Marketing Strategist

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Marketing Strategist

🔹 Company: Sun Life

🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 8, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Sun Life Waterloo King location also available)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Driving end-to-end marketing campaigns across various channels
• Translating business needs into effective marketing strategies
• Collaborating with stakeholders to develop engaging content
• Managing campaign compliance and reporting on results

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of creative and analytical skills, with a focus on digital marketing and data-driven decision making.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Drive end-to-end delivery of marketing campaigns from ideation to execution across channels such as email, web, mobile, and call center

✅ Translate business asks into marketing strategies and develop Client engagement strategies to solve business problems or achieve business objectives

✅ Develop clear, relevant marketing content by collaborating with Copywriters and Designers while ensuring adherence to Sun Life brand guidelines, and manage requests for approval with Compliance / Legal

✅ Develop & publish content using the Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) system, which requires knowledge of HTML and CSS

✅ Work with Data leads and Data analysts to create impactful target segments for campaigns, understanding Client profiles and selecting relevant criteria

✅ Implement A/B tests for learnings where applicable and report on campaign results with a strong focus on insights and action plans

✅ Work with Email Specialists to execute email campaigns through Adobe Campaign Manager

✅ Build and manage strong relationships with business partners and stakeholders

✅ Contribute to ideation / brainstorming to build innovative marketing solutions

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong project management skills to handle multiple priorities effectively.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field

Experience: Minimum 3 - 5 years in a Marketing Specialist or Marketing Coordinator role

Required Skills:

• Strong owner’s mindset and bias for action; proactively utilize resources to deliver results
• Experience with digital marketing in a direct marketing capacity (email, social media, online ads, push notifications, etc.)
• Experience with marketing and digital data analytics with the ability to distill meaningful insights and use them to solve problems
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects and handle multiple priorities on time with excellence
• Communications skills (verbal and written) to effectively deliver complex information or ideas; ability to develop strong relationships
• Experience in progressive copywriting and editing, especially for digital tactics

Preferred Skills:

• Proficient HTML and CSS editing skills
• Experience in Adobe Experience Manager
• Client-centric mindset; Ability to prioritize Client’s needs
• Experience working with an agile team

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in English is required for this role due to the nature of the responsibilities and the company's primary language of operation.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $58,000 - $97,000 CAD (Based on industry standards for a Marketing Strategist role in Toronto)

Benefits:

• Flexible work options
• Incentive plans
• Diversity and inclusion programs

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible work arrangements available

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in Toronto. Actual compensation may vary depending on individual performance and company-wide results.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Sun Life is a leading financial services organization dedicated to helping people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. They provide a wide range of insurance and investment products and services in key markets around the world.

Company Size: Sun Life has over 34,000 employees and 112,900 advisors worldwide, making it a large organization with significant resources and opportunities for growth.

Founded: Sun Life was founded in 1865 and has since grown into a global financial services company with a strong presence in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Company Description:

• Sun Life offers a wide range of insurance and investment products and services
• They have a strong focus on employee well-being, fostering a positive work culture, and achieving excellence in mental health
• Sun Life is committed to diversity and inclusion, with programs in place to support these initiatives

Company Specialties:

• Life and health insurance
• Investment management
• Group benefits
• Retirement planning

Company Website: http://www.sunlife.com

ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's extensive global presence and diverse product offerings provide ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the mid-level of the marketing career path, with opportunities for growth into senior or management positions

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Strategist will report directly to the Manager, Marketing Strategy

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with the opportunity to work from home or in the office, depending on business and Client needs

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression into senior marketing roles or management positions
• Expansion into different product lines or markets within Sun Life
• Development of specialized skills in areas such as data analytics or digital marketing

ASSUMPTION: Given Sun Life's global presence and diverse product offerings, there are numerous opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Sun Life Toronto One York is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and productivity

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario (Sun Life Waterloo King location also available)

Geographic Context:

• Toronto is a multicultural city with a vibrant arts and culture scene
• The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) offers a wide range of housing options and neighborhoods to suit various preferences and budgets
• Toronto has a diverse and growing job market, with numerous opportunities in the financial services industry

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible work arrangements available

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement for this role provides a good balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the Hiring Manager
• In-person or virtual interview with the Hiring Manager and a panel of stakeholders
• Final interview with the Director, Marketing Strategy

Key Assessment Areas:

• Candidates' understanding of Sun Life's products and services
• Candidates' ability to develop and execute marketing strategies
• Candidates' communication and collaboration skills
• Candidates' problem-solving and analytical skills

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant marketing experience and achievements in your resume
• Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Sun Life's products and services, and how your skills and experience align with the role
• Prepare examples of marketing campaigns you've worked on, highlighting your role and the outcomes achieved

ATS Keywords: Marketing strategy, digital marketing, data analytics, campaign management, stakeholder management, project management, communication skills, collaboration, problem-solving, agile methodologies

ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best match for the role and the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)
• Adobe Campaign Manager
• HTML and CSS
• Data analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in the listed tools and technologies is required for this role, with opportunities for training and development to enhance skills as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Client-centric
• Collaborative
• Inclusive
• Resilient
• Accountable

Work Style:

• Results-driven
• Innovative
• Adaptable
• Collaborative
• Client-focused

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a proven track record of developing and executing successful marketing strategies?
• Are you comfortable working in a collaborative, agile environment with cross-functional teams?
• Do you have strong communication and stakeholder management skills?
• Are you comfortable working with data and using it to inform marketing decisions?

ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's company culture is focused on collaboration, innovation, and client-centricity, with a strong emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
• Keeping up with industry trends and best practices in digital marketing and data analytics
• Adapting to changes in business priorities and market conditions

ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed above are common to marketing roles in the financial services industry and can be mitigated through strong project management skills, effective communication, and a focus on continuous learning and development.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other marketing strategist roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work in the financial services industry, with a focus on insurance and investment products and services
• Sun Life's global presence and diverse product offerings provide ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization
• This role requires a strong balance of creative and analytical skills, with a focus on digital marketing and data-driven decision making

ASSUMPTION: While there may be similarities between this role and other marketing strategist positions, the unique context of the financial services industry and Sun Life's global presence set this opportunity apart.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a targeted email campaign to promote a new retirement savings product
• Collaborating with a cross-functional team to create a comprehensive marketing strategy for a new life insurance product launch
• Analyzing campaign performance data to identify trends and opportunities for optimization, and presenting insights and recommendations to stakeholders

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed above are representative of the types of initiatives a Marketing Strategist might work on at Sun Life, but the specific projects and priorities will vary depending on business needs and market conditions.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the typical marketing campaign lifecycle at Sun Life, and where this role fits into that process?
• How does Sun Life support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?
• How does Sun Life approach collaboration and communication across its marketing teams and with other departments?
• What are the most challenging aspects of working in the financial services industry, and how does SunLife address those challenges?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, well-researched questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and provides valuable insights into the company culture and work environment.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills, using the ATS keywords provided
• Write a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of Sun Life's products and services, and how your skills and experience align with the role
• Prepare examples of marketing campaigns you've worked on, highlighting your role and the outcomes achieved
• Follow up with the Hiring Manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.