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Senior Data Analyst (18 month contract) - Job Opportunity at Definity Financial Corporation

Waterloo, Canada
Contract
Senior
Posted: July 19, 2025
Hybrid
CAD 69,000-127,000 per year

Benefits

Flexible hybrid work model allowing strategic balance between collaborative office engagement and focused remote productivity
Inclusive and accessible workplace culture that values diversity and supports professional authenticity
Dynamic collaborative environment within Canada's leading property and casualty insurance innovation hub
Professional development opportunities through exposure to cutting-edge data analytics and cloud technologies

Key Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive analysis and strategic evaluation of emerging data sources to drive future business intelligence capabilities and competitive advantage in personal insurance markets
Architect and conceptualize innovative data product solutions that transform complex business challenges into scalable, revenue-generating analytical tools
Facilitate cross-functional stakeholder alignment through expert requirement gathering, translating complex business needs into actionable technical specifications that drive organizational data strategy
Provide strategic product ownership support by representing customer perspectives and ensuring agile delivery teams maintain focus on high-impact business outcomes
Execute comprehensive project leadership including risk assessment, resource planning, and stakeholder communication to ensure successful delivery of mission-critical data initiatives
Drive agile methodology implementation through active participation in sprint ceremonies, ensuring optimal team velocity and continuous improvement in data product development
Establish robust data governance frameworks through collaborative testing, documentation, and quality assurance processes that ensure enterprise-grade data integrity
Champion organizational data literacy by staying current with industry innovations and mentoring colleagues on advanced analytics tools and methodologies

Requirements

Education

University degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, or equivalent

Experience

Min 3-5 years of hand-on experience with data discovery, prototyping, and development of innovative data and analytics products. Min 3-5 years' experience as Data Analyst or equivalent in an Agile product development organization

Required Skills

Expert level skills in SQL and Python on cloud platforms Firm grasp of descriptive statistics and Exploratory Data Analysis techniques Solid understanding of data science and machine learning principles and techniques Curious and creative mind with a passion for extracting new insights from data

Certifications

Scrum Master / Product Owner experience/certification is an asset
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The Canadian insurance industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation, with property and casualty insurers investing heavily in data analytics capabilities to improve risk assessment, pricing accuracy, and customer personalization. This trend is driving unprecedented demand for senior data professionals who can bridge the gap between traditional insurance operations and modern data science methodologies. Cloud-first data architectures are becoming standard in the insurance sector, with companies migrating from legacy on-premises systems to scalable cloud platforms like GCP, AWS, and Azure. This shift requires professionals who can design and implement cloud-native data products that can handle the volume and complexity of modern insurance data. Regulatory compliance and data governance requirements in the Canadian financial services sector are becoming increasingly sophisticated, creating demand for data analysts who understand both technical implementation and regulatory frameworks such as PIPEDA and provincial insurance regulations. The rise of insurtech companies and digital-first insurance models is pressuring traditional insurers to accelerate their data product development cycles, creating opportunities for experienced data analysts who can work in agile, product-focused environments.

Salary Evaluation

The provided salary range of CAD 69,000-127,000 appears competitive for the Canadian market, with the wide range likely reflecting the contract nature and potential for different experience levels. This translates to approximately USD 51,000-94,000, which is reasonable for a senior data analyst role in Canada's secondary tech markets like Waterloo, though potentially below Toronto or Vancouver rates.

Role Significance

Based on the reporting structure to a Director of Data Leadership and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, this role likely operates within a data team of 8-15 professionals, with direct influence over 3-5 junior analysts and regular interaction with business stakeholders across multiple departments.
This is a genuine senior-level position with significant strategic impact, evidenced by responsibilities including product architecture, stakeholder facilitation, and cross-functional leadership. The role sits at the intersection of business strategy and technical execution, requiring both deep technical expertise and business acumen.

Key Projects

Development of next-generation risk assessment models using machine learning and alternative data sources Implementation of real-time pricing engines that leverage geospatial analytics and market data Creation of customer segmentation and personalization platforms for digital insurance products Design of automated underwriting systems that integrate traditional actuarial methods with modern data science techniques

Success Factors

Technical excellence in cloud-based data engineering combined with deep understanding of insurance business models and regulatory requirements Exceptional stakeholder management skills to navigate the complex intersection of business needs, technical constraints, and regulatory compliance in the highly regulated insurance industry Product thinking mindset that can transform abstract business challenges into concrete, scalable data solutions that drive measurable business outcomes Agile leadership capabilities to drive cross-functional teams through complex data product development cycles while maintaining high standards for data quality and governance

Market Demand

High demand driven by insurance industry digital transformation, cloud migration initiatives, and the critical need for data-driven competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving Canadian insurance landscape.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Expert-level SQL and Python skills on cloud platforms are absolutely essential as they form the foundation for all data product development activities and are non-negotiable requirements for handling the scale and complexity of enterprise insurance data Deep understanding of exploratory data analysis and descriptive statistics is critical because insurance data analysis requires rigorous statistical validation and the ability to identify subtle patterns that can impact risk assessment and pricing decisions Agile methodology expertise is crucial for success in this role because the fast-paced product development environment requires professionals who can effectively collaborate in cross-functional teams and adapt to changing business requirements

Beneficial Skills

Scrum Master or Product Owner certification would provide significant advantage in stakeholder management and project leadership responsibilities Experience with GCP, Scala, Java, or C++ would enhance technical versatility and enable deeper collaboration with engineering teams on complex data infrastructure projects Insurance industry knowledge would accelerate contribution to business strategy discussions and improve ability to identify data opportunities specific to property and casualty insurance operations

Unique Aspects

Rare opportunity to work across multiple insurance brands within a single organization, providing exposure to diverse business models from traditional insurance to digital-first approaches
Strategic focus on geospatial analytics indicates involvement in cutting-edge location-based risk modeling and pricing strategies
18-month contract structure offers accelerated experience gain and potential for permanent placement while providing flexibility for career exploration
Integration of traditional actuarial science with modern data science methodologies in a regulated industry context

Career Growth

Typical progression to director-level roles within 3-5 years, with potential acceleration given the contract nature allowing for diverse experience and the high-growth insurance technology sector.

Potential Next Roles

Principal Data Scientist focusing on advanced machine learning applications in insurance Data Product Manager overseeing portfolio of data-driven insurance products Director of Analytics leading enterprise-wide data strategy and team development Chief Data Officer or VP of Data Strategy in mid-size insurance or fintech companies

Company Overview

Definity Financial Corporation

Definity Financial Corporation represents a significant consolidation play in the Canadian insurance market, serving as the parent company to established brands including Economical Insurance, Sonnet Insurance, Family Insurance Solutions, and Petline Insurance. This structure provides exposure to diverse insurance segments from traditional property and casualty to digital-first models.

As a major player in Canadian property and casualty insurance, Definity operates in a stable, regulated market with significant barriers to entry, providing job security while offering opportunities to work on innovation initiatives that can have substantial market impact.
The Waterloo location positions this role within Canada's premier technology corridor, providing access to top-tier talent, university partnerships, and a thriving fintech ecosystem while maintaining lower costs than Toronto or Vancouver markets.
The emphasis on collaborative, hybrid work arrangements and inclusive culture suggests a modern, employee-centric approach that balances traditional insurance industry stability with contemporary tech company flexibility and innovation focus.
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