Director, Subsidiary Governance

Job Description

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.

Job Description

The Board and Subsidiary Governance team within the Corporate Secretary’s Department manages over 50 subsidiaries, including 9 regulated subsidiaries. This structure aligns with peer global financial institutions that have dedicated legal resources in subsidiary governance. The team has developed a Subsidiary Governance framework to facilitate the performance by directors of their fiduciary and other duties and responsibilities, to work collaboratively across many business units, and to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, within the context of corporate governance best practices.

The Director, Subsidiary Governance will be a seasoned and experienced corporate secretary/assistant corporate secretary and will demonstrate strong initiative, positive energy and the ability to exercise sound judgment and flexibility, be an innovative thinker with superior organizational and time‑management skills and the ability to cope calmly and professionally with multiple demands in a high‑energy and changing collaborative work environment.

Please note this is a hybrid role requiring presence at our Toronto One York office twice weekly.

What will you do

• Serving as Assistant Corporate Secretary or Acting Secretary of the more subsidiaries assigned by the AVP from time to time


• Working collaboratively in providing corporate secretarial services for the subsidiaries supported by the Manager, Subsidiary Governance and Legal Counsel, Governance roles


• Collaborate / participate with the AVP in the development and oversight of a subsidiary governance framework, including identifying and implementing continuous improvements to make procedures more efficient and effective and develop a strategy for short‑term and long‑term plans


• Supervising and working collaboratively with the Manager, Subsidiary Governance and Subsidiary Services Coordinator to manage and assist with all aspects of the subsidiary meeting cycle, including liaising with Directors, Committee members and presenters in connection with the planning and scheduling of all Canadian subsidiary board meetings, distribution of meeting materials, and maintaining the minute books of the subsidiaries managed by the team, a well as facilitating annual evaluations of the effectiveness of the Subsidiary Boards, and generating and analyzing results


• Working closely with Compliance and Legal colleagues on all aspects of regulatory compliance and corporate reorganisations, capital restructurings, M&A and other transactions related to the Canadian subsidiaries


• Collaborating with the AVP and the VP, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in ensuring compliance with the Subsidiary Governance Policy


• Managing complex matters and performing various other duties as delegated or assigned including leading/participating in special projects and team initiatives, as required


• Being a team player in supporting a balanced workload and providing cross‑team support within the Board and Subsidiary Governance team where required


• Ongoing education to stay current on applicable legislation, regulations, policies and rules

What do you need to succeed

• Post‑secondary degree with over 10 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience


• Law degree or law clerk designation is considered an asset


• Experience in a Corporate Secretary’s Department of a public company or a law firm is preferred, with expertise in providing corporate secretarial services


• Tact, discretion and confidentiality are essential as this role has regular contact with senior management and sensitive materials


• Experience in corporate governance


• Understanding implications of legislation and regulatory requirements


• Strong written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills


• Detail oriented


• Proactive follow‑up on outstanding matters


• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy


• Advanced proficiency with technology that would allow for creation of reports, analysis of data and extracting insights to share with management and inform practice changes over time


• Work effectively in a high volume, paperless environment


• Work collaboratively while engaging and influencing others as needed


• Coordinate workload of colleagues and other support staff as needed; and potential to manage other support staff


• Identify key issues or root cause of problems


• Prioritize work with minimal direction, based on understanding of business or strategic priorities


• Able to work flexible hours


• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook)

Compensation

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Accommodations

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e‑mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

Hybrid Work

We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you! Several work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

Automation

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

Thank you

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range

110,000/110 000 - 180,000/180 000

Job Category

Legal

Posting End Date

28/03/2026