Director, Risk Management

Canada Risk Management is a function that provides independent oversight of risk-taking and risk mitigation activities for our Canadian Segment businesses. It involves identifying, assessing, measuring, monitoring, and reporting current and evolving risk factors facing our businesses in Canada. The Risk Management team is responsible for ensuring that risk considerations are considered in all areas and processes from product development and new initiatives to front-line business objectives.

A strong risk management team is a cornerstone to ensuring the long-term success of a large financial institution like Manulife. Reporting to the Insurance, Affinity, and Guaranteed Investment Products (GIP) Chief Risk Officer, the Director will work closely with the Insurance and GIP business within the Canadian Segment to ensure that the risks taken by the business are well understood and will help Manulife achieve our bold ambitions.

The Director, Risk Management has day-to-day accountabilities for all aspects of identification, assessment, measurement, monitoring, and reporting of risk management within our Insurance and GIP business. The Director will be responsible for working closely with functional aspects of the Insurance and GIP business teams to ensure that risks affecting the business are clearly identified, assessed, managed, and communicated to management. A key accountability for this position is to work to strengthen risk culture and risk appetite alignment within the Canadian Segment.

Position Responsibilities:

• Promote a culture of integrity and risk awareness that enables the Insurance and GIP business to balance the level of risk with customer, regulatory and shareholder obligations while achieving consistent and sustainable performance over the long term.
• Ensure business strategies align with the Company’s strategic risk objectives and that each business is continuously driving their risk management processes and controls towards best practices.
• Inform and maintain processes for the identification, assessment, measurement, monitoring and reporting of the business unit’s principal risks.
• Independently oversee the design and execution of risk management strategies and actions.
• Review risk assessments to ensure big picture is considered and that business practices are aligned with overall Risk programs. Communicate risk assessment results ensuring detail is properly articulated for various audiences.
• Operational risk and business resilience oversight, including alignment to established governance processes and policies, as well as overseeing related risk mitigation programs and practices, and ensuring there is independent oversight of all key operational risks by appropriate control functions.
• Oversee the change management process within the Insurance and GIP business to ensure effective risk mitigation strategies are in place for new/changing initiatives.
• Engage the appropriate area / subject matter expert to manage specific risks, working with the business to ensure issues are adequately addressed.
• Ensure key risk exposures or issues that threaten business objectives not being addressed are reported and escalated to senior management, ensuring mitigating actions are identified and taken as appropriate.
• Provide oversight of the investigation into any material errors or escalated incidents, participate in the response plan, communicate the root cause of the incident, advocate for process improvements, and ensure that appropriate Corrective Action Plans are developed and executed to reduce risk of future errors.
• Provide thought leadership on evolving risks facing the Insurance and GIP business and related risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with other Segment and Global Risk Management teams ensuring consistent interpretation and application of risk policies.

Required Qualifications:

• 6-10 years of related financial services or risk management experience, preferably insurance related.
• Proven impact and influence and change management capabilities.
• Aptitude for strategic, critical, and analytical thinking and effective conceptual, diagnostic, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently. Decisive and results oriented.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills: ability to convey complex situations and issues in a clear and concise manner and communicate effectively with both technical and business management audiences.
• Ability to identify and articulate risk and impact to the business.
• Ability to understand and prioritize pressings needs within the context of overall strategic goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to foster and maintain relationships in a matrixed, geographically dispersed organization.
• Ability to influence others beyond formal authority.
• Strong leadership capabilities applied within team settings and with individual contributors; ability to manage the work of others to achieve results under tight deadlines.
• Strategic perspective with ability to see the big picture and broader implications of actions and decisions.
• Receptive and adaptive to an evolving, fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in Operational or Enterprise Risk Management
• Actuarial designation

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 our story.

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 [email protected].

Primary Location: Waterloo, Ontario

Working Arrangement: Hybrid