Director, HR Technology Operations

sunlife; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Share Ownership Program

Great Place to Work recognition

Job summary

Sun Life is seeking a Director of HR Technology Operations to ensure the reliability, security and compliance of the HR technology ecosystem, including Workday. You will lead day-to-day production operations, plan bi-annual Workday releases, and drive continuous improvement across our HR systems with a focus on minimal disruption and strong stakeholder communications.

You will oversee a high-performing team, manage cross-functional collaborations with HR, risk and technology stakeholders, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading technology operations for a broad portfolio of enterprise SaaS applications, ideally including HR technology or Workday.
• Demonstrated experience leading business-critical cyclical processes, enterprise releases, production support and operational change.
• Experience establishing and improving service management, incident, problem, change, release and operational readiness practices.
• Experience managing technology risk, security operations, controls, audits and compliance obligations in a complex organization.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and influencing senior HR, business, risk and technology stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Workday operations and release management, service reliability, access controls, operational measurement, observability and service reporting.
• Strong stakeholder alignment, executive communication, people leadership, systems thinking, judgment and decision‑making under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Own the operational strategy, service model and standards for Workday and other HR systems in the Operations portfolio.
• Oversee production support, incident response, problem management, service restoration, root cause analysis and stakeholder communications.
• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of myPay and other recurring HR technology activities.
• Own the assessment, planning, testing, implementation and stabilization of bi-annual Workday releases and updates to other systems.
• Oversee release and operational readiness practices across the HR technology ecosystem.
• Ensure effective controls across access, security operations, configuration, change, release, data handling and production support.
• Use operational data, automation, standardization and continuous improvement to strengthen service quality, resilience and employee and administrator experience.
• Lead and develop a high-performing function and partner across the shared leadership model.

Skills

Leadership

Service delivery

Workday operations

Incident management

Security and compliance

Stakeholder communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Team leadership

Tools

Workday

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

Core Purpose

Ensure the HR technology ecosystem is reliable, secure, compliant and continuously improving, while leading the successful execution of business-critical cyclical activities, Workday releases and updates across systems in the Operations team's purview.

Position Summary

The Director, HR Technology Operations is accountable for the reliability, security, compliance, service health and continuous improvement of the HR technology ecosystem. This role leads day-to-day production operations and support across Workday and other HR systems, while ensuring business-critical cyclical activities, Workday releases and updates are planned and executed safely, predictably and with minimal disruption.

What will you do?

• Own the operational strategy, service model and standards for Workday and other HR systems in the Operations portfolio.
• Oversee production support, incident response, problem management, service restoration, root cause analysis and stakeholder communications.
• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of myPay and other recurring HR technology activities.
• Own the assessment, planning, testing, implementation and stabilization of bi-annual Workday releases and updates to other systems.
• Oversee release and operational readiness practices across the HR technology ecosystem.
• Ensure effective controls across access, security operations, configuration, change, release, data handling and production support.
• Use operational data, automation, standardization and continuous improvement to strengthen service quality, resilience and employee and administrator experience.
• Lead and develop a high-performing function and partner across the shared leadership model.

What you'll need to succeed?

• Significant experience leading technology operations or service delivery for a broad portfolio of enterprise SaaS applications, ideally including HR technology or Workday.
• Demonstrated experience leading business-critical cyclical processes, enterprise releases, production support and operational change.
• Experience establishing and improving service management, incident, problem, change, release and operational readiness practices.
• Experience managing technology risk, security operations, controls, audits and compliance obligations in a complex organization.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and influencing senior HR, business, risk and technology stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Workday operations and release management, service reliability, access controls, operational measurement, observability and service reporting.
• Strong stakeholder alignment, executive communication, people leadership, systems thinking, judgment and decision‑making under pressure.

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.
• Working together, sharing common values, and encouraging growth & achievement

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 w