Director, Data Science

Director, Data Science October 2026

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.

What will be needed to succeed?

• 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.