Director Canada Risk Oversight

Manulife/John Hancock; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 108,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental coverage

Mental health support

Vision coverage

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Manulife/John Hancock is seeking a Director of Canada Risk Oversight in Halifax to provide independent second-line risk oversight and challenge to Group Benefits. You will oversee risk programs, assist governance committees, and influence risk governance across Canada Segment Risk in a hybrid work setting.

The role requires 8–10+ years in risk management or related fields, a relevant bachelor's degree, and strong communication skills. Preferably a CPA/CIA/CRMA/CRM and bilingual English/French.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of experience in risk management, audit, compliance, operations, or the insurance industry.
• Strong knowledge of Group Benefits products, operations, claims, underwriting, plan administration, and associated risks.
• Demonstrated understanding of operational risk management frameworks, governance practices, and control environments.
• Proven ability to provide constructive challenge and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience preparing materials for senior management and governance committees.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent risk oversight and effective challenge to business and operational partners across the Group Benefits organization.
• Assess and monitor operational, regulatory, strategic, and emerging risks and their potential impact on the business.
• Support and oversee key risk management programs, including RCSAs, issue management, change risk, third-party risk, operational resilience, and critical operations.
• Review and challenge risk assessments, control environments, and mitigation strategies to ensure risks are identified and managed.
• Analyze risk trends, themes, and emerging issues and communicate insights to senior leaders and governance committees.
• Partner with first-line stakeholders to strengthen risk management practices and improve control effectiveness.
• Support regulatory reviews, audits, investigations, and other governance activities as required.
• Contribute to the evolution of risk management frameworks and reporting across Canada Segment Risk.

Skills

Risk oversight

Analytical thinking

Bilingual English/French

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Risk Management/Accounting

Tools

Archer

Job description

The Director, Canada Risk Oversight, is responsible for providing independent second-line risk oversight and effective challenge to the Group Benefits business. Reporting to Canada Segment Risk, the role works closely with business and operational partners to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate risk while supporting a strong and sustainable control environment. The successful candidate will provide oversight across a broad range of risk management activities, including risk and control assessments, issue management, change risk, third-party risk, operational resilience, regulatory initiatives, and emerging risk assessments. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, operations, and risk, influencing outcomes across one of Manulife's largest and most complex businesses.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide independent risk oversight and effective challenge to business and operational partners across the Group Benefits organization.
• Assess and monitor operational, regulatory, strategic, and emerging risks and their potential impact on the business.
• Support and oversee key risk management programs, including risk and control self‑assessments (RCSAs), issue and corrective action management, change risk, third‑party risk, operational resilience, and critical operations.
• Review and challenge risk assessments, control environments, and mitigation strategies to ensure risks are appropriately identified and managed.
• Analyze risk trends, themes, and emerging issues and communicate insights to senior leaders and governance committees.
• Partner with first‑line stakeholders to strengthen risk management practices and improve control effectiveness.
• Support regulatory reviews, audits, investigations, and other governance activities as required.
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of risk management frameworks, methodologies, and reporting across Canada Segment Risk.

Required Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of experience in risk management, audit, compliance, operations, or the insurance industry.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of Group Benefits products, operations, claims, underwriting, plan administration, and associated risks.
• Demonstrated understanding of operational risk management frameworks, governance practices, and control environments.
• Proven ability to provide constructive challenge and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for senior management and governance committees.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is a strong asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Qué.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience within Group Benefits, Group Insurance, Disability, Health & Dental, Plan Sponsor Services, or Claims Operations.
• Professional designation such as CPA, CIA, CRMA, CRM, or equivalent.
• Experience within a federally regulated financial institution.
• Familiarity with GRC platforms such as Archer.
• Knowledge of regulatory expectations related to operational risk, third‑party risk, operational resilience, and risk governance.
• Experience supporting large‑scale business transformations, strategic initiatives, or regulatory change programs.

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. #LI-Hybrid The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

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].

Salary, Location & Working Arrangement

Referenced Salary Location Halifax, Nova Scotia Working Arrangement Hybrid Salary range is expected to be between $108,000.00 CAD - $158,000.00 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.

• health
• dental
• mental health
• vision
• short- and long‑term disability
• life and AD&D insurance coverage
• adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits
• employee/family assistance plans

• retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
• financial education and counseling resources

• holidays
• vacation
• personal
• sick days
• 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. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.

We'll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well‑being and inclusion are more than just words. And as part of our global team, you’ll help shape the future you want to see – and discover that better can take you anywhere you want to go.