Director, Enterprise Data Architecture - Customer Data Solutions

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:

Current or previous external Client Data (Customer Data) engagement analytics and operational data domain experience as a strategic Enterprise Data Architect is essential for this position. You should have experience with leading the unification of a national customer data experience across business units. Experience with data architecture for a holistic customer 360 view is preferred.

You should also have proven experience in a modern AWS data architecture environment.

Please consider these criteria before applying.

We seek an experienced and high-performing strategic individual contributor to join our Enterprise Data architecture team as a Director, Enterprise Data Architecture. Your focus will be towards our CXO (Client Experience Office) space where you will unify the client journey nationally across business units.

This leadership role is responsible for guiding the data solutions architecture (at an enterprise level) of critical data systems in consultation with Sun Life’s Business and enterprise partners, including the holistic alignment of technologies, standards, and practices that enable Sun Life to deliver world class customer data and analytic systems.

The Data Architecture team is an evolving group leading Sun Life in the application of leading-edge solutions for Sun Life business opportunities. This role will directly report into the Chief Data Architect - Global. Also, this role will be closely working & delivering for the Chief Data & Analytics Officer - Canada. You will also partner with the Chief Architect - Canada.

In this role you will lead the design and implementation of advanced data architectures such as event streaming & data fabric and mesh on cloud to support advanced marketing needs. This is an innovation opportunity to gain experience with AI and ML initiatives on cloud in the customer data domain.

While we would also prefer AI/ML experience, if you do not yet have that experience, consider this a learning opportunity!

What will you do?

• Take ownership of the Client oriented data domain from a conceptual perspective and provide data architecture oversight
• Lead solution integration for data and analytical products across the entire CXO ecosystem e.g. from data to data science to decisioning engines to digital properties
• Support and advocate for across business units for data design for operational and analytical needs for the Chief Data Analytics Office mandate

• You’ll lead the customer data domain data strategy engagements with client executives and define data architectures for Canada level engagements. You will also roll-up your sleeves to mentor and help the project team with complex technical issues.
• Develop data architecture patterns, define playbooks for data technologies.
• Evaluate & analyze structural requirements for new software and applications in the customer data domain.
• Lead technology POCs and pilots in the data and analytics domain in partnership with Data and analytics teams.
• Create and present customer data tools/tech proposals and evaluations at Enterprise Architecture Governance councils.
• Provide leadership and guidance on the design & end-to-end solutions for building data & analytics applications on cloud (AWS) and on-premise platforms
• Coordinate with Data life cycle management program to guide all aspects of their delivery.
• Coordinate with the Data Science department to identify future needs and requirements in the customer data domain.
• Apply best practices to all solution architecture, design areas, including on-prem, Cloud (AWS), or a combination. This includes areas such as Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, and Cost Optimization.
• Mentor data systems designers (Data Architects), both within your team and within other enterprise services or business units, in order to support solution development and application of best practices. ​

Accountability

• Set up and provide governance on data architecture and technology standards.
• Partner with Data and Analytics delivery partners.
• Partner with Solution Architects

What do you need to succeed?

• 10+ years of prior technology design and build experience related to data service design, building data architecture and leading end to end implementations.
• 2+ years with AWS cloud-based data architecture including data lake technologies like Glue, EMR, Redshift, and Lambda.
• Open source technology experience such as Kafka, Python, Spark etc.
• 3+ years of experience in leading the technology design architecture and analytics of external customer data.
• Knowledge of MDM (Master Data Management) is preferred
• RDM and Data Modeling techniques.
• Data architecture patterns evaluation.
• Background of working with data governance and its application
• Experience in Machine Learning/AI methodologies and technologies such as Sagemaker, R, Python, or similar would be an asset.
• Experience in the architecture of data analytics and visualization solutions using modern cloud based and open source tools.
• 5+ years in a financial services company (especially insurance) is preferred, but not necessarily required.

What’s in it for you?

• Great Place to Work® Certified for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada - 2024
• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Ontario - 2023
• Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada in Financial Services and Insurance - 2023
• Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada - 2023
• Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the US - 2022
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces for #HybridWork - 2022
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces for Professional Development in Canada - 2022
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces in Canada - 2022
• Named “Best Places to Work” by Glassdoor - 2021 and 2023
• Canada Award for Excellence for Mental Health at Work - 2021
• Flexible hybrid work model including in-country (Canada) work-from-home if you prefer. #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
• A common sense dress code, where you decide how you dress based on your day
• 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.

Salary Range:

Job Category:

Posting End Date: