Program Specialist, Talent Acquisition, Early Careers

Job Description

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Join Sun Life’s Early Careers team in a pivotal role that helps shape and advance our emerging talent strategy. As an Early Careers Program Specialist, you will play a key role in designing, executing, and continuously enhancing programs that attract, engage, and develop top student talent. Working closely with Early Careers leadership and business stakeholders across the organization, you will drive strategic initiatives that strengthen our talent pipeline, elevate the student experience, and support long-term workforce planning objectives.

This role combines program management, stakeholder partnership, talent acquisition support, and data-driven decision-making to deliver meaningful outcomes across our early careers ecosystem.

What will you do?

Scholarship & Inclusion Program

• Lead the execution of the Dean Connor Inclusion Scholarship Program, driving engagement, candidate conversion, and long-term talent outcomes

• Partner with internal stakeholders to strengthen inclusive talent attraction strategies and create meaningful pathways for underrepresented student talent

• Monitor program effectiveness and recommend enhancements based on participant feedback, conversion metrics, and business needs

Student Experience & Talent Development

• Drive the planning and co-deliver high-impact programming that supports student engagement, development, and retention, including:

  Sun Life Student Professional Development Series

  Student Orientation and Mid-Term Experience Programs

  Student Social Committee initiatives

  BOLDER Award programming

  High school outreach and partnership initiatives

• Identify opportunities to enhance the student value proposition through innovative programming, networking opportunities, and developmental experiences

• In partnership with the Early Careers leadership team manage and evolve the Early Careers social media presence and external brand-building initiatives to strengthen Sun Life’s employer brand among emerging talent

Talent Acquisition Partnership

• Serve as the Early Careers liaison to the Early Career Accelerator Program, ensuring alignment between program objectives and talent outcomes

• Partner with recruitment teams and business leaders to serve as an as-needed flexible resource to support hiring initiatives across multiple business lines, contributing to sourcing strategies, candidate assessment, interview processes, offer management, and hiring decisions

• Represent Sun Life at campus recruitment events, career fairs, and networking opportunities to build strategic relationships with key academic partners and student communities

Program Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a trusted partner to business stakeholders, identifying opportunities to expand and enhance early careers programming in alignment with evolving talent needs

• Develop and maintain strong relationships across business units, HR teams, academic institutions, and external partners to support program success

• Oversee program documentation, reporting, and operational processes, ensuring consistency, scalability, and accessibility across initiatives

• Facilitate collaboration between Early Careers and experienced hire recruitment teams to strengthen talent pipeline planning and conversion efforts

Insights, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Leverage recruitment and program data to assess effectiveness, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations

• Develop and track key performance indicators, conversion metrics, ROI measures, and DE&I outcomes to evaluate program success and make recommendations to inform future strategy

• Contribute to the evolution of Sun Life’s Early Careers strategy through process optimization, partnership development, and innovative talent attraction initiatives

• Regularly analyze conversion reporting and talent pipeline data to identify opportunities for increased engagement and hiring success

What do you need to succeed?

• Experience supporting Early Careers, campus recruitment, talent programs, or emerging talent initiatives is preferred

• Strong program management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously

• Ability to build relationships, influence partners, and collaborate effectively across diverse teams

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making

• Highly adaptable, resourceful, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment

• Proactive, ownership-oriented mindset with the ability to independently drive initiatives from concept through execution

What's in it for you?

• The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential

• Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family

• We’re committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment. Our goal is to make sure all our employees have the chance to live up to their full potential

• We’re honoured to be recognized as a 2025 Best Workplaces in Ontario by Great Place to Work® Canada

• We are thrilled to be recognized by Excellence Canada with their top-level certification, the Canada Order of Excellence for Mental Health at Work®, for prioritizing employee well-being, fostering a positive work culture, and achieving excellence in mental health

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