Director, Transformation Delivery – Group Benefits Operations

As the Director of Transformation Delivery, you will lead a high-performing team of Business Analysts to drive the successful execution of strategic transformation initiatives across Group Benefits Operations and the Canada Segment. You’ll support the end-to-end delivery of key features and enablers—from assessing business problems and gathering requirements to overseeing test strategy, user acceptance testing (UAT), business readiness, and reporting. You’ll collaborate closely with the Lead Product Owner, Product Owners, Engineering Managers, Operations, Product, Operational Risk, Process Optimization, and Change Management teams. Your strategic foresight, analytical rigor, and leadership will be instrumental in optimizing IT delivery, enhancing operational efficiency, and elevating customer experience. Position Responsibilities: Transformation Delivery Leadership, in partnership with Lead Product Owner Lead cross-functional delivery of large-scale transformation initiatives spanning Operations, IT, Product, and Finance. Partner with Product Owners and Project Managers to develop and manage integrated project plans, milestones, and dependencies. Business Readiness & Change Enablement Oversee business readiness activities including risk assessments, training, documentation updates, and stakeholder engagement. Collaborate with Change Management to ensure smooth adoption and sustainment of new capabilities. Guide and support UAT planning and execution, ensuring teams are equipped to adopt changes effectively. Team Leadership & Development Inspire and develop a team of Business Analysts, fostering a culture of performance, innovation, and continuous improvement. Champion best practices in business analysis and agile delivery. Data Analysis & Insights Oversee the collection, processing, and interpretation of complex data sets. Develop predictive models, dashboards, and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). Identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for operational improvement. Required Qualifications: 7–10 years of progressive experience in operations, administration, and transformation delivery. Proven leadership experience with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams. Exceptional problem-solving and communication skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues. Strategic thinker with the ability to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change. Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to deliver results under pressure. Deep understanding of business analysis core competencies and agile delivery methodologies. Preferred Qualifications: Expertise in business process modeling, root cause analysis, and requirements management. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Proficient in Agile, Scrum, and SAFe frameworks. Familiarity with systems development lifecycle and tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and data visualization platforms. Ability to analyze trends and identify early indicators of risk or operational issues. 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. #LI-HYBRID 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 recruitment@manulife.com. Referenced Salary Location Waterloo, Ontario Working Arrangement Hybrid Salary range is expected to be between $131,710.00 CAD - $181,710.00 CAD. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr