Database Infrastructure, Manager

Sun Life
Full_time$84k-138k/year (USD)Toronto, Canada

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Database Infrastructure Manager
  • Company: Sun Life
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
  • Category: IT - Technology Services
  • Date Posted: 2025-06-17
  • Experience Level: 5-10 years
  • Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead a team of 4-6 database infrastructure professionals, providing technical guidance and managing their growth and development.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement database infrastructure solutions that support Sun Life's business objectives.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices to enhance Sun Life's database infrastructure and services.
  • Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, promoting a One Team, One Vision mindset within the database infrastructure team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong balance of technical leadership, people management, and stakeholder communication skills to drive success in a dynamic, hybrid work environment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

  • People Management:

    • Recruit, onboard, and manage a team of 4-6 database infrastructure professionals.
    • Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, set performance goals, and provide feedback through annual performance reviews.
    • Encourage employee growth, career development, and work-life balance.
    • Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team.
  • Technical Leadership:

    • Provide technical leadership and direction for the database infrastructure team, covering MS SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS RDS, Optim, and Imperva SecureSphere.
    • Design and mentor others on technical slide decks, live demos, and visual walkthroughs for various technical audiences.
    • Collaborate with ops, security, architecture, cloud, and business teams on project initiatives.
    • Stay current with emerging technologies, cloud technologies, DevOps tools, and vendor applications.
  • Project Management:

    • Participate in supporting employees with after-hours and weekend leadership of projects, infrastructure activities, and disaster recovery exercises.
    • Organize and monitor personal workload, escalating issues to the Director as needed.
    • Work closely with team members, technical/team leads, and management to ensure consistent delivery and quality of database services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves a mix of people management, technical leadership, and project management responsibilities, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Relevant certifications are a plus.

Experience:

  • 3+ years of people management experience, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance reviews.
  • 5+ years of administrative support experience with MS SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Optim, and Imperva SecureSphere.
  • Experience with AWS core services (EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, AWS RDS) and database workloads.
  • Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as CloudFormation or Terraform.
  • Proven ability to coach team members, express difficult technical concepts to various audiences, and organize workloads.

Required Skills:

  • Proven people management and leadership skills.
  • Strong technical knowledge of database infrastructure and AWS services.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid environment.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with database infrastructure as a code (IaC) and cloud migration projects.
  • Familiarity with Sun Life's products and services.
  • Bilingual or multilingual skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with a strong background in database administration, people management, and project management will be well-suited to this role. Familiarity with Sun Life's products and services is a plus but not required.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A well-structured portfolio showcasing your database administration and management projects.
  • Case studies demonstrating your ability to lead teams, manage projects, and deliver results.
  • Examples of technical documentation, including database schema designs, SQL scripts, and performance optimization strategies.
  • Evidence of your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to various audiences.

Technical Documentation:

  • Detailed documentation of database infrastructure projects, including design, implementation, and maintenance processes.
  • Performance metrics, optimization techniques, and testing methodologies for database infrastructure projects.
  • Examples of your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders and other technical teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this role involves both technical and people management aspects, your portfolio should highlight your leadership, project management, and communication skills, in addition to your technical expertise in database administration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $84,000 - $138,000 CAD per year (based on Sun Life's provided range)

Benefits:

  • Flexible benefits package from the day you join to meet your and your family's needs.
  • Wellness programs supporting mental, physical, and financial health.
  • Extensive support for continual learning, including company-run courses, access to online learning platforms, and vendor-led technical sessions.
  • Flexible work schedule, supporting core business hours.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with occasional participation in after-hours and weekend leadership of projects and infrastructure activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided by Sun Life is for the primary location. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. Additionally, eligible employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization, providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth, and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. The company operates in key markets around the world, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, and Bermuda.

Company Size: Sun Life has approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, providing ample opportunities for growth and development within the organization.

Founded: Sun Life was founded in 1865, with a rich history and strong commitment to responsible investing and sustainability.

Team Structure:

  • The database infrastructure team consists of talented employees with varying levels of experience.
  • The team works closely with other technical teams, including ops, security, architecture, and cloud teams, as well as business stakeholders.
  • The team is led by the Database Infrastructure Director, who provides strategic guidance and support to the Database Infrastructure Manager.

Development Methodology:

  • Sun Life follows Agile methodologies for software development and project management.
  • The company emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer value in its development processes.
  • Database infrastructure projects are typically delivered using a combination of Agile and waterfall methodologies, depending on the project's complexity and scope.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Sun Life's company culture emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and customer focus. The database infrastructure team plays a critical role in supporting Sun Life's business objectives by providing reliable, secure, and efficient database services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a strong balance of technical expertise, people management skills, and stakeholder communication. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of experience in database administration and management, with a proven track record of leading teams and delivering results.

Reporting Structure: The Database Infrastructure Manager reports directly to the Database Infrastructure Director and is responsible for leading a team of 4-6 database infrastructure professionals.

Technical Impact: The Database Infrastructure Manager has a significant impact on Sun Life's database infrastructure, ensuring its reliability, security, and performance. They also play a crucial role in driving innovation and adoption of emerging technologies within the database infrastructure team.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical Growth: Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices to enhance Sun Life's database infrastructure and services. Contribute to the development of Sun Life's database infrastructure strategy and roadmap.
  • Leadership Growth: Develop your people management and leadership skills by mentoring team members, driving team performance, and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Career Progression: Demonstrate strong performance in this role to position yourself for future opportunities within Sun Life's technology organization, such as a senior technical role or a management position.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for technical and leadership growth, as well as career progression within Sun Life's technology organization. The ideal candidate will be proactive, innovative, and committed to driving excellence in Sun Life's database infrastructure services.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Sun Life's Toronto office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and productivity. The company encourages a flexible, hybrid work environment, allowing employees to balance their work and personal lives effectively.

Office Location(s): Sun Life's Toronto office is located at Sun Life Toronto One York, with additional offices in Waterloo, Ontario, and North York, Ontario.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Workspace: The database infrastructure team works closely with other technical teams and business stakeholders, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills.
  • Development Tools: Sun Life provides its employees with access to the latest development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices to ensure optimal productivity and performance.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Sun Life encourages a culture of knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning. Employees are encouraged to attend conferences, obtain certifications, and participate in community involvement activities.

Work Schedule: Sun Life offers a flexible work schedule, supporting core business hours and allowing employees to balance their work and personal lives effectively. The work schedule may vary depending on the project's requirements and the team's needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Sun Life's hybrid work environment fosters a strong culture of collaboration, innovation, and work-life balance. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic, collaborative team setting and balancing multiple priorities effectively.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Phone Screen: A brief phone conversation to assess your qualifications, experience, and cultural fit for the role.
  2. Technical Assessment: A hands-on technical assessment, focusing on your database administration and management skills, as well as your ability to lead teams and deliver results.
  3. Behavioral Interview: A structured interview focusing on your people management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  4. Final Interview: A final interview with the Database Infrastructure Director to discuss your fit for the role, Sun Life's culture, and growth opportunities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight your leadership, project management, and communication skills, in addition to your technical expertise in database administration.
  • Include case studies demonstrating your ability to lead teams, manage projects, and deliver results.
  • Showcase your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to various audiences, including business stakeholders and technical teams.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on your database administration and management skills, focusing on MS SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS RDS, Optim, and Imperva SecureSphere.
  • Familiarize yourself with AWS core services (EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, AWS RDS) and database workloads.
  • Prepare for questions about your experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as CloudFormation or Terraform.
  • Practice communicating complex technical concepts to various audiences, including business stakeholders and technical teams.

ATS Keywords:

  • Database Administration
  • Database Management
  • People Management
  • Technical Leadership
  • Project Management
  • AWS Services
  • Infrastructure as Code
  • Cloud Migration
  • Database Infrastructure
  • Hybrid Work Environment
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Team Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Performance Optimization
  • Disaster Recovery

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise, people management skills, and cultural fit for Sun Life's database infrastructure team. The ideal candidate will be proactive, innovative, and committed to driving excellence in Sun Life's database infrastructure services.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Database Technologies:

  • MS SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • AWS RDS
  • Optim
  • Imperva SecureSphere

AWS Services:

  • EC2
  • S3
  • IAM
  • VPC
  • RDS

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools:

  • CloudFormation
  • Terraform

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role includes a mix of on-premises and cloud-based database infrastructure technologies. The ideal candidate will have experience with these technologies and a strong commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and best practices.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Sun Life's Core Values:

  • Customer Focus: Put Customers First in all we do.
  • Integrity: Act with Integrity in all our interactions.
  • Respect: Treat everyone with Respect and Value Diversity.
  • Accountability: Take Responsibility for our actions and their outcomes.
  • Innovation: Embrace Change and Drive Continuous Improvement.

Database Infrastructure Team Values:

  • Collaboration: Work together to achieve our goals and support each other's growth.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay curious and committed to developing our skills and knowledge.
  • Customer Focus: Understand and address the needs of our internal and external customers.
  • Innovation: Embrace new technologies and approaches to improve our services and processes.
  • Integrity: Act with integrity in all our interactions, both within the team and with external stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with other technical teams, including ops, security, architecture, cloud, and business teams, to deliver results that meet Sun Life's business objectives.
  • Code Review Culture: Encourage a culture of code review, peer programming, and knowledge sharing within the database infrastructure team.
  • Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing: Foster a culture of mentoring and knowledge sharing, supporting the growth and development of team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Sun Life's database infrastructure team values a strong culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and customer focus. The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator, proactive problem solver, and committed to driving excellence in Sun Life's database infrastructure services.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Emerging Technologies: Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices to enhance Sun Life's database infrastructure and services.
  • Cloud Migration: Lead the migration of on-premises database infrastructure to the cloud, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal performance.
  • Performance Optimization: Identify and address performance bottlenecks in Sun Life's database infrastructure, optimizing query performance, indexing, and caching strategies.
  • Disaster Recovery: Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans for Sun Life's database infrastructure, ensuring business continuity and minimal data loss in the event of a disaster.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Technical Skill Development: Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices in database administration and management.
  • Leadership Development: Develop your people management and leadership skills through mentoring, coaching, and training opportunities.
  • Architecture Decision-Making: Contribute to Sun Life's database infrastructure strategy and roadmap, driving innovation and adoption of emerging technologies within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical challenges and learning opportunities for this role require a strong balance of technical expertise, people management skills, and stakeholder communication. The ideal candidate will be proactive, innovative, and committed to driving excellence in Sun Life's database infrastructure services.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  1. Database Administration: Describe your experience with MS SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS RDS, Optim, and Imperva SecureSphere. How have you optimized performance, ensured security, and managed backups and disaster recovery for these databases?
  2. AWS Services: Explain your experience with AWS core services (EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, AWS RDS) and database workloads. How have you used these services to enhance database infrastructure and services?
  3. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Describe your experience with IaC tools such as CloudFormation or Terraform. How have you used these tools to automate deployment, configuration, and management of database infrastructure?
  4. Project Management: Discuss your experience with project management, including leading teams, managing projects, and delivering results. How have you ensured project success, managed risks, and communicated effectively with stakeholders?

Company & Culture Questions:

  1. Sun Life's Culture: How do Sun Life's core values resonate with you, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
  2. Database Infrastructure Team: How do you see yourself contributing to the success of Sun Life's database infrastructure team, both technically and culturally?
  3. Growth Opportunities: How do you plan to grow technically and professionally within Sun Life, and how do you see this role supporting your long-term career goals?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  1. Technical Depth: Showcase your technical expertise in database administration and management, highlighting your experience with MS SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS RDS, Optim, and Imperva SecureSphere.
  2. Leadership & Project Management: Demonstrate your ability to lead teams, manage projects, and deliver results, using case studies and examples from your previous roles.
  3. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate complex technical concepts to various audiences, including business stakeholders and technical teams, using clear, concise, and persuasive language.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical expertise, people management skills, and cultural fit for Sun Life's database infrastructure team. The ideal candidate will be proactive, innovative, and committed to driving excellence in Sun Life's database infrastructure services.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Database Infrastructure Manager position at Sun Life:

  1. Submit Your Application: Click on the application link provided in the job listing and submit your resume, cover letter, and any other required documents.
  2. Prepare Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your leadership, project management, and communication skills, in addition to your technical expertise in database administration. Include case studies demonstrating your ability to lead teams, manage projects, and deliver results.
  3. Optimize Your Resume: Use relevant keywords from the job listing, such as "Database Administration," "Database Management," "People Management," "Technical Leadership," "Project Management," "AWS Services," and "Infrastructure as Code," to optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and improve your chances of being shortlisted.
  4. Research Sun Life: Familiarize yourself with Sun Life's products, services, and company culture. Understand the company's mission, vision, and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with Sun Life's objectives and culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.


Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

  • Tailor every section specifically to database infrastructure, management, and administration roles.
  • Include database administration methodologies, performance optimization, and disaster recovery processes.
  • Emphasize leadership, project management, and stakeholder communication skills for database infrastructure professionals.
  • Address AWS services, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and cloud migration strategies relevant to database infrastructure roles.
  • Highlight the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning within database infrastructure teams.

Quality Standards:

  • Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information.
  • Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about technical responsibilities, with specific reasoning based on role level and web technology industry practices.
  • Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text.
  • Strategically distribute web technology and database administration-related keywords throughout all sections naturally.
  • Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and database administration specialization.

Industry Expertise:

  • Include specific database technologies, AWS services, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools relevant to the role.
  • Address database infrastructure career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities in web technology teams.
  • Provide tactical advice for portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies focused on database administration and management.
  • Include database infrastructure-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance.
  • Emphasize performance optimization, security, and disaster recovery strategies for database infrastructure professionals.

Professional Standards:

  • Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout.
  • Use database administration and management industry terminology appropriately and accurately.
  • Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to database infrastructure professionals.
  • Provide actionable insights that give database administration and management candidates a competitive advantage.
  • Focus on database infrastructure team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

  • Emphasize database administration and management best practices, performance optimization, and disaster recovery strategies.
  • Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the database infrastructure discipline and role level.
  • Address browser compatibility, accessibility standards, and user experience design principles relevant to database infrastructure professionals.
  • Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable database architecture.
  • Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for database infrastructure projects.

Avoid:

  • Generic business jargon not relevant to database administration and management roles.
  • Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
  • Repetitive content across different sections.
  • Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific database infrastructure role.
  • Marketing language unrelated to database administration, management, or user experience.

Generate comprehensive, database infrastructure-focused content that serves as a valuable resource for database administration and management professionals evaluating career opportunities and preparing for technical interviews in the web technology industry.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have over 3 years of people management experience and 5 years of database administration experience. Familiarity with AWS services and Infrastructure as Code is also required.