Director, Strategic Initiatives & Change - Manulife, Montreal

The Opportunity

Manulife is seeking a Director of IIC Operations Strategic Initiatives and Change Enablement to join their Insurance Operations Strategy & Transformation team in Montreal. This pivotal role reports to the AVP of Strategy & Transformation and is instrumental in shaping the operational strategy and driving key initiatives. You will be at the forefront of change, helping Manulife achieve its ambition to become the #1 insurance provider in Canada. This position also involves developing and leading change management efforts, overseeing a team focused on communication, business insights, and articulating progress against strategic KPIs. Furthermore, you will perform chief of staff duties for the VP of Insurance Operations, ensuring consistent messaging and strong representation for the operations leadership team.

Bringing a solid background in insurance or operations, you will contribute strategic thinking to business planning, establish key strategic initiatives with leadership, and provide regular updates to stakeholders on the health and status of ongoing projects. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on Manulife's business operations and strategic direction.

Skills and Experience

To excel in this Director role, candidates should possess a robust set of skills and experience, particularly in strategic planning and change management within a dynamic business environment. Manulife is looking for individuals who can drive transformation and demonstrate strong leadership capabilities.

• 8+ years of progressive business experience in strategy, operations, or change management roles.
• Strategic thinking with a focus on future-proofing and transformation initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and proficiency with numbers, including financial analysis.
• Financial Services Industry experience, with strong life and health insurance knowledge preferred.
• Business Development skills: ability to think conceptually and creatively regarding solutions and opportunities.
• Collaborative approach; ability to work through others and influence change across teams within the organization.
• Excellent communication skills (written & oral) and advanced experience with presentation preparation.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently; strong organizational skills; ability to plan forward and manage deadlines, with keen attention to detail.
• Demonstrated initiative – willing to explore and drive changes to existing processes and reports.
• 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.

What You'll Do

As the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Change Enablement, your responsibilities will span strategic planning, operational oversight, and leadership within Manulife's Insurance Operations. You will play a crucial role in developing and executing key strategies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and effective change.

• Lead strong strategic planning and the development of both long- and short-term strategies.
• Deliver robust reporting to demonstrate progress against our strategy and corresponding KPIs.
• Facilitate strategic ideation sessions and annual planning to support the delivery of initiatives.
• Partner with the portfolio manager to ensure the Insurance portfolio consistently aligns with overall strategy execution.
• Effectively communicate with department leaders, project sponsors, senior leadership, and colleagues to build consensus on key objectives and strategies for assigned projects.
• Provide leadership within a culturally diverse cross-functional team, maintaining a customer-first attitude.
• Ensure high-quality staff with critical skills are hired, and evaluate, coach, and motivate staff to achieve their objectives.
• Appropriately use Human Resource tools, practices, and resources to assist in staff management while coaching and assisting direct reports and peers.
• Bring strategic thinking to the team by providing input to business planning and direction, identifying future business opportunities, and driving the development of plans to achieve agreed-upon objectives.
• Manage the monthly reporting cycle and insights updates for monthly business and finance reviews, along with weekly analysis of operational effectiveness.
• Drive the communication and change management strategy and ensure its smooth execution.
• Perform chief of staff duties, including executive support for presentations, organization of executive tasks, and facilitating culture shifts through training, leadership engagement, and development plans.
• Work across the operations team to identify resources required to implement strategic initiatives.

Compensation and Perks

Manulife offers a competitive compensation package for this Director role in Montreal, reflecting the importance of strategic leadership and change enablement within the organization. Beyond salary, employees have access to a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support their well-being and financial future.

• The expected salary range is between $142,530.00 CAD and $192,530.00 CAD.
• Opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.
• 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.
• Various retirement savings plans, including a pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions, alongside financial education and counselling resources.
• A generous paid time off program in Canada, which includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, as well as the full range of statutory leaves of absence.