Associate Manager, Business Testing in London

Join our dynamic team and lead the way in establishing a robust Business Analysis practice within our Business Project Management Office organization. We are committed to delivering a best-in-class end user systems experience for Insurance, Wealth, Workplace Solutions & Operations. Our vision is to be a trusted partner delivering seamless, reliable solutions with ease and innovation.

What you will do

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Business Analysts and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous learning and high performance.
• Implement Business Analysis and UAT best practices, methodologies, standards and governance to drive consistency, quality and continuous improvement across the practice.
• Manage resource assignment, team capacity and workload distribution across multiple initiatives, ensuring resources are aligned to business priorities and delivery commitments.
• Lead work intake and prioritisation activities, balancing competing demands and making resourcing recommendations to support strategic and operational objectives.
• Oversee UAT activities across a portfolio of projects, including test planning, execution support, defect management, issue resolution and business readiness, ensuring solutions meet business requirements and quality expectations.
• Partner with business, technology and operational leaders to understand objectives, assess impacts, identify opportunities and support successful delivery outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and providing recommendations, status updates, risk assessments and insights to support decision-making.
• Provide leadership in resolving complex business, delivery and testing issues, facilitating discussions, driving decisions and escalating risks as appropriate.
• Support strategic initiatives across Insurance, Wealth, Workplace Solutions and Operations through effective business analysis, stakeholder engagement and delivery leadership.
• Champion a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and operational excellence by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, tools and ways of working.

What you will bring

• 5+ years of Business Analysis experience with a proven track record in the financial services industry, preferably within insurance.
• Experience leading or supporting User Acceptance Testing activities, including test planning, execution, defect management and business sign-off processes.
• Previous people leadership experience with responsibility for coaching, mentoring, performance management, resource planning and team development.
• Demonstrated experience managing competing priorities, allocating resources and balancing workloads across multiple projects and initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation, including senior leaders.
• Proven ability to lead teams through ambiguity, navigate complex issues and drive practical, business-focused solutions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to assess impacts, evaluate options and provide sound recommendations.
• Outstanding communication and facilitation skills, including experience leading workshops, presenting to leadership teams and managing challenging stakeholder discussions.
• Passion for building high-performing teams and creating an environment where individuals can grow, contribute and be successful.
• University degree or equivalent education and experience. Experience working in Agile environments and certifications such as IIBA CBAP, CCBA, PMP or testing-related certifications are considered assets.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: London, Toronto, Winnipeg.

What we offer:

• Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry-leading learning programs and up to $2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
• Health & Wellness: Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well-being.
• Time Off: In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Financial Security: Company-matching pension plan, share ownership program and additional investment options.
• Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
• Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.