AVP, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution

Sun Life•Waterloo, ON

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution will be a visionary thinker with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams globally to influence and drive towards the delivery of measurable business outcomes. Reporting to the Global Chief Enterprise Architect, the AVP will be a key advisor in shaping the global technology landscape at Sun Life. The AVP, Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Execution will lead the strategic planning process across Enterprise Architecture (EA), as well as ensure linkage and alignment to the business strategies and operational planning processes. This role is key in providing guidance in partnership with country Chief Architects, platform and portfolio level architects on large strategic initiatives that span across multiple markets, business units and platforms. The AVP will also be responsible for communicating strategy to a variety of audiences, including senior management across the Business as well as IT and other supporting areas.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in IT
10+ years in Enterprise Architecture
3+ years of Senior Director / Assistant Vice-President level experience
Proven experience in defining Enterprise Architecture strategies for large-scale technology transformations in a complex, global organization.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
Demonstrated ability to define and implement a unified enterprise architecture and best practices approach across large, complex organizations.
Expertise with elevating an enterprise architecture practice to align cross-market EA strategies, across multiple business capabilities, in a complex global environment, while reducing scale and total cost of ownership.
Ability to lead an enterprise architecture Centre of Excellence while leveraging AI to enhance enterprise architecture practice capability.
Expertise in authoring industry white papers and conducting technology trend analyses.
Knowledge of Enterprise Architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, or similar).
Knowledge in cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), data architecture, and emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.
Previous experience with modern software development practices and technology including API, DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and Agile.
Proven ability to define and track team OKRs, ensuring measurable impact on organizational goals.
Strong understanding of global collaboration, with experience partnering with geographically dispersed enterprise architects.
Exceptional leadership skills with a proven track record of building high-performing hybrid teams of enterprise architects.
Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders.
Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset and the ability to drive organizational change.
Experience with executive communications, e.g., workshops, reporting to C-Suite or external audience.
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
Experience planning and executing summits, roadshows, or similar initiatives to promote architecture strategies and demonstrate the value to delivering business outcomes.
Excellence in the presentation process to key and executive stakeholders (storyboard to finished product and speaker notes).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
IASA certification
Management or technology consulting experience.
Experience in FinTech or InsurTech
Bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only as the position includes managing both French and English-speaking staff (Quebec and outside Quebec) and providing daily support to the team.

Responsibilities

Lead key Enterprise Architecture strategies that have global leverage and span across multiple markets, business units and platforms working closely with respective Enterprise Architecture peers, Business group CIOs, IT Platform Owners and Business Strategy groups to drive the vision of future architectures.
Develop, document and communicate the overall Enterprise Architecture strategy, by partnering with peers across the Enterprise Architecture, Business group CIOs, IT Platform Owners and Business Strategy groups alike.
Work closely with IT leaders and other Sun Life Business Units to obtain knowledge of their strategic direction.
Act as a thought leader, provide guidance on industry best practices and architecture frameworks.
Remain abreast of external trends in the digital space by participating in the start-up, FinTech and InsurTech communities.
Connect with vendor partners, attend external conferences, and nurture existing relationships with the goal of informing on trends to be presented to Business & IT partners through key executive communications and the planning and execution of the global enterprise Technology Summits.
Support the Country CIOs, Technology executives, Enterprise Architecture leaders, and business partners to define and advance the Enterprise Architecture strategic ambitions.
Provide input to strategic plans and plan development, understanding 2-3 year business requirements and strategies.
Plan Enterprise Architecture Summits and Roadshows: Organize and lead summits, roadshows, and forums to showcase how architecture initiatives drive business value and outcomes, foster global collaboration, and engage stakeholders.
Lead the planning and development of Enterprise Architecture metrics including objectives and key results (OKRs), and balanced scorecard that provide insights on the progress towards operational and transformational technology ambitions.
Work closely with the Enterprise Architecture governance teams to drive towards EA excellence by maturing the EA practice and driving measurable efficiencies from the EA processes.
Lead the evolution of Data and Analytical products (including but not limited to Enterprise Knowledge Graphs, Digital Twins of the Organization, and GenAI solutions) that improve EA design, documentation, governance, and maintenance processes.

Benefits

Great Place to Work® Certified for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada – 2025, 2024 and 2023
Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada - 2025
Canada Order of Excellence for Mental Health at Work® certification from Excellence Canada. Sun Life is one of only four companies in Canada to ever receive this certification – 2024
Top Work Places® for Remote Work – Monster Canada - 2024
Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada – 2024 and 2022
Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces for Women in Canada - 2024
Flexible hybrid work model.
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
The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential
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.
Supportive, flexible, and inclusive work environment
Collaborative leaders and colleagues are ready to help you learn, grow, and succeed.