We seek an experienced and high-performing individual to join our Enterprise Data architecture team as a Director, Enterprise Data Architecture. This leadership role is responsible for designing 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 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 Head (AVP) of Data Architecture.

In this role you will lead the design and implementation of advanced data architectures such as Data Fabric & Mesh on cloud. This is an innovation opportunity to gain experience with AI and ML initiatives on cloud for voice and text data. While we would prefer this experience, consider the AI aspect of this role a career development and learning opportunity!

What will you do?  

• You’ll engage and lead the Data Strategy engagements with client executives, define data architectures for Enterprise engagements, and roll-up your sleeves and help the project team with complex technical issues 

• Develop data patterns, define playbooks and technologies  

• Collaborate with all regions on various delivery projects. 

• Analyze structural requirements for new software and applications 

• Lead technology POCs and pilots in the data and analytics domain in partnership with Data and analytics teams.  

• Create and present tools/tech proposals and evaluations at EA Governance councils 

• Provide leadership on the design & end-to-end solutions for building data & analytics applications on cloud and on-premise platforms 

• Coordinate with Data life cycle management program in all aspects of the delivery 

• Coordinate with the Data Science department to identify future needs and requirements 

• Apply best practices to all solution architecture, design areas, including on-prem, AWS, or a combination. This includes areas such as Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, and Cost Optimization. 

• Mentor other data systems designers (Data Architects), both within your team and within other ES or Business units, in order to support solution development and application of best practices. 

• Translate detailed requirements into functional specifications. 

• Provide high level estimates for project proposals and solution designs.  

• Work with the solutions design team to drive data & analytics strategy across enterprise  

• Provides consultation for the evaluation of complex data and software systems. 

• Strong hands-on experience in delivering data analytics solution with proven business value  

• You’ll mentor, develop, and proactively support practice capabilities including recruiting and development of leaders

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What do you need to succeed?  

• Approximately 15+ years of build/design experience related to data service design, building data architecture and leading end to end implementations.

• 3+ years with cloud based data architecture be it AWS, Azure, GCP or similar). AWS is preferred.

• 5+ years in a financial services company (especially insurance) is preferred, but not necessarily required. 

• Excellent documentation skills including technical writing, Visio, PowerPoint, flowcharting (5+ years)  

• 5-7+ years’ experience in development, 3 of which in the capacity of Development and/or Design Lead. 

• Strong knowledge on MDM, RDM, Data Modeling techniques, Data architecture patterns  

• Background of working with Data governance and its application 

• Experience in Machine Learning/AI methodologies and technologies such as Sagemaker, Azure Synapse Azure ML, R, Python, and Azure Data Bricks is preferred.

• 5+ years’ experience acting in the capacity Senior Project roles for sizable IT projects. 

• Strong experience in delivering projects in Big Data related projects using Cloud tech ( AWS or Azure or GCP or similar), data lake technologies like Glue, EMR, Redshift, Lambda and open source technologies like Python, Spark, Hive, Data Lake, Cassandra 

• Delivery experience in data analytics and visualization solutions using any modern age tools like SAS, AWS Sagemaker, R Studio, Tableau 

• Extremely strong communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills. This includes skills such as conceptual requirements interpretation, solution creation, and problem-solving abilities. 

• Excellent collaboration and leadership skills, a proven ability to adapt to challenges, and a strong interest in coaching and mentoring colleagues. 

• Experience with productionizing services at scale and related change management. 

• Experience with project management and software development life cycle /SDLC; waterfall and agile (5+ years). Working experience on Kanban/Jira boards 

• Proven experience in designing solutions for ODS, data warehouse system integrations 

• Strong understanding of building DevOps pipelines for Data & analytics technologies. 3+ yrs. in DevOps (CI / CD) related technologies and must have implemented the same in 2-3 projects in the past 

What’s in it for you?

• Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the US - 2022
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces for #HybridWork - 2022
• Named “Best Places to Work” by Glassdoor - 2021
• Canada Award for Excellence for Mental Health at Work - 2021
• Flexible hybrid work model including in-country 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