Director, Operations Strategy

The Group Benefits Operations team is seeking a Director, Operations Strategy & Transformation to lead our back‑office transformation agenda and strengthen operational excellence across our Canadian Group Benefits business. Reporting to the Vice President, Group Benefits Operations, this role is a pivotal member of the leadership team. The Director is accountable for shaping and executing strategic initiatives that advance both Operations and Group Benefits priorities. You will partner across teams, geographies, and value streams to translate strategy into measurable outcomes. This role is ideal for a highly motivated, collaborative leader who thrives in a complex, senior‑stakeholder environment and is passionate about driving meaningful change. Position Responsibilities Strategic Planning & Execution Lead a small, high‑performing team in delivering initiatives of varying scale and strategic importance. You will ensure initiatives deliver intended business outcomes through direct accountability and influence. Key responsibilities include: Developing integrated initiative roadmaps, ensuring success metrics align with business priorities. Leading milestone planning, impact reviews, budgeting, and governance activities. Prioritizing strategies and making clear recommendations to senior leadership. Overseeing change management activities to enable successful adoption of transformational initiatives. Driving timely decisions, actions, and issue resolution. Monitoring execution progress, providing visibility into risks and milestones, and ensuring accountability to timelines. Tracking initiative outcomes to ensure benefits and financial commitments are realized. Designing effective performance‑tracking approaches to keep teams aligned and on track. Facilitating annual strategy development and offsite leadership sessions. Supporting and enhancing the overall Strategic Planning Process across Operations. Reporting, Communication & Stakeholder Management Develop compelling executive‑level presentations and business cases that clearly articulate insights, recommendations, and outcomes. Present initiative performance and strategic insights to senior stakeholders, enabling clear understanding and informed decisions. Drive alignment across stakeholders and enable decision‑making by identifying trade‑offs and influencing outcomes when necessary. Motivate, mentor, and develop both direct and indirect team members. Act as a change agent who builds awareness, engagement, and commitment to the transformation agenda. Required Qualifications 10+ years of combined education and experience in strategy roles within large multinational organizations, ideally in financial services. Experience leading small teams and navigating complex, fast‑moving, and ambiguous environments. Preferred Qualifications Extensive experience in strategic planning, execution, and reporting. Strong analytical skills and comfort with financial and quantitative analysis. Exceptional PowerPoint and storytelling capabilities. Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive decisions to implementation. A reputation for being practical, solutions‑oriented, and dependable in delivery. Strong facilitation and communication skills. High attention to detail and commitment to delivering executive‑ready work. Strong problem‑solving abilities informed by research, structured thinking, and thoughtful analysis. Proven experience leading projects and managing stakeholders effectively. Strong business acumen, customer focus, and strategic execution capability. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in diverse teams. Experience in top‑tier consulting, investment banking, or corporate strategy roles is an asset. 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. Referenced Salary Location Waterloo, Ontario Working Arrangement Hybrid work Salary range $136,290.00 CAD - $186,290.00 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. マニュライフとジョン・ハンコックについて マニュライフ・ファイナンシャル・コーポレーションは、「あなたの未来に、わかりやすさを」を提供する、国際的な大手金融サービスプロバイダーです。当社について詳しくは、https://www.manulife.co.jp/をご覧ください。 マニュライフは機会均等を是とする雇用主です マニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックでは、多様性を受け入れます。私たちは、サービス提供先であるお客さまと同様に、多様な人材を引きつけ、育成し、定着させ、文化や個人の力を受け入れる包括的な職場環境を促進するよう努めています。当社は公正な採用、定着、昇進、報酬に努めています。当社のすべての慣行およびプログラムは、人種、祖先、出身地、肌の色、民族的出自、市民権、宗教または宗教的信念、信条、性別（妊娠および妊娠関連の状態を含む）、性的指向、遺伝的特徴、退役軍人としての地位、性自認、性に関する表明、年齢、婚姻状況、家族状況、障害、または適用法で保護されるその他の要因に対する一切の差別を行うことなく管理されます。 雇用への平等なアクセスを提供するために、障壁を取り除くことが当社の優先事項です。人事担当者は、応募者が応募プロセス中に合理的配慮を要求する場合に協力します。配慮要求のプロセス中に共有されるすべての情報は、適用される法律およびマニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックのポリシーに準拠した方法で保存および使用されます。申請プロセスにおいて合理的配慮を要求するには、recruitment@manulife.comまでご連絡をお願いします。 #J-18808-Ljbffr