Director, Global Brand and Consumer Insights

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.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Reporting to the AVP, Global CX & Marketing, Brand and Client Insights, the Director, Global Brand and Consumer Insights will play a leadership role in shaping and advancing Sunlife’s global consumer insights measurement strategy. The Director will partner with senior leaders across Brand, Marketing, CX and the business to identify critical business questions, translate consumer and Client understanding into strategic insight, and influence business and marketing decisions.

The role will provide strategic leadership across major research and insights initiatives, integrating consumer attitudes, Client feedback, behavioural data and external market trends to develop a holistic understanding of the market. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in market research and consumer insights, strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, and exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling narratives for senior leaders.

Please note this role requires regular presence at our Toronto One York office.

What will you do?

• Lead the design and delivery of major global and multi-market research programs, ensuring the appropriate use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Shape and lead the global consumer insights measurement strategy, identifying the research and insight priorities needed to inform Brand and Marketing initiatives.
• Set standards and best practices for consumer research and insights, including research design, analytical rigour, interpretation, and storytelling.
• Act as a strategic insights advisor to senior leaders, translating complex research, consumer behaviour and market trends into clear implications and recommendations that support business decisions.
• Partner across Business Groups (Canada, US, and Asia) to embed consumer and Client insights into strategic planning, brand development, marketing, innovation and experience decisions.
• Provide strategic oversight of external research partners, ensuring Sunlife has access to leading research capabilities while maintaining quality, efficiency and value from its research investments.

• Provide leadership, coaching and strategic guidance to team members, ensuring consistently high-quality work and insights that create value for the organization.

What do you need to succeed?

• Exceptional executive communication and influencing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex evidence into compelling narratives, recommendations and decisions.

• Strong quantitative and analytical expertise, with the ability to guide advanced analysis and evaluate the quality and implications of analytical outputs.
• Strong digital fluency, with the ability to effectively leverage AI, analytics and productivity tools (e.g. Microsoft CoPilot, Claude) to enhance research, insight development and storytelling.
• Continuous improvement mindset, with a willingness to explore and adopt new capabilities, tools, and approaches.
• Experienced with using Client Feedback Management platform(s) (e.g. Qualtrics, Medallia, etc.) to setup, program, field, and analyze results from ad hoc research initiatives.
• Passion for being a consumer advocate within an organization and an ability to bring this mindset to the table when working with diverse business line leaders.
• High level of initiative to prioritize work amidst competing demands.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, navigate ambiguity and lead multiple strategic priorities in a complex, matrixed organization.

Preferred Skills:

• 10+ years of relevant consumer insights and/or Client insights experience with preference given to those with both Client and vendor experience.
• Knowledge in all facets of Market Research, with experience managing Brand Health tracking programs, Creative Testing, Ad Tracking, Product and Concept Testing research.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Market Research, Statistics, Consumer Behavior or equivalent.
• Prior experience conducting research for Financial Services organizations is an asset.

Unique Requirements:

• Able to accommodate early morning and late evening meetings 1-2 times per week to support business partners in Asia time zones.

What's in it for you?

• Hybrid work environment (at least 2 in-office days/week is required).
• A competitive salary and bonus program, based on market scale.
• A flexible group insurance program starting on your first day of work to meet your needs and those of your family.
• Our Share Ownership Program gives you the opportunity to invest in Sunlife while benefiting from employer matching contributions.
• We are proud to be included in Great Place to Work's 2026 list of Canada's Best Workplaces.

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 [email protected].

We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you.

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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