Compliance Innovation Director

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:

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Innovation Director, Compliance to lead the identification, development, and implementation of innovative technologies and strategies that will streamline compliance processes, improve risk management, and help ensure regulatory adherence across our organization.

The Innovation Director, Compliance will also be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge training programs to enhance the technological and analytical capabilities of our Compliance employees.

This role will bridge the gap between traditional compliance practices and emerging technologies, fostering a culture of innovation within the compliance function and ensuring our team stays ahead of regulatory challenges in an increasingly digital financial landscape.

What will you do:

• Lead the development and execution of an innovation and data management strategy for the Compliance department, aligning with overall organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., automation, AI, blockchain) that can enhance compliance processes, risk detection, and reporting capabilities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including IT, Legal, and Business Units, to identify continuous improvement opportunities, implement innovative compliance solutions and drive digital transformation initiatives with high value realization.
• Partner with other oversight functions on technology and data integration opportunities.
• Design and develop a comprehensive training curriculum focused on technology, data literacy, machine learning and analytics for Compliance employees.
• Build a Compliance Technology Community of Practice dedicated to exploring and advancing the use of technology in regulatory compliance programs such as RCM and Monitoring & Testing.
• Develop and manage relationships with RegTech vendors, fintech partners, and regulatory bodies to stay abreast of industry trends and compliance technology advancements.
• Design and oversee pilot programs to test new compliance technologies and methodologies, measuring their effectiveness and scalability.
• Create and maintain a roadmap for compliance innovation projects, ensuring alignment with regulatory changes and business needs.
• Lead cross-functional teams in the implementation of new compliance tools and processes, managing change effectively across the organization.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of innovation and training initiatives and report on their impact to senior management.
• Act as business champion for a data-driven, decision-making culture; drive the adoption of business insights, GenAI and predictive analytics to solve complex business problems.
• Represent the organization at industry events and conferences, sharing insights on compliance innovation and best practices.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in technology and data management roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Proven track record of successfully implementing innovative solutions in a regulatory environment
• Knowledge of Canadian financial regulations and compliance requirements
• Experience with data management, data analytics, AI and emerging technologies in the risk and compliance space
• Change management experience and the ability to drive cultural transformation
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into easily understandable training materials
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills
• Strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and problem-solving
• Professional designations such as CAMS, CRMA, CCEP, PMP, CSM or SAFe, PSPO, AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, ITIL Foundation Certification, Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt) or Lean Six Sigma Certification, Design Thinking Certification, are an asset

As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

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: