Digital Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Digital Graphic Designer

Company: Sun Life

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (with potential for Waterloo, Montreal)

Job Type: FULL_TIME (14-month contract)

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: February 23, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical component of the Advisor Sales & Marketing Support team, focusing on the design and delivery of marketing programs to effectively position Sun Life advisors and engage independent advisors.

• The Digital Graphic Designer will be responsible for creating compelling and effective marketing materials, offering consultation on marketing campaigns to ensure they are on-brand and on-strategy across various digital assets.

• Key responsibilities include designing wireframes, mockups, email campaigns, landing pages, web banners, social media images, interactive PDFs, and contributing to video storyboarding and editing.

• The position requires a strong understanding of digital design and accessibility best practices, with a focus on user journey, analytics, and continuous process improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Digital Graphic Designer," its responsibilities heavily lean into Marketing Operations and Creative Operations, particularly in supporting advisor sales and marketing initiatives. The emphasis on campaign strategy, user journey, analytics, and process documentation suggests a need for operational thinking beyond pure graphic design. The contract nature (14 months) is a crucial detail for candidates to consider.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Research, design, and develop digital solutions, prioritizing end-user experience and accessibility best practices.

• Create and present campaign creative concepts to key stakeholders, ensuring adaptability across various digital assets.

• Provide design and multimedia consulting to guide the execution of key digital initiatives targeting advisors and clients.

• Lead end-to-end video projects, including consultation, storyboarding, production, animation, post-production, agency partnership, file archiving, and content update management.

• Design and develop wireframes, HTML email campaigns, and web landing pages, integrating user journey considerations and analytics tracking.

• Proactively identify opportunities to add value, propose new ideas and creative solutions, and share learnings with the broader design team.

• Explore and integrate AI design solutions to enhance processes, improve efficiency, and benefit the design team.

• Lead and/or participate in brainstorming and collaboration sessions with marketing team members and business partners to drive campaign strategy and execution.

• Manage design deliverables through internal and external reviews, monitoring progress to ensure timely completion of projects.

• Document and define new process enhancements and project documentation, maintaining strong control over file versioning.

• Support the design team with print-related projects as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and strategic operational support. The emphasis on "consulting," "process enhancements," "file version control," and "AI design solutions" indicates a need for a candidate who can think operationally about creative workflows and project management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Post-secondary education, including completion of a graphic or web design program at a recognized college; or an undergraduate degree in a related discipline.

Experience:

• 3 or more years of experience in digital graphic design.

• Experience in marketing and UX/UI is considered an asset.

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of usability, accessibility (W3C standards), cross-browser compatibilities, and semantic markup.

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Acrobat) on Mac OS.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel) for design integration on Mac OS.

• Expertise in video storyboarding, production, subtitling, animation, and post-production execution.

• Experience with responsive digital design and front-end development of landing pages and web forms.

• Strong HTML email design and coding experience, including an understanding of creative and effective workarounds for its limitations.

• Experience using an HTML email testing platform (e.g., Litmus) for previewing and debugging code.

• Skilled in HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Bootstrap.

• Experience with CMS integration.

• Willingness to learn and master new programs and technologies relevant to the position.

• Excellent time-management and organizational skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Marketing experience.

• UX/UI experience.

• Creative agency experience.

• Additional web development languages (HTML5, Javascript).

• Insurance product knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Capabilities" section in the original description aligns with "Required Skills," and "Considered Assets" align with "Preferred Skills." The educational requirement is detailed, and the specific mention of bilingualism for Quebec is crucial. The experience level is clearly defined.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio showcasing digital design work is mandatory for interview consideration.

• Must include examples of campaign creative, HTML emails, and landing pages.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document and define new process enhancements related to design workflows and project management.

• Strong handle on file version control practices to ensure organized and traceable project assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are explicitly stated and critical for advancing in the application process. The emphasis on process documentation and version control points to an operational need for organized and efficient creative workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans (discretionary, based on individual and company performance).

• Certain sales-focused roles have sales incentive plans.

• Hybrid work model offering flexibility to work from both the office and virtually, based on business needs, client requirements, and individual needs.

Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in CAD and is a critical piece of information for candidates. The benefits section highlights performance-based incentives and the hybrid work model, which is a significant perk for work-life balance. The contract duration of 14 months should be factored into total compensation considerations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Sun Life is a global financial services company with a significant employee base).

Founded: Sun Life was founded in 1865, indicating a long-standing and established organization with a robust history.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Advisor Sales & Marketing Support team, specifically the Advisor Content and Creative team.

• This team collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including marketing teams and business partners.

Methodology:

• Focus on defining, designing, and delivering marketing programs that position Sun Life advisors and drive client engagement.

• Emphasis on collaboration, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking.

• Data-driven approach to campaigns, considering user journey and analytics.

• Commitment to high-quality design, on-brand and on-strategy execution.

• Proactive approach to innovation, exploring new technologies like AI design solutions.

Company Website: https://www.sunlife.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Sun Life's long history and global presence suggest a stable yet dynamic work environment. The team structure emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, which is typical for marketing and sales support operations. The company's values of encouraging, empowering, and challenging employees are key cultural indicators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience). This role is suitable for a digital graphic designer looking to apply their skills in a corporate marketing operations context.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Advisor Content and Creative team, likely within the broader Advisor Sales & Marketing Support function.

Operations Impact: The Digital Graphic Designer plays a crucial role in shaping the visual communication for advisors and clients, directly impacting lead generation, sales, and client engagement through compelling marketing materials and campaigns. Their work contributes to the overall effectiveness of advisor outreach and the perception of Sun Life's value proposition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific digital design areas such as video editing, interactive content, or AI-driven design tools.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with various marketing teams and business partners, understanding broader campaign strategy and execution.

• Project Leadership: Potential to lead specific creative projects or campaign elements, developing project management and stakeholder management skills.

• Industry Knowledge: Develop a nuanced understanding of the financial services and insurance industry, and how marketing effectively supports advisor-led sales.

• Process Improvement Contribution: Contribute to refining design processes and workflows, impacting team efficiency and output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, it offers valuable experience in corporate marketing operations within a large financial institution. The growth opportunities lie in skill enhancement and exposure to strategic marketing initiatives rather than a direct, long-term career path within Sun Life unless the contract is extended or converted.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, offering flexibility to work from both the office and virtually. This suggests a modern approach to workplace flexibility.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with potential opportunities in Waterloo and Montreal.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative team environment where creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are encouraged.

• Access to industry-standard design tools and technologies (Adobe Creative Suite, etc.).

• Opportunities for interaction and collaboration with marketing team members and business partners.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week between office and remote days, subject to business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a significant aspect, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. The specific office locations are important for candidates to consider regarding commute and team proximity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio against stated requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will be required to present their portfolio, showcasing specific examples (campaign creative, HTML emails, landing pages, video samples). This is a critical step.

• Skills Assessment: Potential technical tests or scenario-based questions related to design software, HTML/CSS, and problem-solving.

• Behavioral Interviews: Assessment of soft skills like collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability in a fast-paced team environment.

• Stakeholder/Manager Interviews: Deeper dives into experience, strategic thinking, and cultural fit with the Advisor Content and Creative team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest and most relevant work. Ensure campaign creative, HTML emails, and landing pages are prominently featured. A compelling video sample is mandatory.

• Showcase Process: For each piece, briefly explain the brief, your role, the creative process, challenges faced, and the outcome or impact.

• Highlight Technical Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in HTML, CSS, and responsive design for emails and landing pages. Show understanding of accessibility standards.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results related to the campaign's performance (e.g., engagement rates, click-through rates).

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Practice your presentation to be clear, concise, and confident.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for design challenges that may involve creating a concept for a specific campaign, adapting existing creative, or providing solutions to a design problem within a limited timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design choices and the rationale behind them, linking them to strategic objectives and user needs.

• Understand Sun Life's brand guidelines and target audience for advisors and clients.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with AI design tools and how you envision their application in a marketing operations context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the portfolio is paramount. Candidates must meticulously prepare this, ensuring all requested elements are present and well-presented. The interview process will likely assess both creative talent and operational understanding.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Acrobat) on Mac OS.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with CMS integration is required, implying familiarity with platforms for managing web content.

• HTML Email Testing Platform: Litmus (or similar) for previewing and debugging HTML email code.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While no specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned, the role supports marketing campaigns, which typically integrate with CRM systems and marketing automation platforms. Understanding how design assets fit into these workflows would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements are heavily focused on Adobe Creative Suite and front-end development languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) for web and email. Proficiency in Litmus is explicitly stated. Familiarity with CMS is a must.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouragement of out-of-the-box thinking and exploration of new technologies (e.g., AI design solutions).

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working with internal and external stakeholders, leading and participating in brainstorming sessions.

• User-Centricity: Prioritizing end-user experience and accessibility in all digital solutions.

• Quality & Accuracy: Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring consistency and technical accuracy in all deliverables.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking an owner's mindset towards work, managing deliverables through reviews and ensuring timelines are met.

• Continuous Learning: Willingness to learn new programs and technologies, and to proactively share learnings.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with marketing team members and business partners.

• Requires ability to represent and lead campaign initiatives while also being a team player.

• Open to feedback and iterative design processes through internal and external reviews.

• Emphasis on clear communication and sharing insights within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align with a modern creative and marketing operations team that is both collaborative and results-oriented, with a strong focus on user experience and continuous improvement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Guidelines: Ensuring innovative designs remain on-brand and strategically aligned with Sun Life's messaging.

• Managing Multiple Campaigns/Projects: Juggling various deliverables simultaneously while maintaining high quality and consistency under tight deadlines.

• Technical Constraints: Designing effectively within the limitations of HTML emails and various digital platforms.

• Adapting to New Technologies: Quickly learning and integrating new tools and techniques, such as AI design solutions.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and communicating in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Digital Design Techniques: Deepening skills in video editing, animation, and interactive design.

• Front-End Development Enhancement: Further developing expertise in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and responsive design frameworks.

• Marketing Operations Integration: Understanding how creative assets fit into broader marketing automation and CRM workflows.

• AI Design Tool Exploration: Gaining hands-on experience with emerging AI tools for design and content creation.

• Industry-Specific Knowledge: Learning about the financial services sector and its unique marketing challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level creative role in a corporate setting. The growth opportunities are focused on skill enhancement and gaining exposure to operational aspects of marketing within a large organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a campaign creative that needed to be adapted across multiple digital channels. How did you approach it to ensure brand consistency and effectiveness?" (Assesses campaign thinking, adaptability, and brand awareness).

• "How do you ensure your digital designs are accessible and compliant with W3C standards? Can you provide an example of a design challenge you overcame related to accessibility?" (Assesses technical knowledge and commitment to inclusivity).

• "Walk us through a video project you led from concept to completion. What were the key stages, challenges, and your specific contributions?" (Assesses video production lifecycle management and project ownership).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Sun Life and this specific contract role supporting our advisors?" (Assesses research and genuine interest).

• "How do you approach collaboration with marketing managers and business partners who may have different creative visions?" (Assesses communication, stakeholder management, and teamwork).

• "Describe your experience with AI design tools. How do you see them impacting the future of digital design in a corporate marketing environment?" (Assesses forward-thinking and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each selected piece, present: 1. The Challenge/Objective, 2. Your Role & Process, 3. Key Design Decisions & Rationale, 4. The Outcome/Impact.

• Highlight Key Deliverables: Ensure your presentation clearly showcases campaign creative, HTML emails, and landing pages. The video sample should be engaging and well-edited.

• Technical Details: Be prepared to discuss the technologies and tools used, especially HTML, CSS, and any specific CMS or testing platforms.

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate an understanding of how your designs align with Sun Life's brand identity and marketing objectives.

• Conciseness: Practice to keep your presentation focused and within any allotted time limits, allowing for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating both creative expertise and an understanding of operational requirements, such as accessibility, process, and stakeholder management. The portfolio presentation is clearly the most critical component.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Sun Life careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is meticulously curated to highlight campaign creative, HTML emails, landing pages, and a video sample, as explicitly requested. Tailor any accompanying case studies to demonstrate your understanding of marketing strategy and user engagement.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your experience in digital graphic design, front-end development (HTML, CSS), video production, accessibility standards, and any experience with marketing campaigns or operations. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, technical skills, and problem-solving approaches. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer behavioral questions about collaboration and time management.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sun Life's brand, its advisor support initiatives, and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Understand the context of the financial services industry.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. The role is a 14-month contract.