AI Transformation Delivery Lead

Reporting to the AVP, AI Strategy & Initiatives, the AI Transformation Delivery Lead (Director-level) is a consultant-minded professional who can deliver on our global AI priorities, obsess about customers, and is excited to drive a highly visible, strategic portfolio of transformation programs for Manulife. The desired candidate will lead and deliver the Global Chief AI Officer’s strategic initiatives, including our multi-year Generative AI program, an enterprise-wide transformation program that delivers in-year value for our business through global use cases and future value through scaling infrastructure.

The role will work with Global and Segment AI Working Groups, Segment AI Leads, and the Global Transformation Portfolio team to champion and deliver the Global CAIO’s strategy. This involves owning the overall outcomes of the Global CAIO’s portfolio of initiatives, directly collaborating on program deliverables with key stakeholders and professionalizing program management activities so that teams can focus on driving results. The individual must effectively and regularly communicate with key senior stakeholders as well as with external partners.

To be successful in the role, the candidate must be outcomes-oriented, possesses demonstrated experience in delivering highly visible transformation programs focused on emerging technology/capabilities into a global organization, and has the ability to craft compelling business cases to drive change as a team. Experience in delivering analytics/AI projects is an asset.

Key Accountabilities

AI Transformation Delivery

• Own the overall outcomes of key programs in the Global CAIO’s portfolio
• Deliver against our strategic transformation roadmaps in collaboration with the AI Leads and multiple functional and technology stakeholders
• Act as an AI champion across the organization, ensuring a focus on driving outcomes and impact throughout execution
• Provide thought leadership to use case teams and workstream leads, helping to connect the dots between use cases and workstreams, broader goals in our global AI strategy, and Manulife’s strategic priorities
• Sees the big picture and has a vision for alternative approaches to getting the job done

Delivery Excellence

• Professionalize and continuously improve program delivery practices to ensure delivery adaptability, execution consistency, and audit readiness
• Develop and implement recommendations on the evolution of our programs to proactively address upcoming organizational needs
• Understands nature of impact and creates lessons learned for future delivery
• Partner with the AI Program Management Lead to implement enhanced program practices across the CAIO’s program portfolio

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

• Actively influences and/or partners with stakeholders to deliver priorities
• Provides effective and timely communication within the program team, stakeholders, sponsors, and Executives
• Develop and present updates on portfolio outcomes/impact to date, findings, and/or recommendations to an Executive audience
• Collaborates with the AVP, Global AI Strategy & Initiatives and AI Communications Lead to evolve Manulife’s AI narrative

Annual Planning & Business Case Development

• Lead the annual Book of Work planning processes for the Global CAIO to ensure Global AI strategic priorities are enabled for execution
• Develop compelling business case narratives and materials to secure investments necessary to execute on the Global CAIO’s priorities
• Partner with the AI Program Management Lead to drive the planning, mobilization and stakeholder engagement required to develop business cases
• Partner with the Head of Transformation Portfolio to ensure alignment with the organizational delivery framework, including but not limited to cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment guidelines, etc.

Job Requirements

• 10 years of hands-on experience in transformation program delivery and execution excellence
• Proven track record in delivering a program that brings in emerging technologies / capabilities into a global organization
• A proven track record of leading business cases or complex sales pursuits to deliver on stakeholder/client outcomes
• Experience in delivering large-scale AI and/or Generative AI programs involving cross-functional technical teams, business partners, and change management partners
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms, verbal and written, to both a Senior Executive audience and project delivery teams
• Strength in effectively articulating the business opportunity, solution vision, possibilities, and outcomes to technical and non-technical audience
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and ability to navigate tension with diplomacy and confidence
• Strength in collaborating and partnering with business/functional stakeholders, data scientists, data engineers, architects, and vendor SMEs across a global, distributed environment
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, copes with complex situations using both skills and experience to lead to the right outcomes
• Use knowledge of the discipline to recommend and execute alternate approach options based on current project obstacles and objectives
• High standard of work in transformation delivery, applying skills and experience to execute on priorities, influence stakeholders, and develop deliverables
• Constantly learns from successes and failures
• Knowledge of corporate function processes and capabilities
• Has expertise in managing both waterfall and agile project methodologies; PMP or CSM designation would be 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.

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

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.