Director, Data Science

This role provides advanced analytics leadership for an analytics agile squad within the Business Analytics function. The Director is responsible for advancing how Sun Life US group businesses use machine learning and emerging AI capabilities to improve underwriting, pricing, and related business decision-making. The role will identify, prioritize, and deliver high-value opportunities across new business and renewal underwriting workflows where advanced analytics can improve risk assessment, efficiency, and business outcomes. Initial areas of support may include product offerings in Employee Benefits, with the opportunity to support other offerings as priorities evolve.

This position reports to the AVP, Business Analytics. The Director is accountable for the end-to-end delivery, deployment, adoption, and ongoing improvement of advanced analytics solutions supporting the assigned roadmap. This role will build and develop a team of data scientists, establish analytical best practices, and partner closely with business stakeholders, technology, and governance teams to ensure solutions are reliable, explainable, fit for purpose, and supported by appropriate human oversight. Success will be measured by sustained adoption and measurable improvements in business outcomes.

What will you do?

• Lead advanced analytics solution development for new business and renewal underwriting, pricing, and related decision processes across supported Sun Life US group businesses.
• Shape and maintain a prioritized roadmap of high-value use cases aligned with business strategy, stakeholder needs, measurable outcomes, and emerging analytical opportunities.
• Translate business problems into clear analytics product requirements, success measures, implementation plans, and adoption strategies.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve multi-step business processes through improved information gathering, analysis, recommendations, and workflow coordination while maintaining appropriate human judgment and oversight.
• Partner with Underwriting, Actuarial, Product, Distribution, Finance, Technology, and other stakeholders to deliver solutions that are workflow-ready, scalable, secure, and compliant.
• Apply expertise in data science, machine learning, AI, validation, and quality controls to ensure solutions are accurate, reliable, explainable, and fit for business use.
• Drive solution adoption by partnering with business leaders and SMEs on training, feedback capture, change management, and measurement of productivity, decision quality, and business value.
• Manage and develop a team of data scientists, balancing team development, delivery priorities, and long-term capability building.
• Monitor solution performance, user feedback, data quality, model behavior, and business outcomes to identify enhancements and ensure sustained value after deployment.
• Communicate technical concepts, risks, recommendations, and business impact clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrated expertise with a broad range of programming languages, applications and data environments (e.g., Python, SQL, Snowflake, Dataiku)
• Demonstrated expertise in data science including conditioning, modeling, integration, visualization, deployment support, and ongoing monitoring
• Strong knowledge of the statistical, machine learning, and analytical foundations of data science.
• Experience leading analytical solutions that combine structured and unstructured information and translate complex inputs into reliable, business-ready insights, recommendations, or decision support.
• Experience applying analytics to underwriting, pricing, risk selection, portfolio management, or related insurance decisions.
• Commitment to data compliance, model governance, responsible AI, information security, and appropriate handling of sensitive health and business information
• Proven people leadership and team-development experience, with the ability to set direction, manage priorities, coach technical talent, and maintain high standards for delivery.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to connect advanced analytics work to underwriting, pricing, growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and broader Sun Life US priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with an ability to explain technical concepts, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations to a non-technical audience
• BS/MS/PhD in a statistical, mathematical, or technical field (e.g., computer science, data science)
• 10+/8+/6+ years of experience developing, implementing, and scaling data science, machine learning, or related advanced analytics solutions.

What will be nice to have?

• MS/PhD, preferably in a statistical, mathematical, or technical field (e.g., computer science, data science)
• Experience with Employee Benefits, Commercial Dental, Group Medical Stop Loss, or other group insurance products preferred.
• Knowledge of group insurance underwriting, actuarial, pricing, distribution, or product management concepts.

At our company, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The salary range for this role is competitive nationwide, and we strive to ensure that compensation is fair and equitable. Your actual base salary will be determined based on your unique skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to your base salary, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award based on your individual performance as well as the overall performance of the business. We are dedicated to creating a work environment where everyone is rewarded for their contributions.

Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. We have more than 6,400 employees and associates in our partner dental practices and operate nationwide.

At Sun Life, we’re driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you’ll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients’ lives.

Visit our website to discover how Sun Life is making life brighter for our customers, partners and communities., Sun Life Financial is a leading provider of employee benefits in the U.S., helping Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. See how at https://www.youtube.com/user/SunLifeFinancialUS

The company has a stated strategic focus on leveraging data and insights to enhance our Clients’ experience and drive business growth.

Salary Range: $153,000 - $229,500, At Sun Life, we prioritize your well-being with comprehensive benefits, including generous vacation and sick time, market-leading paid family, parental and adoption leave, medical coverage, company paid life and AD&D insurance, disability programs and a partially paid sabbatical program. Plan for your future with our 401(k) employer match, stock purchase options and an employer-funded retirement account. Enjoy a flexible, inclusive and collaborative work environment that supports career growth. We’re proud to be recognized in our communities as a top employer. Proudly Great Place to Work Certified in Canada and the U.S., we’ve also been recognized as a “Top 10” employer by the Boston Globe’s “Top Places to Work” for two years in a row. Visit our website to learn more about our benefits and recognition within our communities.

We will make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please email thebrightside@sunlife.comto request an accommodation.

For applicants residing in California, please read our employee California Privacy Policy and Notice.

We do not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Sun Life will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including applicable fair chance ordinances.