Director, HR Technology Operations

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

$125K — $195K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Significant leadership experience in technology operations for enterprise SaaS applications, ideally HR technology or Workday.
  • Demonstrated ability in managing business-critical cyclical processes and enterprise releases.
  • Experience in establishing and improving operational practices in service management, incident and problem management.
  • Knowledge of technology risk management, security operations, and compliance obligations in complex organizations.
  • Proven leadership in multidisciplinary technical teams while influencing stakeholders at various levels.
  • Familiarity with Workday operations, release management, and service reliability practices.
  • Strong communication, leadership, and decision-making skills under pressure.

Responsibilities

  • Own the operational strategy and service model for Workday and other HR systems.
  • Oversee production support, incident response, and stakeholder communications.
  • Lead end-to-end planning and execution of recurring HR technology activities.
  • Manage assessment, planning, testing, and stabilization of Workday releases and system updates.
  • Ensure operational readiness and adherence to release practices across the HR tech ecosystem.
  • Implement effective controls for access, security operations, and data handling.
  • Drive continuous improvement through data, automation, and standardized practices.

Benefits

  • Flexible group insurance program starting on your first day.
  • Participation in a Share Ownership Program with employer matching contributions.
  • Recognition as one of Canada's Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work in 2026.
  • Hybrid work model offering a combination of office and virtual working options.
  • Emphasis on shared values, growth, and achievement within a diverse team.
Full Job Description
Job Description:
Core Purpose
Ensure the HR technology ecosystem is reliable, secure, compliant and continuously improving, while leading the successful execution of business-critical cyclical activities, Workday releases and updates across systems in the Operations team's purview.

Position Summary
The Director, HR Technology Operations is accountable for the reliability, security, compliance, service health and continuous improvement of the HR technology ecosystem. This role leads day-to-day production operations and support across Workday and other HR systems, while ensuring business-critical cyclical activities, Workday releases and updates are planned and executed safely, predictably and with minimal disruption.

What will you do?
  • Own the operational strategy, service model and standards for Workday and other HR systems in the Operations portfolio.
  • Oversee production support, incident response, problem management, service restoration, root cause analysis and stakeholder communications.
  • Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of myPay and other recurring HR technology activities.
  • Own the assessment, planning, testing, implementation and stabilization of bi-annual Workday releases and updates to other systems.
  • Oversee release and operational readiness practices across the HR technology ecosystem.
  • Ensure effective controls across access, security operations, configuration, change, release, data handling and production support.
  • Use operational data, automation, standardization and continuous improvement to strengthen service quality, resilience and employee and administrator experience.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing function and partner across the shared leadership model.

What you'll need to succeed?
  • Significant experience leading technology operations or service delivery for a broad portfolio of enterprise SaaS applications, ideally including HR technology or Workday.
  • Demonstrated experience leading business-critical cyclical processes, enterprise releases, production support and operational change.
  • Experience establishing and improving service management, incident, problem, change, release and operational readiness practices.
  • Experience managing technology risk, security operations, controls, audits and compliance obligations in a complex organization.
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and influencing senior HR, business, risk and technology stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of Workday operations and release management, service reliability, access controls, operational measurement, observability and service reporting.
  • Strong stakeholder alignment, executive communication, people leadership, systems thinking, judgment and decision-making under pressure.

What's in it for you?
  • 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 Sun Life 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.
  • Working together, sharing common values, and encouraging growth & achievement


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.

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.

Salary Range:
125,000/125 000 - 195,000/195 000

Job Category:
Human Resources

Posting End Date:
13/09/2026

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