📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Program Director – Global Brand (24 month contract)
🔹 Company: Sun Life
🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario & Waterloo, Ontario
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Contract
🔹 Category: Project Management - Process
🔹 Date Posted: May 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (occasional early morning and late evening meetings required)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading a high-impact, enterprise-wide brand initiative from strategy to implementation across multiple markets.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure brand alignment and consistency across all touchpoints.
- Developing and managing a detailed program roadmap with clear milestones, dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Overseeing external vendors and creative agencies supporting the program.
- Acting as a brand steward and strategic advisor during a critical transformation moment for the company.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and project management skills to successfully lead a complex, global brand initiative.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead and manage the full lifecycle of the program—from planning and scope definition to execution and post-launch optimization.
✅ Collaborate with brand, marketing, design, legal, product, and regional teams to ensure consistency and alignment across all touchpoints.
✅ Develop enterprise-wide communications and presentations, including executive updates, global stakeholder briefings, and change management plans.
✅ Ensure on-time and on-budget delivery while balancing global scale with local relevance.
✅ Define and track KPIs to measure program success and adoption across regions and departments.
ASSUMPTION: The role involves frequent communication with stakeholders at all levels, requiring strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: 8-12 years of experience in program management, with proven success leading large-scale branding or marketing initiatives.
Required Skills:
- Excellent organizational and communication skills; able to influence and manage stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience working within matrixed organizations and across geographies.
- PMP or similar certification.
- Familiarity with project management tools such as Smartsheet or Wrike.
- Prior experience managing a corporate brand program.
- Strong understanding of global brand governance, visual identity systems, and multi-channel asset deployment.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in multinational, cross-cultural environments.
- Background in enterprise tech, B2B, or global consumer brands.
- Bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) required for Quebec only.
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software is expected for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: CAD 105,000 - 180,000 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible work options
- Incentive plans
- Diversity and inclusion programs
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Occasional early morning and late evening meetings required.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and company performance.
📌 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 10,001+ employees globally, providing a large and diverse work environment.
Founded: Sun Life was founded in 1865 and has since grown into a multinational organization with operations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Company Description:
- Sun Life is committed to creating a supportive working environment with a culture of collaboration and high performance.
- The company offers amazing networking potential and opportunities to move along various career paths.
- Sun Life is proud to be on the 2024 Best Workplaces in Canada list by Great Place to Work and ranked among the top 100 most sustainable global corporations by Corporate Knights for the 16th consecutive year.
Company Specialties:
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Investment products
- Retirement planning
Company Website: Sun Life
ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's focus on diversity, inclusion, and sustainability creates an engaging and supportive work environment for employees.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, requiring extensive experience and strategic decision-making.
Reporting Structure: The Program Director reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer and works closely with various teams across the organization.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, requiring occasional early morning and late evening meetings to connect with colleagues in Asia.
Growth Opportunities:
- Upon successful completion of the 24-month contract, there may be opportunities for extension or transition to a permanent role.
- This role offers the chance to work on a high-impact, global project, providing valuable experience and exposure.
- Sun Life's large and diverse organization provides numerous opportunities for career growth and development.
ASSUMPTION: While the role is a contract position, it offers significant growth opportunities and the chance to make a substantial impact on the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Sun Life's offices are modern and collaborative workspaces, fostering innovation and teamwork.
Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario & Waterloo, Ontario
Geographic Context:
- Toronto is a multicultural city with a vibrant business environment, offering numerous networking opportunities.
- Waterloo is a tech hub with a strong startup ecosystem, providing access to cutting-edge ideas and innovation.
Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Occasional early morning and late evening meetings required.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility while ensuring collaboration and connectivity with the global team.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews
- Final round with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
- Project management skills and attention to detail
- Cultural fit and alignment with Sun Life's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare examples of your project management experience and success stories.
- Research Sun Life's brand and values to demonstrate your understanding and alignment with the organization.
ATS Keywords: Program Director, Global Brand, Brand Initiative, Project Management, Stakeholder Communication, Brand Alignment, Change Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Enterprise Tech, B2B, Global Consumer Brands, PMP, Smartsheet, Wrike
ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on behavioral and technical interviews.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management tools: Smartsheet, Wrike, or similar
- Brand management tools: Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or similar
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools is essential for this role, while familiarity with brand management tools is a plus.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Client-centric
- Collaborative
- Accountable
- Inclusive
- Resilient
Work Style:
- Strategic and forward-thinking
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and resilient
- Results-driven and accountable
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Sun Life's core values, particularly in the context of this role?
- How do you approach cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management in a global organization?
- How do you balance global scale with local relevance in your project management approach?
ASSUMPTION: Sun Life's company values and work style preferences create a collaborative and inclusive work environment that prioritizes client-centricity and accountability.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple stakeholders with varying priorities and expectations
- Balancing global scale with local relevance in a brand initiative
- Adapting to a hybrid work arrangement and occasional early morning/late evening meetings
- Working within a matrixed organization and across geographies
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, strategic thinking, and effective communication.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on a 24-month contract for a high-impact, global brand initiative.
- Compared to other brand management roles, this position requires a higher level of strategic thinking and project management expertise.
- Career progression may involve transitioning to a permanent role or taking on additional responsibilities within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on a high-impact project with significant growth potential.
📝 Sample Projects
- Leading a global rebranding initiative for a multinational organization
- Developing and implementing a brand governance framework for a large enterprise
- Managing a cross-functional team to launch a new product or service line
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and cross-functional nature of the role, requiring strong project management and stakeholder communication skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the organization's long-term brand strategy?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
- How does the company support work-life balance for employees in this role?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the organization?
- How does the company measure the success of this brand initiative, and how will my performance be evaluated?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate your interest in the role and provide valuable insights into the organization's culture and expectations.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare examples of your project management experience and success stories.
- Research Sun Life's brand and values to demonstrate your understanding and alignment with the organization.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
