Senior Data Scientist

Join our Group Functions AI team as a Senior Data Scientist, where you’ll design and operate large scale AI/ML systems that protect customers and prevent financial crime globally. In this role, you’ll own production grade models end to end, influence enterprise AI standards, and collaborate with risk, technology, and data partners worldwide. This is a high impact role for a senior data scientist who thrives at the intersection of advanced modeling, real world deployment, and business outcomes

Position Responsibilities:  

• AI/ML Leadership: Architect, build, deploy, and maintain enterprise-grade AI/ML models in production, ensuring reliability, scalability, and observability. 
• Model Operations: Establish best practices for MLOps (CI/CD for ML, monitoring, data/feature pipelines), model governance, and risk controls across large datasets. 
• Advanced Analytics: Lead fraud detection solutions leveraging graph analytics; experience with graph databases (e.g., Neo4j) is a plus. 
• Cloud Platforms: Drive large-scale data processing and model deployment on Azure (e.g., Databricks, Azure ML), optimizing performance and cost. 
• Data Strategy: Oversee complex data exploration, feature engineering, and experiment design to uncover patterns and improve signal quality. 
• Innovation: Evaluate and integrate GenAI and emerging methods to enhance detection efficacy and automation. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Translate high-level, ambiguous business problems into clear technical requirements; manage executive and cross-functional stakeholder expectations. 
• Communication: Present complex findings in plain English to non-technical audiences; influence decisions with clear narratives and metrics. 
• Program Management: Lead multiple concurrent, high-priority projects; plan roadmaps, manage risks, and deliver measurable outcomes. 
• Mentorship: Coach and mentor junior data scientists, establishing standards for coding, experimentation, and documentation. 
• Global Collaboration: Work across time zones and coordinate with regional teams; flexibility to attend global meetings as needed.

Required Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of experience building and maintaining enterprise-grade, large-scale AI/ML models in production environments. 
• Advanced degree: Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, or related field. 
• Expert-level Python and strong familiarity with PySpark/Spark SQL/Spark ML; rigorous software engineering practices (testing, code review, modular design). 
• Proven stakeholder management and the ability to translate complex technical topics for non-technical audiences. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple high-priority initiatives and convert vague business asks into clear, actionable technical requirements. 
• Experience with Azure Databricks and cloud-native ML tooling; solid understanding of data pipelines and MLOps. 
• Track record of mentoring and elevating junior team members. 
• Flexibility to collaborate with global teams and attend meetings across time zones. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience in fraud detection or financial crime analytics on a global scale. 
• Production experience with graph analytics and graph databases (e.g., Neo4j). 
• Hands-on with GenAI (LLMs, retrieval, agentic workflows) for automation and investigation support. 
• Experience building production models on datasets with millions+ records; strong performance optimization skills. 
• Resilient, outcome-driven, and comfortable operating in dynamic environments. 

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.  

 
 #LI-Hybrid
 

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

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.

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, OntarioHybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$129,400.00 CAD - $179,400.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. 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. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact hr@manulife.com for the salary range for your location.

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 hr@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.