AVP, Operations Implementation and Innovation

Manulife Insurance Malaysia

Boston (MA)

Hybrid

USD 153,000 - 284,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Manulife/John Hancock is seeking an AVP, Implementation & Innovation to lead strategy, execution and transformation across Retail & Wealth Operations. This senior role integrates enterprise strategy into scalable outcomes, embedding innovation and data-driven decision making across geographies.

Leading cross-functional teams, you will drive operating model evolution, governance, risk controls, and performance measurement while championing a customer-first mindset and agile delivery.

Qualifications

15+ years in strategy, transformation, or operations leadership.
Knowledge of wealth and asset management operations, Fund operations, and regulatory frameworks across global jurisdictions.
Expertise in program delivery, execution, and change enablement.
Strong understanding of regulatory risk and control frameworks.
Experience with digital transformation and driving operating model change with AI and low code toolkits.
Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to articulate vision across a complex matrix.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development & Execution: act as strategic advisor to Global Head of Retail & Wealth Operations; define and operationalize roadmaps; develop OKRs and KPIs.
Program Delivery & Implementation: oversee complex programs; establish governance and delivery frameworks; ensure audit readiness and regulatory alignment.
Innovation & Transformation Leadership: identify and scale innovations; drive AI, automation, and digital capabilities; foster experimentation and agility.
Operating Model & Capability Evolution: design scalable operating models; improve service quality and productivity; enhance data and analytics; lead diverse teams.
Executive Advisory & Stakeholder Management: advise leadership; prepare board-ready materials; drive cross-functional alignment; manage dashboards and progress reports.

Skills

Strategy Leadership

Transformation

Operations Leadership

Program Delivery

Regulatory Risk

Digital Transformation

AI & Low-Code

Communication Skills

Adaptability

Analytical Thinking

Job description

Role Overview The AVP, Implementation & Innovation is a senior leader responsible for shaping, operationalizing, and accelerating the strategic agenda across Retail & Wealth Operations. This role acts as a strategic integrator and execution catalyst, translating enterprise and functional strategy into impactful, scalable outcomes, while embedding a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.

Key Accountabilities

Strategy Development & Execution: Act as a strategic advisor to the Global Head of Retail & Wealth Operations, supporting prioritization, sequencing, and execution of the function’s strategic agenda. Define and operationalize the strategic roadmap aligned with business priorities for the Global Retail and Wealth Operations organization, including development of key OKRs and KPIs Provide end-to-end coordination of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment across teams, geographies, and leadership forums. Champion a customer-first mindset, ensuring initiatives enhance the client and advisor journey.
Program Delivery & Implementation: Oversee complex program delivery, ensuring delivery on time and on budget. Establish governance and delivery frameworks that embed accountability and measurement and remove barriers to execution Embed Manulife’s risk, compliance, and control standards into all transformation activities, ensuring audit readiness and regulatory alignment Oversee testing, readiness, and post-implementation controls to safeguard operational integrity.
Innovation & Transformation Leadership: Identify and scale innovation opportunities Drive AI, automation, and digital capabilities Partner across teams to industrialize solutions Foster experimentation and agility
Operating Model & Capability Evolution: Design scalable operating models that seek to continuously improve service quality and improve productivity, keeping Manulife John Hancock customers at the forecront. Enhance data, analytics, and automation Lead and develop high performing teams by fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, collaboration, constructive challenge, and continuous improvement.
Executive Advisory & Stakeholder Management: Act as trusted advisor to Global Retail and Wealth Operations leadership and key stakeholders. Prepare and deliver executive-level materials including board-ready presentations, strategy updates, and transformation reporting Drive cross-functional alignment and leverage data to influence decisions Own management reporting, including dashboards, performance insights, and progress tracking across the function.

Key Qualifications & Experience

15+ years in strategy, transformation, or operations leadership
Knowledge of wealth and asset management operations, Fund operations, and regulatory frameworks across global jurisdictions
Expertise in program delivery, execution, and change enablement
Strong understanding of regulatory risk and control frameworks
Experience with digital transformation and driving operating model change with AI and low code toolkits
Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to effectively articulate and communicate vision, possibilities and outcomes across all levels in a complex matrix organization.
Strong adaptability and agility; able to reprioritize effectively in fast-moving environments. Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into structured analysis and recommendations.

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.

Referenced Salary

Location Boston, Massachusetts. Working Arrangement Hybrid. Salary range is expected to be between $152,900.00 USD - $283,800.00 USD. 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.

Manulife/John Hancock 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/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.

Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

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