Director, Compliance

Manulife; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 116,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider is looking for a Compliance Director for its Canada Retirement business. This critical leadership role involves managing compliance oversight, regulatory initiatives, and ensuring strategic compliance across various products and services. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in compliance within the financial sector, strong understanding of Canadian regulations, and exceptional stakeholder management and leadership skills. This is a hybrid role based in Halifax with a salary range of $116,000 to $166,000 CAD.

Benefits

Customizable benefits including health and wellness programs

Retirement savings plans with employer matching contributions

Generous paid time off program

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in compliance, legal, or risk roles within financial services.
• Proven ability to manage complex regulatory initiatives and relationships.
• Experience with second line of defense testing and compliance program management.

Responsibilities

• Provide compliance support to AVP Compliance, CCO Canada Retirement.
• Lead quarterly and annual compliance reporting activities.
• Manage regulatory initiatives and track compliance.

Skills

Compliance oversight

Regulatory frameworks understanding

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, Finance, or related field

Advanced degree or professional designation

Job description

The Compliance Director, Canada Retirement, plays a critical leadership role in supporting the compliance oversight of retirement products and services across Canada. This role is responsible for managing regulatory initiatives, issue management, strategic compliance projects, and second line of defense testing. The Director will work closely with internal stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while strengthening the compliance framework for the Canada Retirement business.

Position Responsibilities

Management Support & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide compliance support to AVP Compliance, CCO Canada Retirement.

• Participate in steering committees and collaborate with Legal, Risk, and Regulatory Affairs, as appropriate.

• Represent Compliance in industry forums such as FSRA Technical Committee and CLHIA.

• Maintain strong working relationships with Marketing, Global Compliance, and other internal partners.

• Support the Book of Work and contribute to enterprise-wide compliance initiatives.

Segment and Global Compliance Program Execution

• Lead quarterly and annual compliance reporting activities.

• Oversee compliance with AML, Privacy, FATCA/CRS, and Business Continuity requirements.

Regulatory Initiatives & Second Line of Defense Testing

• Manage and track regulatory initiatives, ensuring timely and effective compliance.

• Refine strategic approach to project management support for regulatory initiatives.

• Oversee second line of defense testing and reporting using global methodologies.

Issue Management

• Assess and manage compliance issues, provide consultation and support to the business in the management of these issues.

• Address data residency, client complaints, Ombudsman escalations, plan sponsor concerns, and operations escalations.

Strategic Compliance Initiatives

• Provide compliance support for business projects, regulatory inquiries, and plan amendments.

• Lead the Marketing Review and Approvals Program, including oversight of social media content.

• Support CIAM and connectivity initiatives between Group Benefits, Canada Retirement, and Segment teams for converged clients, mobile platforms, and advisor/broker channels.

Complaints Oversight

• Manage escalated complaints and regulator complaints in partnership with Regulatory Affairs.

Regulatory Interactions

• Support regulatory investigations, audits, and formal interactions with oversight bodies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, Finance, or related field; advanced degree or professional designation preferred.

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in compliance, legal, or risk roles within financial services, ideally with retirement or wealth product exposure.

• Strong understanding of Canadian regulatory frameworks, including FSRA, CLHIA, AML, privacy, and pension legislation.

• Proven ability to manage complex regulatory initiatives and cross-functional stakeholder relationships.

• Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills.

• Experience with second line of defense testing and compliance program management.

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.

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

$116,000.00 CAD - $166,000.00 CAD

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location. 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. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

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.