AVP, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution

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 Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution will be a visionary thinker with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams globally to influence and drive towards the delivery of measurable business outcomes. Reporting to the Global Chief Enterprise Architect, the AVP will be a key advisor in shaping the global technology landscape at Sun Life.

The AVP, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution will lead the strategic planning process across Enterprise Architecture (EA), as well as ensure linkage and alignment to the business strategies and operational planning processes. This role is key in providing guidance in partnership with country Chief Architects, platform and portfolio level architects on large strategic initiatives that span across multiple markets, business units and platforms. The AVP will also be responsible for communicating strategy to a variety of audiences, including senior management across the Business as well as IT and other supporting areas.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and innovation

• Lead key Enterprise Architecture strategies that have global leverage and span across multiple markets, business units and platforms working closely with respective Enterprise Architecture peers, Business group CIOs, IT Platform Owners and Business Strategy groups to drive the vision of future architectures.
• Develop, document and communicate the overall Enterprise Architecture strategy, by partnering with peers across the Enterprise Architecture, Business group CIOs, IT Platform Owners and Business Strategy groups alike.
• Work closely with IT leaders and other Sun Life Business Units to obtain knowledge of their strategic direction.
• Act as a thought leader, provide guidance on industry best practices and architecture frameworks.
• Remain abreast of external trends in the digital space by participating in the start-up, FinTech and InsurTech communities.
• Connect with vendor partners, attend external conferences, and nurture existing relationships with the goal of informing on trends to be presented to Business & IT partners through key executive communications and the planning and execution of the global enterprise Technology Summits.
• Support the Country CIOs, Technology executives, Enterprise Architecture leaders, and business partners to define and advance the Enterprise Architecture strategic ambitions. Provide input to strategic plans and plan development, understanding 2-3 year business requirements and strategies.
• Plan Enterprise Architecture Summits and Roadshows: Organize and lead summits, roadshows, and forums to showcase how architecture initiatives drive business value and outcomes, foster global collaboration, and engage stakeholders.

Enterprise Architecture metrics

• Lead the planning and development of Enterprise Architecture metrics including objectives and key results (OKRs), and balanced scorecard that provide insights on the progress towards operational and transformational technology ambitions.

Enterprise Architecture practices & processes

• Work closely with the Enterprise Architecture governance teams to drive towards EA excellence by maturing the EA practice and driving measurable efficiencies from the EA processes.
• Lead the evolution of Data and Analytical products (including but not limited to Enterprise Knowledge Graphs, Digital Twins of the Organization, and GenAI solutions) that improve EA design, documentation, governance, and maintenance processes.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• 15+ years of experience in IT, with 7+ years in Enterprise Architecture or a related leadership role.
• Proven experience in defining Enterprise Architecture strategies for large-scale technology transformations in a complex, global organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Preferred skills:

Technical Expertise

• Expertise in authoring industry white papers and conducting technology trend analyses.
• Knowledge of Enterprise Architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, or similar).
• Knowledge in cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), data architecture, and emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.
• Understanding of modern development practices, including DevOps, Agile, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to define and implement enterprise architecture and best practices across large, complex organizations.

Leadership and Communication

• Proven ability to define and track team OKRs, ensuring measurable impact on organizational goals.
• Strong understanding of global collaboration, with experience partnering with geographically dispersed enterprise architects.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a proven track record of building high-performing hybrid teams of enterprise architects.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset and the ability to drive organizational change.
• Experience with executive communications, e.g., workshops, reporting to C-Suite or external audience.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience planning and executing summits, roadshows, or similar initiatives to promote architecture strategies and demonstrate the value to delivering business outcomes.
• Excellence in the presentation process to key and executive stakeholders (storyboard to finished product and speaker notes).

Not necessary, but considered an asset:

• Management or technology consulting experience.
• Experience in FinTech, InsurTech or traditional financial services.
• Specialized experience in any of the following enterprise technologies: application programming interface (API), data & analytics (“big data”), cloud infrastructure, DevOps, cyber security, web or mobile development.
• Experience with Agile delivery methodologies.

As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only as the position includes managing both French and English-speaking staff (Quebec and outside Quebec) and providing daily support to the team.

What’s in it for you?

• Great Place to Work® Certified for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada - 2025, 2024 and 2023
• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada - 2025
• Canada Order of Excellence for Mental Health at Work® certification from Excellence Canada. Sun Life is one of only four companies in Canada to ever receive this certification - 2024
• Top Work Places® for Remote Work - Monster Canada - 2024
• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada - 2024 and 2022
• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces for Women in Canada - 2024
• Flexible hybrid work model. #LI-Hybrid
• Pension, stock and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security
• Work and professional development that is united by our Purpose: to help Clients and Employees achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives
• A friendly, collaborative and inclusive culture
• Be part of our continuous improvement journey in developing the next greatest digital enterprise experience.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure influenced by market range data
• The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential

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 thebrightside@sunlife.com.

At Sun Life we strive to create a flexible work environment where our employees are empowered to do their best work. Several flexible 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.

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