Media relations manager

We are a leading financial services provider committed to making decisions easier and lives better for our customers and colleagues around the world. From our environmental initiatives to our community investments, we lead with values throughout our business. To help us stand out, we help you step up, because when colleagues are healthy, respected and meaningfully challenged, we all thrive. Discover how you can grow your career, make impact and drive real change with our Winning Team today.

Working Arrangement

Job Description

The opportunity

The Manager of Media Relations will promote and protect Manulife’s reputation across its geographic and business priorities. Through regular engagement with the press, this new hire will regularly generate positive earned media coverage for the firm. We are seeking someone who possesses a media attitude and experience in the financial services industry with a consistent record of effective relationship-building with a diverse universe of partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop, strengthen, and lead sustained long-term relationships with a variety of journalists and media outlets. Own the firm’s relationship building and strengthening with journalists worldwide.
• Consistently earn wide-reaching media coverage that improves Manulife’s share of voice among its peer group.
• Proactively promote the thought leadership and strategic priorities of Manulife’s senior executives and business segments.
• Partner with Manulife’s various business segment communications teams and our group functions communications teams to execute upon a variety of integrated communications campaigns.
• Secure high-profile media appearances/interviews and support subject-matter experts at media-facing speaking engagements or other industry forums.
• Staff interviews and prepare company spokespeople for their interactions with the press.
• Deliver routine media training for existing and future company spokespeople.
• Throughout all projects and assignments, provide expert media relations counsel to spokespeople, leadership and partners.
• When necessary, support media training for new and existing firm spokespeople.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor’s degree and 4-6 years of media relations experience either at a global organization or with a communications agency.
• Progressively senior experience in front-facing media relations roles.
• Proficient understanding of the news business and how various editorial teams operate.
• Sophisticated knowledge of the industries - insurance, financial advice, wealth and asset management - in which Manulife operates.
• Existing strong network of media contacts in financial journalism and mainstream press across North America, and across print, digital, radio and broadcast media outlets.
• A consistent record of developing strategic communications strategies for both singular events/launches and longer-term campaigns.
• Front-line experience working with senior executives.
• Experience in reputation and issues management.
• Fluency in French preferred.
• Experience working for a global firm and a matrixed organization.
• A team-first player who operates collaboratively.
• Excellent organizational, writing and prioritization skills alongside strong attention to detail.
• A growth mindset and a positive attitude.
• Adherence to the firm’s hybrid work policy, where our teams can benefit from being in the office on core days, as well as working remotely, every week.
• A dedication to building a better business to better the world, and to accelerating a balanced future.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture
  We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity
  We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation
  We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship
  We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.

#LI-Hybrid

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Asia, Canada, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. At the end of 2022, we had $1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, including total invested assets of $0.4 trillion (US $0.3 trillion), and segregated funds net assets of $0.3 trillion (US$0.3 trillion). We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.

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 recruitment@manulife.com.

Salary & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is listed below.

Primary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com 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 recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.