AVP, Strategy

The AVP of Strategy will lead a team of skilled strategists to develop and implement a comprehensive global strategy and lead execution of strategic projects, reporting to the VP of Global Marketing Strategy and Transformation. The team is responsible for delivering high-impact strategic initiatives to senior stakeholders, including the Global Marketing Leadership Team, the Executive Leadership Team, and the Board.

Communication & Influence

• Demonstrates strong verbal, written, and presentation skills to influence business partners and motivate teams.
• Presents critical facts and strategic themes to ensure unbiased leadership decisions.
• Serves as an unbiased voice in communicating progress and necessary actions.
• Uses collaborative approaches to increase creativity and innovation.
• Encourages others to break down problems into actionable steps and challenge norms.

Strategic Oversight & Governance

• Ability to use AI to automate and standardize reporting tools, driving efficiency and consistency.
• Maintains ongoing internal commentary on progress against strategic objectives.
• Oversees quarterly governance reporting, highlighting strategic progress.
• Supports and drives governance practices (ODF, DOA, Risk Practices) across initiatives.
• Supports processes for capturing, cataloging, and overseeing the segment portfolio.
• Continuously reprioritizes objectives across business lines, identifying themes, issues, and risks.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partners with initiative teams to ensure comprehensive storytelling.
• Collaborates with AVP, Finance, and IT delivery teams to optimize planning and reporting tools.
• Partners effectively with cross-functional and virtual teams (IT, Finance, Strategy, Global, Corporate).
• Partners with stakeholders to connect strategy to outcomes.
• Collaborates globally to share consistent views of outcomes and incorporate lessons learned.

Analytical & Critical Thinking

• Leverages analytical and critical thinking to drive oversight and recommendations.
• Quickly identifies critical details and trends to inform segment-level recommendations.
• Supports analysis of outcomes, risks, and issues in alignment with strategic objectives.
• Applies organizational savvy and business expertise to present and defend impactful issues.

Technology & Change Leadership

• Applies AI-driven insights to identify trends, risks, and opportunities across the portfolio.
• Understands and conveys technology concepts simply to various audiences.
• Demonstrates adaptability to emerging technologies and their impacts.
• Actively collaborates to lead change and support development of change plans.
• Supports policies and standards that outline delivery execution.

Performance & KPI Management

• Supports development and reporting of key performance indicators.
• Captures and reports expense and earnings targets for initiative portfolios.
• Facilitates discussions and decision-making when focus areas evolve.

Leadership & Influence

• Demonstrates agility and ability to shift priorities quickly.
• Leverages expertise to develop business cases and overcome objections.
• Navigates competing priorities using understanding of unspoken agendas.
• Maintains strong internal and external networks to share ideas and lead brainstorming.
• Ensures all voices are heard and fosters inclusive collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Development: Co-lead the creation, implementation, and communication of the annual strategic planning process for Global Marketing. Ensure alignment with global segment and function strategy teams.
• Strategic Planning: Lead short-term and long-term strategic planning initiatives aligned with global marketing goals. Ensure timely delivery of key projects and milestones to senior stakeholders with clear communication and accountability.
• Special Projects: Drive strategic projects for the Global CMO or those sponsored by the Global Marketing Leadership Team that generate significant business value.
• Thought Leadership: Provide insights on industry and customer trends, with a focus on customer experience, digital transformation, and competitive intelligence.
• Organizational Influence: Influence and align the organization to the strategy through financial plans, business plans, CMO communications, annual goal setting, and project business cases.
• Team Leadership: Manage a team of 2-3 professionals, offering regular feedback, mentorship, and fostering an innovative, high-performance culture. Enhance team engagement and morale.
• Strategy Communication: Effectively communicate strategy to various key audiences, including the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Manulife Board, and employees.
• Performance Metrics: Define and track critical metrics to achieve global business goals. Collaborate with the Portfolio Oversight & Reporting team to monitor and report on strategy execution.

Collaboration Scope:

• Work across segments (Canada, United States, Asia, Global Wealth and Asset Management) and functional teams (operations, technology, finance, risk) to drive strategy development, planning, execution, communication, and reporting.
• Ensure the successful delivery of the global mandate in alignment with Manulife's ambition to be the most digital, customer-centric global company in the industry.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, communicating transformation progress and aligning resources and expectations with business goals.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in management consulting, corporate strategy or investor relations with a focus on business, digital transformation, and customer experience, preferably in a premier consulting firm or large multi-national corporation.
• Proven ability to strategically influence senior leadership and work across complex, multi-functional teams.
• Skilled in identifying and negotiating early trade-offs to make critical decisions.
• Respected for delivering practical and realistic solutions.
• Exceptional facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to connect diverse facts and surface issues.
• High conceptual skills and strategic thinking ability.
• Proven success in working effectively in diverse environments and cultures.
• Demonstrates resilience and maintains a positive, winning attitude.

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. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected] .

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [email protected] for the salary range for your location. 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. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife 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 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 [email protected] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.