Senior Data Scientist

Manulife Financial; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 129,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Mental health

Vision

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Manulife Financial is seeking an experienced data scientist to join the Global AI Model Validation and Governance (AIMVG) team. You will provide independent challenge, oversight, and validation of AI/ML models used in business decisions globally.

You will assess model performance, identify risks, and ensure compliance with Responsible AI principles, communicating findings through clear reports and collaborating with developers, stakeholders, and governance teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in a quantitative field such as CS, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering or Mathematics.
• 3–5 years hands‑on data science, AI/ML development, model validation, or related quantitative work.
• Experience developing, testing, validating, or overseeing AI/ML models in production, including exposure to Generative AI.
• Strong critical thinking and ability to independently challenge assumptions and assess model risk.
• Experience interpreting model performance metrics and performing quantitative analysis.
• Strong communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Independently validate AI/ML and GenAI models, assessing design, performance, limitations, and risks.
• Conduct model testing, benchmarking, sensitivity analysis and validation activities.
• Evaluate models for reliability, fairness, safety, explainability and fitness for purpose.
• Provide independent feedback to model developers, identifying weaknesses and risks and recommending remediation.
• Review model documentation, assess design and performance, and report findings with evidence-based recommendations.
• Support model inventory management, model risk operations and AI governance processes.
• Communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to ongoing improvement of AI governance and Responsible AI practices.
• Mentor junior data scientists through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Data science

Model validation

AI/ML development

Communication

Education

Master's degree or higher in quantitative field

Job description

About the Role

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced data scientist to help ensure AI models are reliable, fair, safe, and fit for purpose before they are deployed across Manulife. As part of the Global AI Model Validation and Governance (AIMVG) team, you will provide independent challenge, oversight, and validation of AI and machine learning models that support business decisions globally.

Working closely with model developers, business stakeholders, and governance teams, you will assess model performance, identify risks, and evaluate compliance with Manulife's Responsible AI principles and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Independently validate AI/ML and GenAI models, assessing model design, performance, limitations, and risks.
• Conduct model testing, benchmarking, sensitivity analysis, and other validation activities.
• Evaluate whether AI models are reliable, fair, safe, explainable, and fit for their intended purpose.
• Provide independent challenge and constructive feedback to model developers by identifying model weaknesses, limitations, assumptions, and risks, and recommending appropriate remediation actions
• Review model documentation, assess model design and performance, and communicate validation findings through clear, evidence-based reports and recommendations.
• Support model inventory management, model risk operations and AI governance processes.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and validation findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of AI governance, model risk management, and Responsible AI practices.
• Mentor and support junior data scientists through technical coaching, knowledge sharing, and review of validation approaches and methodologies.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 3-5 years of hands-on experience in data science, AI/ML development, model validation, model risk management, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Experience developing, testing, validating, or overseeing AI/ML models in a production environment, including exposure to Generative AI.
• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to independently challenge assumptions and assess model risk.
• Experience interpreting model performance metrics and conducting quantitative analysis.
• Strong communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with model validation, independent model review, model risk management, or AI governance.
• Familiarity with Responsible AI concepts, including fairness, explainability, robustness, transparency, safety, and monitoring.
• Experience evaluating Generative AI, LLMs, RAG systems, or agentic AI solutions.
• Knowledge of AI governance and model risk regulatory expectations.
• Experience developing validation frameworks, testing libraries, or automated assurance tooling.
• Experience working in a global, cross-functional environment.

What We're Looking For

• A strong critical thinker who is comfortable challenging assumptions and providing independent oversight.
• A technically strong practitioner with experience building, testing, or validating AI models.
• Someone passionate about Responsible AI and ensuring AI systems are trustworthy, reliable, and safe.
• A collaborative team player who can translate complex technical concepts into practical business insights.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

マニュライフとジョン・ハンコックについて

マニュライフ・ファイナンシャル・コーポレーションは、「あなたの未来に、わかりやすさを」を提供する、国際的な大手金融サービスプロバイダーです。当社について詳しくは、 https://www.manulife.co.jp/ lをご覧ください。

マニュライフは機会均等を是とする雇用主です

マニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックでは、多様性を受け入れます。私たちは、サービス提供先であるお客さまと同様に、多様な人材を引きつけ、育成し、定着させ、文化や個人の力を受け入れる包括的な職場環境を促進するよう努めています。当社は公正な採用、定着、昇進、報酬に努めています。当社のすべての慣行およびプログラムは、人種、祖先、出身地、肌の色、民族的出自、市民権、宗教または宗教的信念、信条、性別（妊娠および妊娠関連の状態を含む）、性的指向、遺伝的特徴、退役軍人としての地位、性自認、性に関する表明、年齢、婚姻状況、家族状況、障害、または適用法で保護されるその他の要因に対する一切の差別を行うことなく管理されます。

雇用への平等なアクセスを提供するために、障壁を取り除くことが当社の優先事項です。人事担当者は、応募者が応募プロセス中に合理的配慮を要求する場合に協力します。配慮要求のプロセス中に共有されるすべての情報は、適用される法律およびマニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックのポリシーに準拠した方法で保存および使用されます。申請プロセスにおいて合理的配慮を要求するには、 [e-mail] までご連絡をお願いします。

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

ハイブリッド勤務

Salary range is expected to be between

$129,400.00 CAD - $179,400.00 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.

• Incentive programs and incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance
• 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
• 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 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.

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.