Director, Data Science: Underwriting & AI Strategy

Sun Life; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 153,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Life US is seeking a Director of Data Science to lead an analytics squad, advancing machine learning and AI capabilities for underwriting, pricing, and decision support. You will build a high-performing team, establish best practices, and partner with governance to ensure reliable, explainable solutions.

The role reports to the AVP, Business Analytics and focuses on delivering measurable business value while expanding capabilities across Employee Benefits offerings and other priority areas.

Qualifications

• Experience with data science conditioning, modeling, integration, visualization, deployment support, and monitoring.
• Experience applying analytics to underwriting, pricing, risk selection, or related insurance decisions.
• Ability to translate complex inputs into reliable, business-ready insights and decision support.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced analytics solution development for underwriting, pricing, and decision processes.
• Shape and maintain a prioritized roadmap of high-value use cases.
• Translate business problems into analytics product requirements and adoption plans.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve multi-step business processes with data-driven insights.
• Partner with stakeholders to deliver scalable, compliant solutions.
• Ensure solutions are accurate, explainable, and fit for purpose.
• Drive adoption through training and change management.
• Manage and develop a team of data scientists.
• Monitor performance, data quality, and business outcomes to identify enhancements.
• Communicate risks, recommendations and impact to executives.

Skills

Python

SQL

Snowflake

Dataiku

ML

AI

Strong communication

Underwriting domain knowledge

Education

BS/MS/PhD in statistics, mathematics, or technical field

Tools

Dataiku

Snowflake

Job description

Sun Life US is seeking a Director of Data Science to lead an analytics squad, advancing machine learning and AI capabilities for underwriting, pricing, and decision support. You will build a high-performing team, establish best practices, and partner with governance to ensure reliable, explainable solutions.

The role reports to the AVP, Business Analytics and focuses on delivering measurable business value while expanding capabilities across Employee Benefits offerings and other priority areas.