Head of Retail Distribution

**_Are you looking for a supportive, collaborative workplace with great teams and inspiring leaders? You’ve come to the right place. We’re looking for ambitious people who share our values and want to make every day better for people around the world. If this sounds like you, and the career below sounds exciting, we’d like to hear from you. _**

**Working Arrangement**

Hybrid

The Head of Retail Distribution, Individual Insurance, is accountable for the overall leadership of Manulife’s industry-leading insurance sales team and setting and executing strategies for retail distribution across Canada. This leader will report to the Head of Individual Insurance Canada and will bring a client-centric mindset to help lead the team's evolution and scale the function.

As a member of the Insurance Leadership Team (ILT), the Head of Retail Distribution will deliver on our strategy of fostering a high-performance sales culture, demonstrate excellence in leadership, develop our people, and extend our distribution reach. This leader will be a valuable member at the ILT table providing input and opinions on our overall business strategies and decision-making. They will be highly collaborative and responsible for the structure of the team, achieving sales results, managing operating expenses, developing long term sales strategies, and managing relationships with distribution partners. Effective communication of vision and leading through impact and influence will be critical to delivering results.

**Key Accountabilities**

We’re looking for a leader who demonstrates a focus on exceptional change, and measurable results. A collaborative, transparent leader who can communicate a vision and engage individuals to work towards objectives. This role requires a highly visible leader who can collaborate across the company, leveraging relationships and expertise to build trust, credibility, and successful partnerships within the Senior Leadership Team and peers.

**Strategic leadership**
- Designing a strategic roadmap for distribution that balances the need to achieve short term sales goals and long-term growth.
- Representing the sales team in senior management meetings, including active participation in the development and presentation of sales-related business initiatives, as well as sales input into related strategies such as product development, pricing, underwriting, and new business processes.
- Implement corporate business strategy initiatives across Canada in a way that maximizes effectiveness while meeting business goals.
- Create a strong culture of accountability and excellence by communicating strategic direction and build team engagement.
- Adapt to and lead change on a regular and frequent basis.

**Sales results management and measurement**:

- Drive a focus on sales team efficiency through optimizing territories, deployment sales team and setting criteria for territories that align with business targets.
- Lead sales support team and consult with teams such as finance, advanced analytics and underwriting to establish, revise and measure key sales performance metrics.
- Define and oversee sales staff compensation and incentive programs that motivate the sales team to achieve their sales targets.
- Proactive identification of opportunities through analytics and observation.
- Managing overall expense budget and deploying resources to maximize results.

**Leadership, mentorship and people development**:

- Attract, develop, engage, coach, and retain a high performing sales team to deliver on growth in line with our business objectives.
- Work with internal partners to provide clear direction and strategy for the team.
- Build a clear succession strategy for roles of all levels in the sales team.
- Lead and provide direction on HR processes (merit review, bonus cycle, compensation, performance management).

**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree within Finance or certifications a plus.
- Minimum 10 to 15 years of experience in the financial services industry with a deep knowledge of Individual Insurance products and sales strategies.
- Extensive understanding of the Canadian insurance competitive environment.
- Budget and business planning experience.
- Understanding of other financial products including investments, banking solutions, group pension, and group benefit products.
- Leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and energize a team towards common goals.
- Experience in networking, negotiation, influencing and creative thinking skills.
- Build and manage relationships with senior management across functions and divisions.
- Resilient delivery mind-set with a strong execution focus.

**About John Hancock and Manulife**

**Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer