Manager, Communications, Creative and Experience Strategy

Sun Life; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Life is seeking a Manager, Communications, Creative and Experience Strategy to lead strategic communications, creative, and engagement initiatives for signature events. The role oversees a high-performing team and partners with key leaders to deliver impactful advisor experiences across the advisor journey.

The position blends strategic thinking with creative leadership and operational excellence, translating business objectives into integrated communications and experiences that drive

Qualifications

• University degree in journalism, advertising, marketing or communications.
• 5+ years leading complex marcom strategies.
• Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develops integrated communications, creative, and engagement strategies for events and programs.
• Owns end-to-end engagement strategy for signature events.
• Leads creative direction, branding, and on-brand experiences.
• Manages budgets, vendor relationships, and risk.
• Drives innovation and continuous improvement in event tech.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Project management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

University degree in communications

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:

Hybrid work environment

Twice per week in office (Waterloo or Toronto), subject to change

Reporting to the Director, Events, the Manager, Communications, Creative and Experience Strategy leads the development and execution of strategic communications, creative, and engagement initiatives that support signature events while managing a high-performing team responsible for delivering impactful experiences across the advisor journey.

This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, creative leadership, and operational excellence to deliver meaningful advisor and field leader experiences. The Manager, Communications, Creative and Experience Strategy is responsible for translating business objectives into integrated communications, marketing, and engagement strategies that inspire action, strengthen connections, and elevate the impact of events, recognition, and key initiatives. Success in this role requires balancing vision with execution, fostering innovation, managing competing priorities, and leading the delivery of high-quality experiences and communications.

As part of the Business Growth team, this role partners closely with the Events team, senior leaders, and a broad network of stakeholders to develop and execute integrated engagement strategies. Leveraging expertise in communications, marketing, creative services, and emerging technologies, the Manager leads the end-to-end planning and delivery of communications and creative initiatives that support signature events, incentive programs, and business priorities. Through a focus on audience insights, innovation, and experience design, this role helps drive advisor engagement, strengthen business outcomes, and enhance overall advisor and field leader experiences.

What you will do:

Communications & Experience Strategy (25%)

• Develops and executes integrated communications, creative, and engagement strategies that support recognition programs, conferences, events, and business initiatives.
• Owns the end-to-end engagement strategy for signature events, translating business objectives into compelling experiences that drive engagement, understanding, performance, and alignment with business priorities.
• Leads the development of event themes, strategic messaging frameworks, storytelling approaches, executive communications, scripts, recognition programming, and multimedia experiences.
• Measures and evaluates communications, engagement, and event effectiveness, leveraging insights and data to inform future strategies and continuous improvement.
• Collaborates and works with the Consulting team to draft business content for signature events

Creative Direction & Branding (20%)

• Provides creative leadership and oversight for all event-related communications, digital experiences, presentations, video productions, on-site branding, and print collateral.
• Reviews, approves, and guides all communications, creative concepts, copy, and design to ensure alignment with business objectives, brand standards, accessibility requirements, and audience needs.
• Acts as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert on communications, creative development, attendee engagement, and event experience design across SLFD initiatives.

Leadership, People & Resource Management (20%)

• Leads and develops the Communications & Creative team, providing strategic direction, coaching, performance management, and professional development to foster a high-performing, innovative, and collaborative team culture.
• Establishes priorities and allocates team resources across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality communications and creative assets while balancing strategic and operational objectives.

Event Portfolio & Stakeholder Leadership (15%)

• Partners closely with Event, Recognition, Distribution, Consulting and senior leadership teams to develop integrated strategies and deliver business outcomes through exceptional event and recognition experiences.
• Leads cross-functional planning and execution of high-profile advisor recognition and business events, ensuring exceptional participant experiences and strong alignment to organizational goals.

Innovation, Technology & Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Drives innovation by identifying, evaluating, and implementing event technology solutions, digital engagement tools, attendee experience platforms, and emerging communication channels to enhance effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Develops and maintains processes documentation and operating procedures that improve team effectiveness, scalability, quality, and consistency.

Financial, Vendor & Risk Management (10%)

• Leads vendor and agency relationships related to communications, creative development, production, event technology, and digital experiences, including contract management, negotiations, and performance oversight.
• Oversees communications and creative budgets within event and recognition portfolios, including planning, forecasting, cost management, vendor approvals, and identification of efficiencies and savings opportunities.
• Ensures compliance with legal, risk, privacy, accessibility, and regulatory requirements across all communications, and creative deliverables.
• Manages departmental budgets, project expenditures, contracts, and resources in accordance with financial targets and business priorities.

What you need to succeed in this role:

• Demonstrated ability to build and influence relationships across business units, vendors, and senior leadership to deliver strategic communications and engagement outcomes.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and significant organizational visibility.
• Proven budget management experience, including forecasting, vendor management, contract oversight, and financial stewardship.
• Strong leadership, coaching, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence decisions and drive alignment.
• Experience developing integrated communications, and engagement strategies for events, recognition programs, and business initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate business objectives into measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead through change, navigate ambiguity, and drive innovation, process improvement, and operational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple priorities while delivering high-quality work, maintaining compliance, and achieving business objectives.
• Experience developing governance frameworks, processes, documentation, and tools that improve team performance and scalability.
• Self-motivated leader with a continuous improvement mindset and a track record of developing high-performing teams and partnerships.
• A university degree in journalism, advertising, marketing or communications.
• Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.
• 5 or more years’ experience leading complex marcom strategy creation and execution.
• Prior experience with copywriting, design, or production in an agency environment is an asset.
• Prior project management experience, with a focus on creative direction.

Why join Sun Life:

• Being a member of the Sun Life family, a group of people united by our Purpose: to help Clients and Employees achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives
• A friendly, collaborative and inclusive culture
• A collaborative and interactive team environment
• Being part of our journey in developing the next greatest digital experience
• Working together, sharing common values and encouraging growth & achievement
• Joining a reputable organization with over 150 years of history
• Certified Great Place to Work in Canada in 2026

#LI-Hybrid

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:

80,000/80 000 - 128,000/128 000

Job Category:

Communications

Posting End Date:

23/09/2026