Manager, Technology and Cyber Risk

Manulife/John Hancock; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Mental health support

Vision

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

Manulife/John Hancock is seeking an experienced Manager, Technology & Cyber Risk Standards Governance to drive enterprise-wide risk management standards. The role focuses on designing, implementing, and improving processes for technology and cyber risk governance within a Second Line of Defense context.

The candidate will lead portfolios, coordinate governance forums, and develop reporting dashboards to ensure transparent risk oversight and alignment with enterprise frameworks and regulatory

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in technology risk, cybersecurity, or related fields.
• Experience in risk, governance, compliance, audit, or Second Line of Defense environments.
• Understanding of key technology and cybersecurity domains.
• Familiarity with frameworks such as NIST or ISO.
• Experience with standards or policy governance.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead standards portfolio management with clear ownership and lifecycle governance.
• Oversee end-to-end standards development, approval, and refresh with structured workflows.
• Monitor progress across initiatives and drive continuous process improvements, including automation and efficiency gains.
• Support oversight activities across technology and cyber domains and provide effective challenge to risk assessments and control documentation.
• Monitor issues, exceptions, and corrective action plans and support thematic reviews.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives with clear scope and timelines and maintain plans and trackers.

Skills

Risk management

Standards governance

Project management

Communication

Analytical skills

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong risk culture

Attention to detail

Education

CISSP

CISA

CRISC

CISM

PMP

Job description

Manulife is seeking an experienced Manager, Technology & Cyber Risk Standards Governance to drive consistent, scalable, and effective risk management standards and practices across the enterprise. This role focuses on designing, implementing, and continuously improving processes that support the lifecycle of technology and cybersecurity standards, while coordinating a portfolio of risk and control initiatives. Operating within a Second Line of Defense environment, the Manager will drive structure, discipline, and transparency across technology and cyber risk activities, ensuring alignment with enterprise frameworks and regulatory expectations. The role partners closely with Technology, Cybersecurity, and Risk teams to deliver well-governed, repeatable processes and timely, traceable outcomes that enable effective oversight practices.

Position Responsibilities:

Standards Portfolio & Process Management

• Manage a portfolio of technology and cybersecurity standards, ensuring clear ownership and lifecycle governance.
• Lead end-to-end processes for standards development, approval, and refresh while establishing structured workflows, templates, and governance routines.
• Monitor progress across initiatives and drive continuous process improvements, including automation and efficiency gains.

Independent Oversight & Support

• Support oversight activities across technology and cyber domains.
• Provide effective challenge to risk assessments and control documentation.
• Monitor issues, exceptions, and corrective action plans.
• Support thematic reviews and standards alignment work.

Program Delivery & Coordination

• Lead cross-functional initiatives with clear scope and timelines.
• Establish and maintain plans and trackers to manage portfolio execution.
• Facilitate governance forums and working groups.
• Ensure alignment with frameworks and governance expectations.
• Drive adoption of governance processes and continuous improvement initiatives.

Governance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Develop reporting and dashboards on portfolio and risk status.
• Establish and maintain documentation and guidance materials.
• Improve consistency, transparency, and quality across governance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment.

Professional Skills

• Communicate clearly and concisely with stakeholders.
• Build strong working relationships across Line 1 and Line 2 teams.
• Demonstrate curiosity, attention to detail, and a commitment to strong risk culture.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to design scalable and repeatable processes.

Required Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in technology risk, cybersecurity, or related fields.
• Experience in risk, governance, compliance, audit, or Second Line of Defense environments within financial services or another regulated industry.
• Understanding of key technology and cybersecurity domains.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CISA, CRISC, CISM, or PMP.
• Familiarity with frameworks such as NIST or ISO.
• Experience with standards or policy governance.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Curious, proactive, and willing to learn in a maturing risk environment.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills.
• 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 #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 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 & Benefits

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Working Arrangement: Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between $79,700.00 CAD - $129,700.00 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
• wellness benefits
• employee/family assistance plans
• various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
• financial education and counseling resources
• generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days
• full range of statutory leaves of absence
• U.S.-specific paid time off provisions

We also 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.

Company Focus & Recognition

We're Manulife. And we're on a mission to make decisions easier and lives better. Better is what drives us. It's what inspires us to find new ways to support customers and colleagues in living longer and healthier lives. It's the reason we're dedicated to investing in digital innovation and industry leading AI, and accelerating a sustainable and economically inclusive future.

Joining us means you'll be empowered to learn and grow your career. 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.

We're proud of our accomplishments and recognition. Recent awards include: 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner, Manulife Named one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2025, Financial Times World’s Best Employers Asia-Pacific 2026, We've been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2026, #1 Life Insurer for AI Maturity by Evident 2026.

Our ambition is to be the number one choice for customers. Learn more at https://www.manulife.com/.