Manager, Group Governance (Group Retirement Services GRS)

Sun Life Financial; Waterloo; Hybrid; CAD 78,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services organization is seeking a Manager for Group Governance. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with regulations while supporting Business Development efforts in the Group Retirement Services sector. Strong knowledge of pension legislation and exceptional communication skills are essential for this client-facing role, alongside fostering effective partnerships and navigating complex challenges. A hybrid working environment is offered, reflecting the company's commitment to flexibility and employee well-being.

Benefits

Flexible Benefits

Pension, stock, and savings programs

Wellness programs

Career progression opportunities

Positive and dynamic work environment

Hybrid work environment

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of pension legislation is required.
• Excellent understanding of plan design and regulatory requirements.
• Bilingual in French and English is necessary for this role.

Responsibilities

• Support Business Development with compliance and legislative inquiries.
• Provide consultation around plan design changes adhering to regulations.
• Engage in audits and maintain compliance with sponsor contracts.

Skills

Knowledge of legislation applicable to GRS

Excellent understanding of the Group Retirement Services environment

Strong partnership and organizational navigation skills

Exceptional oral and written communication skills

Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills

Adaptability

Collaboration skills

Bilingualism (French, English)

Education

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)

Retirement Plans Associate (RPA)

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. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

The Manager, Group Governance is a key role in managing risk within the Group Retirement Services (GRS) business. The successful candidate will work in close coordination with compliance teams to deliver centralized support to GRS Business Development. The role will require partnership with the respective Business Development and Proposals teams, and with key internal cross functional stakeholders. This role will be client-facing.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape governance practices within GRS business, supporting both sales efforts and ongoing client relationships while ensuring regulatory compliance and best practices are upheld.

We are seeking an adaptable and forward-thinking professional ready to embrace new challenges and responsibilities as the role evolves in line with our organization's developing needs.

What will you do?

• Support Business Development with guidance and/or responses to client complex compliance, privacy and legislative inquiries, with specific emphasis on pension legislation.
• Providing consultation to Business Development around plan design changes that are non-routine ensuring that the changes requested adhere to legislative requirements.
• Provide expertise on sponsor contracts including Service and Fee Agreements (SFA) and Master Service Agreements (MSA) language related to compliance and governance items, ensuring that contractual agreements align with organizational standards and legislative requirements.
• Engage in annual audits and certifications required to maintain compliance with sponsor contracts (ie. SOC2, ISO) for GRS, ensuring thorough preparation and successful outcomes
• Participate in annual regulator inquiries and questionnaires.
• Maintain an up-to-date repository of standard responses addressing governance inquiries, tailored specifically for information used in business development proposals and sponsor agreements.
• Participate in client audits and client due diligence processes/questionnaires, providing expertise on Sun Life’s governance processes
• Provide expert support for additional governance processes as the team mandate evolves.

What do you need to succeed?

• Strong knowledge and understanding of legislation applicable to GRS is required with an emphasis on Pension Legislation.
• Excellent understanding of the Group Retirement Services environment (plan design and administration process and regulatory and legislative requirements).
• Knowledge of Canadian Privacy Legislation as well as familiarity with Canadian financial service regulatory frameworks, certain regulatory or industry issued Guidelines (such as CAPSA Guidelines).
• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) is a strong asset
• Strong partnership and organizational navigation skills
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to present to executive-level and external audiences
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and respond effectively under pressure
• Self-starter with strong initiative, adaptability, and collaboration skills to navigate ambiguous situations and achieve goals
• Bilingualism (French, English; both oral and written) is required for the frequent interactions with English- and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada and worldwide; the position reports to a unilingual English-speaking manager outside Quebec.

What's in it for you:

• Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family
• Pension, stock, and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security
• Wellness programs that support the three pillars of your health – mental, physical, and financial
• The opportunity to work in an environment committed to continuous improvement as well as personal growth and development
• The opportunity for career progression by consistently exceeding your performance goals
• The opportunity to work in a positive, dynamic, and collaborative work environment where you are encouraged to share your ideas.
• Hybrid work environment

#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! Several work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range:

78,000/78 000 - 128,000/128 000

Job Category:

Business Analysis - Process

Posting End Date:

02/07/2025