Senior Event Planner at Sunlife in Toronto, ON

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. At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful. When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world. Job Description: Reporting to the Manager, Events, the Senior Event Planner is equal parts strategist, producer, problem-solver, and experience creator. From transforming ideas into unforgettable moments to orchestrating the countless details that bring an event to life, this role blends creativity, expert planning, and logistics into experiences that feel effortless. Whether coordinating travel, designing meaningful attendee experiences, managing complex budgets, or navigating unexpected challenges with grace, the Senior Event Planner ensures every element comes together seamlessly. Behind every memorable event is someone connecting people, solving puzzles, building relationships, and creating moments that inspire, celebrate, educate, and leave a lasting impression. This role serves as a central point of contact across internal business partners and external suppliers, contributing to detailed project schedules, operational plans, attendee experiences, communications, and event execution. The role requires strong financial stewardship, supplier management, risk mitigation, issue resolution, and the ability to manage multiple interdependent workstreams in highly dynamic environments. A key component of the role is building trusted relationships with team members, executive stakeholders, sponsors, internal partners, and suppliers while influencing decisions, managing competing priorities, and ensuring programs are delivered in alignment with business objectives. Role Requirements This role requires the flexibility to work outside regular business hours during peak event periods to ensure successful planning, delivery, and stakeholder support. Up to 20% travel may be required. This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 2-days working in our corporate office in Toronto, Waterloo or Montreal. This is subject to change. Must reside within 150 km of an international airport/ Must hold a valid passport. What you will do: Event Planning & Execution (15%) Purpose: Deliver high-quality advisor and employee events that support business objectives and create meaningful attendee experiences. Lead the project management, planning and execution of medium- to high-complexity events, including international events, national kick-offs, roadshows, educational conferences and multi-day meetings. Works in conjunction with business partners to develop program agendas, project plans, key messages, and attendee experiences that motivate, inspire, connect and educate attendees while aligning to business priorities and attendee needs. Operational Delivery & Workstream Management (40%) Purpose: Coordinate detailed event logistics and interdependent workstreams from planning through execution and wrap-up. Role may be responsible for any aspect of an event including but not limited to project planning, creative ideation, attendee communications, registration, travel, gifting, food and beverage, seating plans, rooming list management, transportation, venue management and onsite