collaborate with cross-functional teams and work on a variety of projects that will keep you engaged and continuously learning.

Assume a pivotal leadership position -

harness your expertise to deliver impactful results, shaping and leading your area with experienced foresight.

Influence and innovate at the highest level -

we welcome leaders who bring a dynamic blend of fresh perspectives and leading practices to steer our strategic course.

What you’ll be working on

• Lead the development and delivery of strategic training and continuous learning initiatives for internal teams and external partners, utilizing advanced systems and e-learning platforms to upskill stakeholders on sales strategies, compliance, and digital acumen.


• Implement a data-driven approach to training, conducting comprehensive performance assessments to evaluate impact and continuously refine programs for better business outcomes.


• Act as the centralized resource for change management and strategic account management across Retail Distribution, ensuring all enablement efforts align with organizational goals and foster a culture of agile, high-performance growth.

Distribution Practices:

• Provide strategic leadership in designing and implementing cost-effective compliance and risk management frameworks that meet regulatory standards and safeguard the organization’s reputation.


• Develop and deploy robust monitoring tools and reporting systems to track distribution conduct, ensuring the timely identification and integration of evolving regulatory requirements across the network.

Events & Digital Support:

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of large-scale business development initiatives, including advisor appreciation events, council meetings, and workshops, to strengthen relationships with both internal teams and external distribution partners.


• Oversee Retail Distribution’s communication and digital strategy—including CRM platforms and advisor portals—to drive competitive positioning, improve client engagement, and ensure stakeholders are equipped with the latest resources.


• Build, mentor, and lead a diverse, high-performing team across training, enablement, compliance, events, and digital support, fostering a collaborative culture that delivers exceptional business results.

Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with Senior Management to define strategic goals and foster cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that training, digital support, and risk management initiatives are fully integrated with corporate objectives and sales targets.


• Act as the primary lead for performance monitoring, providing comprehensive reporting and actionable insights on distribution practices, training efficacy, and overall sales enablement initiatives.

What we’re looking for you to have

• 10+ years of leadership experience in the insurance/financial services industry.


• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Education, or a related field. A postgraduate degree is an asset.


• Proven expertise in sales practices, training, and distribution management.


• Strong knowledge of regulatory processes and compliance in the insurance and financial services sectors.


• Exceptional leadership and coaching abilities.


• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.


• Proficiency with digital tools, CRM platforms, and presentation software.


• Strong change management capability, with a track record of driving adoption for new processes and digital tools


• Superior communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.


• LLQP License preferred and FLMI designation is a strong asset.


• Bilingualism is a strong asset.


• If you are applying for a position which is open to applicants across Canada, unless otherwise indicated in the position, language proficiency in English is required for communicating with customers, advisors, or employees across Canada.


• Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid role with frequent travel to attend events and conduct face-to-face training sessions.


• Flexibility required for extended hours during projects and events.

Beyond the salary

For permanent full-time positions, Empire Life offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes:

• Competitive salaries with annual pay increases


• Annual bonus program, which recognizes both strong company performance and individual contributions, for non sales positions


• Access to learning & development programs, and education/tuition reimbursement (role dependent), to support your professional growth and career advancement.


• A comprehensive employer-funded benefits package starting from day one of employment, that includes life insurance, health and dental and a generous health account


• Flexible work arrangements and an annual allotment of personal health days.


• Four weeks annual vacation from hire date


• A defined contribution pension plan with generous employer matching


• Top up programs for parental leave and compassionate leave


• Employer-sponsored wellness and recognition programs


• A cash employee referral program

To learn more about working at Empire Life, visit https://www.empire.ca/workatempire.

Get to know us

Empire life is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity, are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and welcome everyone to participate in our application process.

We encourage those of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, even if you don't believe you meet each unique qualification outlined. Applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.

Empire Life is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building an inclusive and barrier-free workplace. We welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to providing accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process. If you require a specific adjustment to help you present your best self, please let us know—we are happy to work with you. If you need this job posting in an alternative format or have any accessibility questions, please contact [e-mail].