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Job Description:

The AVP, Insured Wealth Product Development and Initiatives is responsible for end-to-end management of all insured wealth (annuities and guaranteed wealth) product development in the market and new launches to ensure competitiveness, alignment to market and business strategies and delivering on SLGI’s growth ambitions. Support of distribution partners will be key to success of products within our retirement strategy as those functions and products as assumed by Sun Life.

Overall, this role will deliver the following across the SLGI Insured Wealth business:

• Leadership on evolving the Insured Wealth product line up, with an objective to ensure the business is operating efficiently, remaining competitive in the external market and driving towards growth targets.  
• Work cross functionally as a leader in the SLGI business, ensuring alignment to broader strategic plans, financial targets and alignment to retail distribution team opportunities. 
• Continuously strive to shape a ‘best in class’ insured wealth product development function, ensuring future focused skills, tools and technology being leveraged and delivering outcomes in line with business targets.

What will you do:

1. Contribution to Strategic Planning

• Works with the VP, Investment Product Strategy & Innovation on the formulation of long-term strategies and short-term tactics to support SLGI’s strategic plan and product development opportunities.
• Partner with Individual Wealth and SLGI leadership team and peers on planning and allocation of resources to deliver the set of priorities.

2. Product Development Leadership

• Leading and managing all aspects of the insured wealth product shelf for products currently available for sale and closed to sale.
• Actively involved in the product development process from idea generation to implementation.
• Manage relationships of current manufacturing partners and the addition of new vendors to support the administration of product shelf.
• Actively involved in the sales and marketing aspect of the product shelf and with interaction with advisors.
• In partnership with product leadership, actively involved in the development planning, approval and development process of new products, related to new opportunities, changes in the market and product changes required.
• Work closely with Sales and Marketing to ensure product suite has appropriate positioning, marketing collateral and support. Solutions should be effectively risk managed and balance the value for our customers, advisors and shareholder.
• Responsible to contribute to the review and potential redesign of existing insured wealth products.
• Support management of Insured Wealth product sales, taking advisor, sales team and SLGI leadership feedback to ensure competitive positioning. 

3. People, Capabilities and Culture

• Direct people leadership of 3 Directors and a broader team of product team members.
• Foster and reward all elements of establishing a culture of growth and innovation.
• Will be responsible to build out this team aligned to SLGI’s future vision of growing assets and helping the business capture a significant market share in retirement assets, including creation of new roles and building a talented and engaged team culture.
• Champion a culture of development and professional development through hands on guidance and developmental plans.

4. Leadership on Strategic Initiatives 

• Actively lead product initiatives in partnership with SLGI and Canadian Strategy teams to continue bringing new products to market to solve for client needs. This includes close partnership with key Advisors for insight, closely relationship with the retail sales leadership, as well as executive leaders in the SLGI Business, as well as Group Retirement Services and Retail Advice and Solutions businesses.
• Regular communication with the business unit President, VP Product and SLGI leadership team to report on progress, upcoming product plans, responses to market conditions and ensuring support and alignment to deliver to market.
• Management of vendor relationships, as required.

What do you need to succeed:

• 10+ years industry experience with 5 years in the insured wealth product line.
• Advanced understanding of insured wealth products, the pricing included and long-term impact aligned to clients changing needs.
• Strong business acumen to support creating a tightly managed sales / profit / risk profile for this product. Experience in analyzing and solving complex business problems with creativity, critical thinking and strong business acumen; demonstrated practical sound judgment.
• Exceptional capability in financial and quantitative analysis, including using modelling tools and techniques.
• Experience in conducting in-depth secondary research, including collection and synthesis; some experience with primary research would be an asset.
• University degree in business or related discipline; MBA would be an asset
• Ability to identify long term goals and championing the implementation of different or alternative ideas.
• Innovative leader, with transformation experience, who can manage significant ambiguity and constantly changing circumstances in a start-up environment.
• Excellent relationship management with an ability to build strong partnerships and negotiate and influence a variety of internal and external stakeholders and audiences.  
• Excellent coach and mentor with proven success at leading and developing a high performing team and driving transformation in ways of thinking and doing business.

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. 

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.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process or those needing job postings in an alternative format may e-mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

At Sun Life we strive to create a flexible work environment where our employees are empowered to do their best work. Several flexible work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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