Director, Specialized Lending Product & Business Transformation

Manulife; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider is seeking a Director of Specialized Lending to manage product strategy and lifecycle, focusing on high-net-worth clients. The role involves market analysis, team leadership, and collaboration across various bank functions. Candidates should have over 10 years of banking experience and a relevant degree. Competitive salary ranging from CAD $100,950 to $181,710 is offered, along with customizable benefits in a hybrid work setup.

Benefits

Customizable health benefits

Employee/family assistance plans

Retirement savings plans

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant banking and lending experience focused on high-net-worth clients.
• Proven ability to overcome challenges in dynamic environments.
• Sound knowledge of regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine long-term product strategies.
• Analyze market opportunities for product strategies.
• Manage product lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Coordinate contributions to the Bank’s business transformation initiative.
• Inspire and engage team members while managing performance.

Skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Strategic planning and business casing

P&L accountability

Ability to delegate effectively

Influencing senior management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, information systems or related field

Job description

Overview

Reporting to the Vice President & Head of Specialized Lending, Manulife Bank, the Director, Specialized Lending Product is responsible for the Bank’s Specialized Lending product strategy, development and lifecycles management. The suite of products and services within this portfolio is positioned to help independent advisor partners execute financial plans that improve client financial health by amplifying insurance and investment strategies, providing high-touch banking services, and meeting the borrowing needs of business owners and high‑net‑worth clients. The portfolio includes insurance-based lending (Immediate Financing Arrangements, Cash Surrender Value lines of credit and similar), investment loans and lines of credit, advisor & firm financing, as well as commercial and multi-unit residential mortgages.

The Director bridges strategy and execution, influencing the Specialized Lending product and service experience direction, shaping its structure, and ensuring every effort across the advisor and customer experience contributes to delivering value for advisor partners, high‑net‑worth customers and the Bank. The incumbent will collaborate with stakeholders across the Bank, including sales, underwriting, risk, marketing, delivery, technology, operations, and finance to identify opportunities, prioritize features and deliver high‑quality products, services and advisor/client experiences.

Position Responsibilities

Product Strategy (20%)

• Develop, monitor and refine long‑term product strategies for key portfolios that distinguish Manulife’s product offerings in the marketplace
• Analyze the market to identify opportunities and recommend sound product strategies to support the launch of key products, features and services
• Conduct advisor & customer research and analysis including competitive positioning
• Build the strategic product roadmap aligned to overarching advisor, client and business goals
• Build and maintain a library of business cases, identifying and prioritizing next best options to deliver on the strategic product roadmap

Product Portfolio Management (40%)

• Maintain a relevant and concise product shelf that has a positive impact to sales, account balances, profitability and advisor and customer strategies
• In collaboration with Finance and data and analytics teams, measure, analyze, monitor and report on specialized lending business performance; propose actions to capitalize on strengths and address weaknesses
• Within approved pricing frameworks, establish the pricing strategy for Specialized Lending
• With account management and risk teams, measure, monitor and mitigate significant risks within the portfolio
• Manage the product lifecycle from concept to launch, including planning, execution, and testing
• Recommend which product features to amend, or new products to develop and launch next
• Collaborate across the bank with technology, delivery, marketing, sales, risk, operations and others to develop and execute plans to ensure successful product delivery, launch and benefit realization
• Ensure all products meet high standards of quality and align with the Bank’s product roadmap and strategy
• Develop and execute effective communication that keeps all stakeholders informed about product progress and ensures their requirements and needs are identified and addressed

Business Transformation (25%)

• Coordinate the Specialized lending team’s contribution to the Bank’s business transformation initiative; in conjunction with key Bank stakeholders, including technical teams and product owners, to define and prioritize features and deliver high‑quality advisor, client and employee experiences
• Work with stakeholders to gather requirements, create user personas, define use cases and convert insights into exceptional products and advisor/client experiences with strong sales enablement capabilities within an agile development framework
• Support day‑to‑day project execution, ensuring features and functionality are delivered on time, aligned to strategy, and meet advisor, client and employee needs
• Provide regular updates to leadership and stakeholders on project progress, key initiatives, risks, dependencies and milestones

Leadership & Building a High Performing Team (15%)

• Inspire, coach, guide and actively engage employees; motivate and encourage staff
• Manage performance, providing formal and informal feedback and coaching; establish accountabilities and performance standards
• Build talent capability and engage employees through focused career discussions and promoting a culture of continuous professional development
• Role model critical behaviors to enhance the advisor and customer experience
• Demonstrate inclusive behaviors and provide opportunities to collaborate across teams

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant banking and lending experience with a focus on the high‑net‑worth and business owner client segment
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, information systems or related field
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with strategic planning and business casing, roadmap design, execution, and cross‑functional collaboration, with P&L accountability
• Motivated, driven, self‑starter with the ability to delegate effectively and influence across the Bank; proven ability to overcome challenges and influence senior management
• Demonstrated experience in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities, while managing project delivery, costs, and financial performance
• Sound knowledge of regulatory requirements, including OSFI guidelines and the Bank Act

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Private banking is an asset
• Experience in Agile and Scrum methodologies and lending experience is an asset

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

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 the Manulife site at our story page.

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, 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: Waterloo, Ontario

Working Arrangement: Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between $100,950.00 CAD - $181,710.00 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 and financial education resources. Our 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 applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.