Director, Longevity, Defined Benefit Solutions

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

**About the role**

Sun Life’s Defined Benefit Solutions (DBS) business develops and implements innovative de-risking solutions for defined benefit pension plans. The Director, Longevity supports this growing business and reports to the AVP, Longevity, DBS.

The Director, Longevity, DBS champions DBS’ broad range of longevity initiatives. It is responsible for staying abreast of current longevity research, shaping Sun Life’s expectations of future longevity based on this research and translating these expectations into appropriate longevity assumptions. The role will also lead efforts to refine our longevity underwriting methodology using predictive analytics as well as participate in our internal and external advocacy efforts around strategic longevity priorities.

**What you'll be doing**

The Director, Longevity, DBS has the following accountabilities:
**Longevity improvement research**
- Maintain and evolve the longevity risk dashboard to keep-up-to-date on global longevity improvement research.
- Evaluate research to determine its impact on Sun Life’s view of future Canadian longevity in collaboration with other Sun Life geographies and teams (e.g., medical, pharmaceutical).
- Educate and influence various Sun Life stakeholders and other industry players on relevant longevity research developments.
- Recommend updates to Sun Life’s Canadian longevity improvement assumption or methodology based on emerging longevity research, as required.

**Longevity assumption setting**
- Lead DBS’ initiatives to refine our longevity underwriting methodology using predictive analytics to create a competitive advantage for our solutions in the market.
- Evaluate evolving best practices and educate and influence various Sun Life’s stakeholders (GRS, Individual, Canadian Finance, Corporate, etc.) on relevant developments.
- In collaboration with other Sun Life geographies and our reinsurance partners, ensure that the methodology used to create Sun Life’s longevity assumptions continues to define best practice.
- Collaborate with other Sun Life geographies to share views on longevity assumption setting.

**Longevity advocacy**
- Support the Longevity Leadership Group (LLG), which is made up of Sun Life stakeholders (e.g., GRS, Individual, Canadian Finance, Corporate, U.S.) and prepare meeting agendas that support Sun life’s strategic longevity priorities.
- Spearhead working groups to perform the research or projects required to explore innovative ideas around longevity.
- Support the development of industry wide mortality research, for example through participation in Canadian Institute of Actuaries projects.

**Longevity strategy and risk capacity**
- Partner with Sun Life’s Mortality and Longevity Strategy stakeholders to review and monitor Sun Life’s longevity risk capacity.
- Monitor and evaluate various solutions to manage DBS’ longevity risk, including reinsurance and capital markets solutions.

**Leadership**
- Build, develop and lead a high performing team of actuaries to execute on the role’s mandate
- Influence key stakeholders to create support for DBS’ longevity priorities.

**What you'll need to succeed**
- Undergraduate degree in actuarial science, mathematics or statistics
- FCIA designation
- 5+ years of insurance or pension experience in an actuarial role
- Very strong technical, analytical and problem-solving skills that allow for deep actuarial analysis
- Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation) with the ability to explain complex ideas to non-actuaries
- Strong influencing skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities
- Excellent people skills to manage relationships with DBS stakeholders and coordinate large cross-functional teams
- Prior experience in longevity assumption setting and predictive modeling is an asset
- Previous knowledge of reinsurance structures, securitization, group annuities or Canadian pension plans is an asset
- Previous knowledge of actuarial pricing or valuation is an asset
- Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, challenge the status quo and promote new solutions
- Highly motivated, proactive, conceptual thinker who is able to take a leadership role in a wide variety of assignments
- As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is re