Associate Director, Events & Experience
About The Position
The Associate Director, Events & Experience shapes and advances Sun Life’s enterprise workplace events and experience strategy across the United States. The role defines a cohesive, branded approach to in-office, offsite, and hybrid experiences that supports culture, leadership connection, collaboration, and business outcomes. As the senior-most U.S. leader for Events & Experience, this position provides strategic oversight and people leadership to the U.S. Events & Experience Manager and site team. It partners with senior leaders, Events & Experiences, Technology, Corporate Real Estate, Security, Health & Safety, business stakeholders, and external partners to develop scalable experience frameworks, governance and service models, and consistent, high-quality execution across U.S. locations. The position is based in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, follows a hybrid work model requiring office presence at least two days per week, and requires regular travel to other sites, up to approximately 30%.
Requirements
- 8–10+ years of progressive experience in workplace experience, corporate events, hospitality, or related fields, with demonstrated enterprise-scale leadership.
- Proven ability to lead through influence in complex, matrixed environments.
- Strong strategic thinking and credibility engaging confidently with senior and executive leaders.
- Experience designing operating models, standards, or frameworks that scale across multiple locations.
- Financial and commercial acumen, including budget ownership and vendor management.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving priorities while maintaining clarity and direction.
- Willingness to travel across U.S. sites as required, up to approximately 30%.
Responsibilities
- Own and continuously evolve the U.S. Events & Experience strategy in alignment with enterprise priorities, leadership expectations, and Sun Life’s workplace and culture agenda.
- Define a cohesive experience model across U.S. locations and offsite venues, balancing consistency with local needs.
- Advise senior leaders and business partners on how events, connection opportunities, and workplace experiences can support engagement, performance, and organizational effectiveness.
- Establish governance, enterprise standards, and success measures for event delivery, hospitality services, food and beverage, and employee experience programs.
- Translate enterprise strategy into operating models, decision frameworks, and expectations for site teams and vendors.
- Anticipate leadership needs and enterprise dynamics, and design events and experiences that reinforce business priorities.
- Anticipate capability and resourcing needs across the U.S. portfolio and inform workforce planning and operating-model evolution.
- Set direction for site-based teams, partners, and vendors across the U.S., and coach and develop team members.
- Build cross-functional partnerships with Events & Experiences, AV & Technology, Security, Health & Safety, Corporate Real Estate, and external partners.
- Oversee high-impact events such as executive meetings, leadership town halls, enterprise conferences, and strategic gatherings.
- Set frameworks and expectations for onsite and hybrid event execution while avoiding over-reliance on hands-on site management.
- Oversee financial stewardship, including budgeting, forecasting, expense governance, vendor contracts, and chargeback models.
- Use space utilization, attendance, feedback, and cost-to-value data to improve the experience model and inform investment decisions.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, innovate, and improve sustainability across event and experience operations.
- Monitor workplace experience, events, and hybrid engagement trends and translate relevant insights into practical enterprise innovation.
Benefits
- Generous vacation and sick time
- Paid family, parental, and adoption leave
- Medical coverage
- Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
- Disability programs
- Partially paid sabbatical program
- 401(k) employer match
- Stock purchase options
- Employer-funded retirement account
- Flexible, inclusive, and collaborative work environment supporting career growth
- Discretionary annual incentive award based on individual and business performance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
