AVP, Strategic Initiatives - Future of Work

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.

At Sun Life, we look for optimistic people who want to make life brighter for our Clients. We understand the value of diverse cultures, perspectives, and identities, and want you to bring your full and authentic self to work. Every day, you’ll be empowered and challenged by working with dynamic colleagues to find new and innovative ways to make Sun Life the best benefits company in America. 

The opportunity: 

Reporting to the Head of U.S Business Transformation & Shared Services, the role of the Assistant Vice President, Strategic Initiatives- Future of Work, will be responsible for championing the development of organizational goals and objectives, across Sun Life U.S. enterprise-wide business units.  This is a high-level individual contributor role.

The focus of this role will be to continue to lead awareness and engagement as employees return to our hub offices, enabling our hybrid work environment, and continuing building out our constantly evolving work model and aligned change strategy for Sun Life U.S.

How you will contribute: 

• Define, develop, and gain buy-in from stakeholders for a comprehensive change strategy for hybrid work and other Future of Work (FOW) initiatives at Sun Life US.
• Lead and drive change management for major initiatives to proactively address transitioning from a virtual work environment to a hybrid work environment for employees within driving distance to our hub office locations.
• Works under consultative direction with Head of HR and Head of US Business Transformation toward goals and objectives.
• Understands business goals, works to achieve those goals are met, and expected to make a significant contribution to the results of the respective business units.
• Owns, manages, and maintains the change management plan, identify risks and issues, and stays connected to broader global employee initiatives.
• Builds, maintains, and leverages strong relationships with senior division leaders, stakeholders, including business lines, Real Estate, IT, HR and other functional groups for inputs on approach, foster innovation and leverage for feedback on implementation.
• Defines clear and actionable deliverables for sponsorship, communications, training, and the ongoing monitoring of implemented changes.
• Apply best practices and implement frameworks that improve and sustain behavioral changes. 
• Uses technical and experiential knowledge to anticipate industry and market trends.  Demonstrates knowledge regarding current on return to office benchmarks and hybrid practices being used and implemented at other companies and in industry.
  • Embrace a data driven approach in the assessment, development, and monitoring of change management. Example, using data from multiple sources (quantitative and qualitative) to inform change impacts and approach for implementing hybrid work.
  • Identify and manage the engagement of key stakeholders, change champions, and other change agents such as people managers.
  • Requires the ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others in sensitive situations without damaging the relationship.
  • Define success metrics and introduce methodology to ensure the effectiveness of change activities, including synthesize data and propose action plans and priorities and establish leading indicators that can be tracked.
  • Maintain a current “pulse” on employees as they navigate the changes.

• Develop and clearly communicate a strategic vision.  Leads regular, ongoing communications with executive senior level leaders across the organization to provide briefings regarding FOW progress.
• Requires the ability to gain consensus and alignment to a compelling vision and story, leveraging a variety of channels, formats, and topics.
• Empathize with and understand employee sentiments and concerns around hybrid working and apply leading change strategies to address and mitigate. 
• Host virtual and in-person change sessions (feedback, lessons learned, empathy mapping exercises, etc.) with leaders, change influencers, and employees to understand and help guide the change management process.
• Identify training and education opportunities to further support the change management plan.

What you will bring with you: 

• 10-15 years in a change lead role ideally within consulting, insurance, wealth management or banking
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Organizational Leadership, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Change Management certification or designation such as Prosci Certification, Association of Change Manage Professional (ACMP) or Change Management Institute (CMI) preferred, or equivalent experience.
• Experience developing, supporting, and executing change management plans and communication strategies for large initiatives.
• Prior experience in working on enterprise Return to Office, hybrid working, or other Future of Work-related projects is preferred. 
• Balance in practical execution, strategic thinking along with hands on experience
• Strong facilitating, influencing, and relationship management skills in partnering with peers and senior leaders towards cultural change and introduction of new concepts.
• Ability to motivate and lead others that may not be direct reports.
• Strong business acumen with ability to use data to inform decision making.
• Ability to empathize and take different stakeholder lens.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience with a variety of communications tools, including Office Suite, MS Teams Workplace (or other internal communication platforms), and Zoom.
• Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences
• Strong external and professional network 
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and experience delivering training sessions.
• Experience in project management, including project planning and status reporting.

Do you see yourself in this role even if you haven’t checked all the boxes above? We welcome all talented candidates and are committed to a culture that represents diversity in all forms. If you think you might thrive in this setting, we would love to hear from you. 

Not ready to apply yet but want to stay in touch? Join our talent community to stay connected until the time is right for you! 

Life is brighter when you work at Sun Life 

• Excellent benefits and wellness programs to support the three pillars of your well-being – mental, physical and financial – including generous vacation and sick time, market-leading paid family, parental and adoption leave, a partially-paid sabbatical program, medical plans, company paid life and AD&D insurance as well as disability programs and more 
• Retirement and Stock Purchase programs to help build and enhance your future financial security including a 401(k) plan with an employer-paid match as well as an employer-funded retirement account  
• A flexible work environment with a friendly, caring, collaborative and inclusive culture  
• Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the U.S.  
• Named as a “Top 10” employer by the Boston Globe's “Top Places to Work” two years running 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. 

Salary Range: $161,000 - $257,600
At our company, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The salary range for this role is competitive nationwide, and we strive to ensure that compensation is fair and equitable. Your actual base salary will be determined based on your unique skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to your base salary, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award based on your individual performance as well as the overall performance of the business. We are dedicated to creating a work environment where everyone is rewarded for their contributions.

Sun Life Financial is a leading provider of group insurance benefits in the U.S., helping people protect what they love about their lives. More than just a name, Sun Life symbolizes our brand promise of making life brighter -for our customers, partners, and communities. Join our talented, diverse workforce and launch a rewarding career. Visit us at www.sunlife.com/us to learn more. 

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.  

Our Affirmative Action Program affirms our commitment to make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitation of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please email [email protected] to request an accommodation.

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.

Project Management - Process

26/02/2025

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.