Director, Strategy & Transformation

Manulife John Hancock; Toronto; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director, Strategy & Transformation at Manulife John Hancock will shape how investments are prioritized, governed, and delivered across the Canada Segment. You will lead portfolio governance, drive execution discipline, and partner with senior leaders to provide transparency and decision support across the portfolio.

You will act as a rigorous, hands-on builder, turning complex strategy into actionable programs while navigating cross-functional transformations and challenging assumptions to

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in transformation, program/portfolio management, strategy, governance, or complex project delivery.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills for ELT and Board audiences.
• Ability to translate complex strategy and delivery information into executive-ready insights.
• Proven ability to mobilize cross-functional teams in a complex organization.
• Bilingualism in English and French is a strong asset; Québec experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation portfolio governance and management practices with prioritization and investment planning.
• Provide senior leaders with clear portfolio insights, recommendations, and trade-offs.
• Develop executive narratives and materials for senior stakeholders and boards.
• Partner cross-functionally to surface risks and dependencies and to strengthen accountability.

Skills

Transformation

Portfolio management

Strategy

Governance

Executive communication

Relationship-building

Job description

The Canada Segment manages a significant portfolio of strategic investments and transformation initiatives. This role will help strengthen enterprise governance, portfolio oversight, and execution discipline to ensure investments are aligned to business priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.

The Director, Strategy & Transformation, will help build and evolve these capabilities, strengthening how investments are prioritized, governed, and delivered and providing greater transparency and decision support across the portfolio.

The selected candidate will be a rigorous, hands‑on builder and self‑starter with strong program governance and delivery discipline, analytical capabilities, and sound business judgment. They will bring fresh perspectives, challenge assumptions, and turn ideas into action, while navigating complex, cross‑functional transformations and partnering with senior leaders to drive accountability and outcomes.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Transformation Portfolio Governance (75%)
  Lead and evolve portfolio governance and management practices, including prioritization, investment planning, delivery oversight, dependencies, and executive decision support.
  Help build the Canada Segment's next-generation transformation and portfolio management capability, including the evolution of broader PMO capabilities.
  Lead annual and multi‑year portfolio planning, partnering with Finance, business leaders and functional partners to assess investments, challenge business cases, and align resources to strategic priorities.
  Provide senior leaders with clear portfolio insights, recommendations, and trade‑offs, supported by consistent standards for reporting, benefits realization, and delivery performance.
  Build strong cross‑functional partnerships to surface risks and dependencies early, strengthen accountability, and continuously improve how the portfolio is governed and delivered.
• Enterprise Visibility and Strategic Initiatives (25%)
  Support high‑profile strategy and enterprise exercises, translating complex business issues into clear perspectives, recommendations, and executive narratives.
  Develop compelling materials for Canada Segment and Enterprise Leadership Teams, the Board of Directors, Rating Agencies, and other senior stakeholders.
  Partner across the organization to synthesize strategic, financial, and business perspectives and ensure senior leaders are well equipped for key discussions and decisions.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in transformation, program/portfolio management, strategy, governance, or complex project delivery, with experience supporting senior‑level decisions and priorities.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with demonstrated experience developing clear, compelling materials and recommendations for senior executives, ELT, and Board‑level audiences.
• Strong business and analytical judgment, with the ability to assess business cases, challenge assumptions, identify risks and dependencies, and support informed trade‑offs.
• Proven ability to translate complex strategy and delivery information into clear, executive‑ready insights and recommendations.
• Exceptional relationship‑building and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and mobilize cross‑functional teams in a complex organization.
• 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 Quebec

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.

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