Director, Data Science

About Sun Life U.S.

Sun Life U.S. ranks among the leading providers of employee and government benefits, serving roughly 50 million Americans with access to care and insurance coverage. Via employers, industry collaborators, and government programs, they deliver a wide range of benefits including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. The company employs over 6,400 professionals across partner dental practices nationwide.

Sun Life's core purpose is to assist clients toward lifetime financial security and healthier living. Their company culture is grounded in values such as caring, authenticity, boldness, inspiration, and impact. Employees enjoy a supportive environment focused on growth and recognition.

Role Overview

The Director will spearhead advanced analytics within the Business Analytics function through an agile squad framework. They will champion the adoption of cutting-edge data science, Generative AI, and emerging AI technologies to enhance decision-making processes across Sales, Underwriting, and Health Capabilities teams. Key responsibilities include identifying and executing high-impact analytics opportunities that drive efficiency, consistency, actionable insights, and improved business decisions. This leadership role involves team building, innovation promotion, and establishment of best practices ensuring quality, governance, and value realization.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the development of advanced analytics and GenAI initiatives supporting Sales, Underwriting, and Health Capabilities.
• Translate complex business challenges into clear analytics product requirements, success metrics, implementation, and adoption plans.
• Create scalable GenAI capabilities to extract, synthesize, summarize, and structure intricate information from RFPs, census, claimant data, underwriting documents, and clinical sources.
• Identify and evaluate the use of Agentic AI to augment multi-step workflows enhancing information collection, decision support, operational efficiency, and outcome consistency.
• Collaborate with business teams, technology, and governance to deploy workflow-compatible, scalable, secure, and compliant solutions.
• Utilize expertise in data science, machine learning, GenAI, validation, and quality controls to ensure solutions are accurate, interpretable, reliable, and business-fit.
• Promote solution adoption through training, stakeholder engagement, feedback incorporation, change management, and measuring impact on productivity and decision quality.
• Manage and mentor a team of data scientists balancing delivery goals and long-term capability development.
• Continuously monitor solution performance, data quality, model behavior, user feedback, and business impact to drive enhancements and sustained value.
• Communicate complex technical concepts, risks, recommendations, and outcomes effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proficiency in a range of programming languages and data platforms such as Python, SQL, Snowflake, and Dataiku.
• Extensive skills in data science workflows including data preparation, modeling, integration, visualization, deployment support, and monitoring.
• Strong foundational knowledge in statistics, machine learning, AI, and Generative AI principles.
• Proven experience delivering GenAI or AI-driven solutions that process unstructured and structured data into actionable business insights.
• Experience in assessing Agentic AI technologies and implementing human-in-the-loop automated processes that enhance consistent decision-making and workflow efficiency.
• Deep commitment to compliance with data privacy, model governance, responsible AI, security, and sensitive health data handling protocols.
• Excellent business understanding relevant to Sales, Underwriting, and Health Capabilities operations.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, able to simplify technical content for diverse audiences.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in statistics, mathematics, computer science, data science, or related technical fields.
• Over 10 years (or at least 6-8 years) experience in data science, machine learning, and AI/GenAI solution development and scaling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degrees (MS/PhD) in related quantitative or technical disciplines.
• Background with Employee Benefits, Commercial Dental, Group Medical Stop-Loss, or other group insurance sectors.
• Experience creating or leading GenAI-based information retrieval, document intelligence, summarization, or workflow automation systems.
• Hands-on knowledge applying AI agents, workflow orchestration, or automated decision support with governance and measurable results.
• Experience collaborating closely with Sales, Underwriting, or Clinical teams to integrate analytics into daily operations.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role ranges from $153,000 to $229,500 annually. The company maintains pay transparency and equity, with final salary based on skills, qualifications, education, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive reflective of individual and business performance.

Sun Life offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous vacation, sick leave, paid family and parental leave, medical coverage, company-paid life and AD&D, disability programs, and partial sabbatical benefits. Retirement planning is supported through 401(k) matches, stock purchase options, and an employer-funded account. The work environment promotes inclusivity, flexibility, collaboration, and career development. The company is recognized as a top employer and certified Great Place to Work® in Canada and the U.S.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

Sun Life is committed to creating a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified candidates with disabilities or disabled veterans. The company does not require lie detector tests and follows fair chance hiring practices. All qualified applicants receive employment consideration regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or other protected categories.