Job Description
Join Sun Life’s Client Solutions Centre (CSC) and drive the planning, prioritization, and business performance management processes that fuel our growth across in-plan member and Group Choices channels. You'll provide the structure, discipline, and analytical rigor that connects strategy to execution – helping extend our reach to empower Canadians to own their future and retire with ease and confidence.
Reporting to the AVP, Growth & Execution within Sun Life Canada's Group Retirement Services (GRS), the Director, Strategic Planning & Development operates within the CSC. The CSC uniquely combines licensed advisors with a cutting-edge digital platform, supporting both active plan members and those transitioning through or remaining in Group Choices, our flagship post-employment offering.
What will you do?
- Lead annual and multi-year strategic planning cycles aligned with GRS and Sun Life Canada priorities
- Develop strategic roadmaps connecting vision to execution
- Build business plans, decision frameworks, and prioritization structures for investment and resource allocation
- Partner with Finance to project business results based on key drivers
- Develop, align, and track OKRs, KPIs, and business targets
- Partner with senior leaders to cascade and activate objectives across functions
- Monitor performance, identify risks, and deliver actionable insights and recommendations
- Evaluate strategic opportunities through sizing, risk / benefit analysis, and financial modeling
- Facilitate structured assessments supporting go / no-go decisions
- Provide ongoing oversight of strategic initiative portfolios
- Frame complex topics into compelling narratives for executives and cross-functional teams
- Create leadership materials, templates, and reports that drive transparency and alignment
- Coordinate strategic initiatives across functions to ensure on-time, on-budget, on-strategy delivery
- Drive alignment and execution across diverse stakeholder groups including Finance, Product, Marketing, Data & Analytics, Sales, Operations, Risk, Compliance, & Legal
- Partner with the Director, Growth to integrate test-and-learn initiatives into the strategic portfolio
What do you need to succeed?
7–10+ years in strategy, business planning, management consulting, corporate development, or leadership roles in financial servicesStrong understanding of wealth management, client experience, or financial services business modelsProven track record building strategic plans, OKR frameworks, and business performance management systemsExceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to synthesize complex informationOutstanding communication, presentation, and executive storytelling abilitiesExperience with structured methodologies for prioritization, business casing, and performance evaluationAbility to lead through influence in matrixed organizationsWhat does success look like?
Your impact will be measured by : - Quality and clarity of annual strategic plans and roadmaps - Alignment and adoption of area OKRs and performance frameworks - Accuracy and transparency of reporting and insights - Effectiveness of strategic decision making, data-driven insights discovery, and initiative prioritization - Leadership satisfaction with communication and planning processes
Why This Matters
The strategies you shape, the insights you surface, and the alignment you drive has the potential to improve real lives and financial futures. You'll play a pivotal role in helping Canadians navigate one of life's most important journeys—achieving financial security in retirement.