Senior Director, Risk Intelligence and Advanced Analytics

Are you ready to lead the future of risk intelligence? As the Senior Director, Global Risk Intelligence and Advanced Analytics, you will spearhead the transformation of risk management across the enterprise by leveraging advanced analytics, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). You will lead a high-performing team to design, build, and validate scalable ML/AI solutions that enhance risk decision-making, ensure model governance, and support citizen-led innovation with robust monitoring practices.

This role is pivotal in shaping the strategic roadmap for Global Risk, embedding intelligence-led capabilities into operational workflows, and driving measurable impact across the organization.

Description

The Senior Director, Risk Intelligence and Advanced Analytics will report to the VP, Global Risk Intelligence and Technology (GRIT) and play a key role in advancing the transformation mission and vision for Global Risk. This role supports the strategic evolution of risk management by harnessing the power of data, technology, and advanced analytics, including artificial intelligence (AI), to drive proactive, intelligence-led decision-making across the enterprise. The Senior Director will be responsible for delivering various functional capabilities including but not limited to advanced analytics, Large Language Models, reporting, AI developments, modeling, automation, and other related activities, well as supporting the development and execution of the relevant roadmaps and plans for the function.

This job description does not represent a comprehensive listing of job duties that are required of the employee performing this role. We reserve the right to change duties or assign additional duties at any time with or without notice.

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent will define and execute the vision for advanced analytics and AI/ML within Global Risk. Lead cross-functional initiatives to embed intelligence-led risk capabilities across business units. Oversee the development and implementation of the GRIT roadmap, aligning with enterprise risk strategy.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Build and maintain scripts to test model performance and automate monitoring using tools like Python or R.
• Architect and deploy ML/AI models for risk prediction, anomaly detection, and resilience scoring.
• Design and enforce governance protocols for citizen-developed models, including performance tracking, documentation, drift, and validation.
• Build scalable monitoring systems to ensure ongoing reliability and risk mitigation.
• Establish and oversee model validation frameworks to ensure performance, fairness, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Implement automated testing and monitoring pipelines using Python, SQL, and cloud-native tools.
• Supporting the automation activities within the risk and intelligence function.
• Supporting the delivery of machine learning, large language models and other related analytics projects within GRIT.
• Driving process enhancements for collecting and analyzing data across the enterprise.
• Validate AI and analytics models to ensure they perform accurately and meet internal and regulatory standards.
• Support data quality monitoring and preparation in Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) to ensure clean, reliable data for AI and risk intelligence use cases.
• Assist with documenting processes, procedures, project work and ad hoc request as required.
• Drive data quality initiatives across Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) to support robust analytics.
• Collaborate with data engineering and analytics teams to optimize ETL processes and data pipelines.
• Drive innovation at the intersection of risk, technology, and advanced analytics.

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of financial services/insurance business and functions.
• Experience and expertise in various coding languages especially in Python and SQL
• Skilled at dashboard design with consideration of UI/UX fundamentals
• Proven leadership experience in risk analytics, data science, or AI/ML within financial services or insurance
• Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and model development frameworks.
• Deep understanding of ML lifecycle, including training, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
• Experience with model governance, regulatory compliance, and risk frameworks.
• Strong background in data architecture, visualization (e.g., Power BI, Tableau), and UI/UX principles. Bachelor's
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science, computer science, statistics, or related fields; PhD is an asset.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in working with database schemas, data modeling, visualization and ETL processes.
• Strong advanced analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly organized individuals with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
• Excellent collaborative and relationship building skills; showing tact and diplomacy in dealing with others.
• Ability to learn quickly and be comfortable adjusting to ad-hoc changes in workflow.

What you will gain from this experience

• Learn how to digitize and innovate risk functions within a global insurance and financial institution.
• Influence the future of risk intelligence in a global financial institution.
• Lead transformative initiatives that shape enterprise resilience and decision-making.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and build your executive profile.
• Drive innovation at the intersection of risk, technology, and analytics.

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.