Director, Strategic Initiatives (Distribution Growth)

Sun Life Financial, Inc.

$110K — $180K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Proven track record leading growth strategies in financial services or related fields.
  • Demonstrated experience in building and developing high-performing teams.
  • Deep understanding of financial services, insurance, or wealth management.
  • Track record of executing go-to-market initiatives and managing pilots.
  • Ability to influence cross-functional teams and engage senior leadership.
  • Strong analytical skills with commercial judgment in assessing opportunities.
  • Proficiency with CRM tools, especially Salesforce, for pipeline management.

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end growth initiatives from strategy to implementation.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team with accountability.
  • Build trusted relationships across functional partners and executives.
  • Translate market insights into actionable growth strategies.
  • Identify opportunities for client acquisition and advisor engagement.
  • Establish KPIs for performance management and optimize strategies.
  • Drive implementation of scalable go-to-market plans.

Benefits

  • Flexible group insurance program from day one.
  • 20 vacation days per year for work-life balance.
  • Share Ownership Program with employer matching contributions.
  • Recognized as one of Canada's Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work.
  • Supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
Full Job Description

Job Description:

Are You Ready to Drive End-to-End Growth and Shape the Future of an Evolving Platform?

If you've successfully led complex cross-functional initiatives, built high-performing teams, and translated market opportunities into measurable outcomes—this is your opportunity to make your mark at scale.

The Opportunity

Prospr is at an inflection point. We're looking for a proven Director who thrives in owning growth initiatives from strategy through execution—someone with the strategic acumen, stakeholder influence, and operational courage to unlock new revenue streams and strengthen our competitive position.

Reporting to the AVP, Business Growth & Strategy, you'll lead a team driving priority growth initiatives while building trusted relationships across Prospr, SLFD, and key functional partners. This is a highly visible role where you'll shape strategy, influence decisions across the organization, and directly impact business outcomes.

What Success Looks Like

  • Own end-to-end growth initiatives: Define strategy, build business cases, pilot solutions, and drive implementation across multiple functions—seeing ideas become market reality.

  • Lead and elevate a high-performing team: Attract and develop top talent, set clear ownership, and create accountability for measurable results in a dynamic environment.

  • Build and leverage trusted relationships: Establish credibility with SLFD leaders, field advisors, cross-functional partners, and senior executives—mobilizing stakeholders without direct authority to execute on complex priorities.

  • Translate insight into strategy: Synthesize client, advisor, and market data into clear recommendations, growth plans, and scalable go-to-market approaches that drive meaningful outcomes.

  • Drive advisor engagement and client acquisition: Identify whitespace opportunities, deepen relationships with existing clients, and build partnerships that expand Prospr's footprint across life, health, and wealth solutions.

  • Champion performance management: Establish and monitor KPIs around advisor engagement, client acquisition, pipeline velocity, and revenue impact—using data and CRM tools to course-correct and optimize.

What You Bring

  • Proven track record leading growth strategies: Significant experience in strategy, business development, sales leadership, or partnerships—ideally in financial services, distribution, or advisor-led channels.

  • People leadership that attracts talent: You've built, coached, and developed high-performing teams through ambiguity and changing priorities. You know how to create ownership and accountability.

  • Deep market and customer acumen: You understand financial services, insurance, wealth management, or field-based distribution models. You speak the language of advisors and sales leaders and can anticipate their needs.

  • Execution excellence: You've moved beyond strategy documents—you've managed pilots, launched go-to-market initiatives, and driven adoption across functions. You balance strategic thinking with hands-on accountability.

  • Cross-functional influence and credibility: You mobilize complex stakeholder ecosystems, build trust quickly, and have the presence to engage confidently with senior leaders and advisor communities.

  • Commercial judgment and analytical rigor: You assess opportunities with both strategic vision and hard-nosed performance metrics. You're comfortable with ambiguity but driven by outcomes.

  • Salesforce or CRM platform expertise: You use pipeline management and CRM tools fluently to inform business development strategy and performance decisions.

Why This Matters

You'll lead in a high-visibility role where your strategic decisions and team's execution directly drive revenue growth and strengthen relationships across the organization. This is a platform to demonstrate leadership at scale, expand your stakeholder network, and build a portfolio of wins that elevate your profile within Sun Life.

Reasons why you should join us under the sun?

  • 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.

  • Time off that allows you to focus on the moments that matter most. 20 vacation days per year.

  • 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 2025 list of Canada's Best Workplaces.

  • A warm, supportive, and inclusive culture.


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:

110,000/110 000 - 180,000/180 000

Job Category:

Business Development - Non Actuarial

Posting End Date:

20/09/2026

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