AVP, AI

Manulife; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 241,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

Pension plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Manulife seeks a senior AI leader (AVP) to drive AI-enabled transformation across Corporate Functions from Toronto. You will partner with senior leaders to set roadmaps, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver AI solutions spanning Classical, Generative, and Agentic AI within enterprise standards for security and governance.

The role requires 8+ years in AI/ML leadership, hands-on Python, cloud ML, MLOps, and experience in financial crime prevention.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data science, AI/ML engineering, or applied machine learning, including leadership of large-scale AI initiatives.
• Hands-on expertise with Python, cloud-based ML platforms, MLOps, vector databases, LLMOps, and modern AI development frameworks; experience with Agentic AI is strongly preferred.
• Experience delivering AI solutions within financial crime prevention, fraud detection, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience partnering with Corporate Functions and driving business transformation through technology.
• Knowledge of Financial Services Authority (FSA) or comparable regulatory frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value.
• Ability to operate effectively in a global, matrixed environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of AI solutions, from opportunity assessment and design through deployment, adoption, and value realization.
• Manage a portfolio of AI initiatives, ensuring delivery of measurable business outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional teams of AI/ML engineers, data scientists, product partners, and business stakeholders.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership, including solution design, architecture, and prototyping as needed.

Skills

AI leadership

Python

Cloud ML platforms

MLOps

Generative AI

Agentic AI

Financial crime experience

Regulatory knowledge

Executive communication

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science

Tools

Vector databases

LLMOps frameworks

Prototyping tools

Job description

The AVP, AI is a senior AI leader responsible for driving the delivery of AI-enabled transformation across Corporate Functions. This role combines strategic leadership with deep technical expertise to identify, develop, and scale AI solutions that deliver measurable business value. A key area of focus includes AI-powered fraud detection and financial crime prevention.

Working at the intersection of business strategy and AI engineering, the AVP partners with senior leaders to identify opportunities, define roadmaps, and lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering Classical AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI solutions that align with enterprise standards for security, governance, and responsible AI.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of AI solutions, from opportunity assessment and design through deployment, adoption, and value realization.
• Manage a portfolio of AI initiatives, ensuring delivery of measurable business outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional teams of AI/ML engineers, data scientists, product partners, and business stakeholders.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership, including solution design, architecture, and prototyping as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategy

• Partner with leaders across Corporate Functions to identify and prioritize high-value AI opportunities.
• Translate business needs into scalable AI solutions aligned with enterprise strategy.
• Provide thought leadership on Generative AI, Agentic AI, and machine learning technologies.
• Drive stakeholder adoption and integration of AI into business processes.

Governance & Enterprise Integration

• Ensure solutions adhere to enterprise standards for security, governance, model risk management, and responsible AI.
• Collaborate with enterprise partners to deliver secure, scalable, and compliant AI solutions.
• Promote reuse of enterprise platforms, components, and best practices.
• Represent Corporate Functions AI initiatives in governance and portfolio forums.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data science, AI/ML engineering, or applied machine learning, including leadership of large-scale AI initiatives.
• Hands-on expertise with Python, cloud-based ML platforms, MLOps, vector databases, LLMOps, and modern AI development frameworks; experience with Agentic AI is strongly preferred.
• Experience delivering AI solutions within financial crime prevention, fraud detection, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience partnering with Corporate Functions and driving business transformation through technology.
• Knowledge of Financial Services Authority (FSA) or comparable regulatory frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value.
• Ability to operate effectively in a global, matrixed environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

When You Join Our Team

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

This posting supports an ongoing hiring initiative for existing and/or future vacancies.

About Manulife And John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$129,800.00 CAD - $241,200.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

• Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans.
• We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.
• Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process.