[Hiring] Annuities Program Director @Manulife

Role Description

The Annuities Program Director role is accountable for overseeing and delivering the Fixed Indexed Annuity portfolio. The role needs deep FIA and annuity industry knowledge, proven end-to-end implementation experience, and hands-on experience with FAST and FireLight. When needed, The Program Director works with senior leaders, business sponsors, cross-functional teams and vendors to make sure FIA initiatives deliver the expected business results.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and implement the initiative roadmap to execute FIA strategy and scale the business.
• Manage the integrated FIA initiative portfolio, covering product launches, enhancements, technology, operations and distribution readiness.
• Set priorities with sponsors based on business value, risk and capacity.
• Secure cross-functional alignment working with Product, Actuarial, Technology, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Distribution and Marketing.
• Drive decisions without direct authority.
• Oversee successful delivery by developing and managing the portfolio through detailed project plans, schedules, milestones, RAID logs, dependencies, and status reports.
• Manage portfolio governance and steering committees.
• Communicate/present consolidated key insights to Program Sponsors and Senior Management audiences/stakeholders.
• Manage portfolio budgets and forecasts with Finance.
• Oversee third-party vendors and coordinate delivery across multiple vendors.
• Set clear expectations for planning, reporting and escalation, and hold teams accountable for delivery.
• Act as the project manager for priority or complex initiatives, balancing portfolio oversight with hands-on delivery.
• Deep dive into specific initiatives/outcomes to remove roadblocks and solve emerging issues.
• Oversee delivery from requirements through testing, UAT, cutover, go-live and stabilization.
• Bring informed challenge on FAST, FireLight and related integrations.

Success Outcomes

• The FIA portfolio is delivered on its approved scope, timeline, budget and quality.
• Initiatives are delivered on time, with strong quality and stakeholder confidence.
• Project managers and workstreams execute consistently and are clearly accountable.
• Risks and dependencies are raised early and resolved.
• Business, technology, operations and distribution are ready for each launch.
• Leaders get timely, reliable reporting and clear decision points.
• New capabilities move smoothly into business-as-usual operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading complex programs or portfolios in financial services.
• FIA subject-matter expertise: Deep knowledge of Fixed Indexed Annuities products, implementation requirements, operational impacts, and industry practices.
• Proven experience delivering FIA or annuity products from concept through launch.
• Hands-on experience with FAST and FireLight; Luma or similar platforms are a plus.
• Experience overseeing several concurrent projects and leading project managers.
• Has personally managed annuity implementation projects, comfortable switching between strategic oversight and hands-on execution.
• Strong grounding in Agile, Waterfall and hybrid methods, and in governance and RAID management.
• Hands-on skill with project management tools such as Jira, MS Project or Smartsheet.
• Strong vendor management and executive communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; PMP or Agile certification preferred.

Benefits

• 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.
• Retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions).
• Financial education and counseling resources.
• Generous paid time off program including up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time each year.
• Full range of statutory leaves of absence.

Company Description

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better.