Program Director, Product Development (Head of Product Technology)

Program Director, Product Development

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery function within Product Development , overseeing Business Analysts, IT and Quality Assurance resources to ensure alignment with product strategy and business objectives, while delivering on time and on budget.

• Partner closely with Product, Business, and Technology stakeholders to understand product vision, commercial goals, and delivery challenges, translating these into clear and actionable requirements.

• Collaborate with business and IT teams to identify, evaluate, and prioritize technology and process solutions that support Product Development strategy and roadmap.

• Drive end‑to‑end delivery of product development initiatives, including requirements definition, solution design, functional specifications, validation of deliverables, and readiness for launch.

• Act as the gatekeeper for initiative intake, ensuring proposed initiatives are strategically aligned, value‑driven, and appropriately prioritized within the Product Development portfolio.

• Conduct comprehensive business and product process analysis, documenting current‑state and future‑state processes and identifying opportunities for efficiency, scalability, and customer impact.

• Provide subject‑matter leadership in insurance product development practices, including product governance, regulatory considerations, and internal approval processes.

• Serve as the key liaison between business stakeholders and technology delivery teams, ensuring strong alignment between product needs and system capabilities.

• Mentor and develop Business Analysts and delivery team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning, high performance, and delivery excellence.

• Champion best practices in business analysis and program delivery, ensuring consistent application of methodologies, tools, and standards across initiatives.

• Conduct feasibility assessments, including cost‑benefit analysis, budget estimation, and resourcing requirements for product initiatives.

• Provide leadership support in resolving production or post‑launch issues and ensure effective communication with business and product stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• University graduate with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience

• 10+ years solid experience with medium to large scale IT project management preferably in a financial services organization

• Proven experience in leading project management of core system modernization

• Astute in handling “C” level and Business Unit Head relationships and interactions

• Proficient in English language skill (in both spoken and written)

• Strong problem solving and decision-making ability

• Able to work in fast paced and challenging environments

• Excellent communication, coaching and consultative skills and high EQ

• Certification of project management and knowledge of SAFe will be a plus

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 hr@manulife.com.