Manager, Operational Risk

Sun Life•Toronto, ON

1d•$80,000 - $128,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Risk Management Centre of Excellence (CoE) is a strategic first line of defence business partner supporting Sun Life Canada Leadership in meeting our Client for Life goals by providing a practical, working understanding of operational risk and helping business teams design solutions that keep risk within appetite. We partner with Canadian leadership, first line of defence Business Unit Risk Officers, and second line of defence Risk and Compliance stakeholders to assess operational risks, strengthen control frameworks, and enable the business to evolve while staying within risk appetite. As Manager, Operational Risk, you will lead first line operational risk activities for Retail Advice and Solutions (RAS) and act as a key point of contact for Canadian leaders and second line stakeholders. You will bring a practical risk mindset and strong problem-solving skills to help teams make sound decisions, navigate ambiguity, and deliver effective, sustainable controls.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, or a related field
3-5 years of experience in risk management, preferably within a securities dealer and/or financial services environment.
Working knowledge of operational risk fundamentals, control concepts, and relevant regulatory/industry expectations
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to structure ambiguous problems, identify root causes, and translate findings into practical recommendations
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes without formal authority

Nice To Haves

Exposure to AI/GenAI governance or model risk management concepts (e.g., AI use case intake/approval, model lifecycle, monitoring, and controls) is an asset
Professional certifications (e.g., PRM) and/or industry courses (e.g., CSI) are an asset

Responsibilities

Apply a practical understanding of operational risk concepts (e.g., market conduct risk, technology risk, model risk, privacy, business continuity planning) to assess risk and control effectiveness within the RAS portfolio and prioritize improvement opportunities
Lead risk and control assessments using structured problem-solving to understand processes, identify key risk drivers and control gaps, and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Drive implementation of new/changed risk and compliance requirements by assessing impacts, clarifying expectations where requirements are ambiguous, and supporting business partners in building fit-for-purpose processes and controls
Provide risk advisory support to key projects, digital initiatives, and process changes, identifying key uncertainties and recommending practical solutions that align to risk appetite
Support AI/GenAI governance and risk management by partnering with business teams on use case intake and assessment, confirming required approvals and documentation, and helping implement/monitor appropriate guardrails (e.g., data governance and privacy, bias/fairness, explainability, vendor/third-party risk, model risk, and issue escalation)
Support issue management by helping business partners document issues, identify root causes, define remediation plans, and track actions to closure (including escalation of overdue or higher-risk items as needed)
Present operational risk insights, trade-offs, and recommendations at monthly Risk Steering Committees with internal clients
Produce concise risk reporting and insights (e.g., themes, emerging risks, and key risk indicators where applicable) for risk leadership and business partners, including progress on remediation
Build strong working relationships with business partners through credible challenge, practical guidance, and responsive support
Support reviews conducted by Internal Audit, Compliance, external auditors, and regulators by coordinating inputs and helping teams address findings