Generative AI Project Manager

Reporting to the Director, Generative AI Program Delivery, the Generative AI Project Manager is a consultant-minded professional who can support the delivery of our global Generative AI priorities, obsess about customers, and is excited to deliver on a highly visible, strategic transformation for our business. As a member of the Global Marketing Strategy & Transformation team, the desired candidate will help manage and implement Manulife’s multi-year Generative AI program, a major transformation program that aims to set up our organization to capture the value promised from this capability, guided by a responsible framework, with the goal of delivering significant business benefits.

The role will work with Global and Segment Gen AI Working Groups, Segment Advanced Analytics Leads, and the Global Transformation Portfolio team to ensure the Gen AI Program follows the global frameworks and guardrails that enable our businesses to measure value, identify risks, and anticipate questions and obstacles. This individual will work with a matrixed project team, directly collaborating on project governance artifacts and streamlining project management activities by navigating issues and risks in an optimized way. The individual must effectively and regularly communicate with key GenAI stakeholders.

To be successful in the role, the candidate must be outcomes-oriented, will possess demonstrated experience in delivering a highly visible program that brings in emerging technology/capabilities into a global organization, and have the experience in developing business cases to drive change as a team. This individual must also be comfortable delivering either Waterfall or Agile projects. Experience in delivering analytics/AI projects is an asset.

Key Accountabilities:

Program Governance & Coordination

• Support the governance and execution of the Gen AI program in collaboration with multiple functional and technology stakeholders
• Manage a single program view of multiple Gen AI initiatives
• Works with Segment Working Groups and other Program teams to coordinate multiple reporting submissions to prepare a portfolio view for senior executive updates
• Tracks that workstreams in the overall Gen AI program are completed within budgets and schedules while meeting business objectives
• Anticipates and proposes opportunities to optimize program spend and accelerate results
• Anticipates, identifies, analyzes, mitigates, documents, and controls program risks
• Works with the Director, Generative AI Program Delivery to capture lessons learned and opportunities to continuously improve overall program delivery

Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

• Assist in the coordination of efforts of the Gen AI Product Owner, Advanced Analytics Teams, Architects and Engineers to meet business and technical requirements
• Leads the timely collection of initiative updates and executive narratives to support effective and regular communication within the project team, stakeholders, sponsors, and management
• Offers guidance to Segment Working Groups and other Program teams on creating high-quality, executive-level reports and updates
• Develop program status updates, findings, and/or recommendations to GenAI key stakeholders

Financial Management & Value Measurement

• Lead the day-to-day execution of the Gen AI program expense management and benefits tracking processes in collaboration with the Transformation Portfolio team
• Work with the Director, Generative AI Program Delivery to support the annual budget process, ensuring that Gen AI priorities, scope and budget needs are incorporated into the annual planning process
• Work with Finance and/or Business partners to ensure expenses and benefits are correctly identified and tagged

Business Case Development

• Lead and drive the project plan for the business case development process
• Assist in the planning, mobilization and stakeholder engagement required to build the business case for Gen AI execution
• Ensure the business case is developed in alignment with the enterprise-wide delivery framework, including but not limited to cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment guidelines, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in business program/project management and execution
• Has expertise in managing both waterfall and agile project methodologies
• Ability to communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical terms, verbal and written, to both a Senior Executive audience and project delivery teams; able to effectively articulate the business opportunity, solution vision, possibilities, and outcomes to technical and non-technical audience
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills; has experience in collaborating and partnering with business/functional stakeholders, data scientists, data engineers, architects, and vendor SMEs across a global, distributed environment
• Proven track record of effective monitoring and reporting program updates, risks and escalations
• High standard of work with keen attention to detail and deliverable quality
• Some experience in financial analysis and financial management practices
• Growth mindset; constantly learns from successes and failures

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP or CSM designation
• Experience in supporting large-scale analytics/AI projects involving cross-functional technical teams, business partners, and change management partners
• Knowledge of corporate function processes and capabilities
• Experience in building Executive-level reports and presentations

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.