Director Product & Growth

The Director, Product Strategy & Growth is accountable for the strategic direction, growth, profitability and lifecycle management of an assigned product portfolio. The role translates customer, market and business insight into a focused portfolio strategy, investment roadmap and commercialization plan that strengthen Manulife’s market position and deliver measurable value for customers, distribution partners and the business. 

As a senior product leader and people leader, the Director brings together teams across Product, Distribution, Marketing, Digital, Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Risk and Compliance to make sound portfolio choices, accelerate execution and ensure products remain relevant, sustainable and differentiated. 

Position Responsibilities:

Strategy and portfolio ownership 

• Own and continuously refine the long-term strategy, value proposition and investment roadmap for the assigned portfolio, aligned to enterprise and business priorities. 

• Manage the full product lifecycle, including ideation, validation, development, launch, optimization, modernization, rationalization and, where required, responsible exit or run-off. 

• Maintain a focused and relevant product shelf that supports growth, client retention, member value, operational sustainability and market differentiation. 

• Translate strategic priorities into clear choices, sequenced roadmaps, investment recommendations and measurable outcomes. 

• Structure complex or ambiguous business opportunities into evidence-based assessments and business cases that clearly articulate customer and business value, financial implications, operational impacts, risks, dependencies and trade-offs. 

Customer, market and competitive insights 

• Champion the voice of the customer by incorporating sponsor, member, advisor and distribution insights into product strategy, design and prioritization. 

• Use customer research, market intelligence, competitive analysis, emerging trends and performance data to identify unmet needs, growth opportunities and portfolio risks. 

• Define the customer and business problems to be solved and ensure product decisions are grounded in evidence, clear hypotheses and expected outcomes. 

• Monitor developments in technology, regulation, healthcare, benefits and adjacent markets to anticipate changes that may affect the portfolio. 

Growth, commercialization and performance 

• Lead commercialization and go-to-market strategies that strengthen positioning, enable distribution and improve adoption, engagement, revenue and profitability. 

• Partner with Sales, Marketing and Distribution to develop compelling value propositions, sales narratives, launch plans and client-facing materials. 

• Establish and regularly review portfolio scorecards covering customer outcomes, adoption, growth, revenue, profitability, operational health, risk and strategic value, with clear accountability for delivering agreed portfolio outcomes 

• Use performance insights to recommend investment, optimization, pricing, remediation or exit decisions and communicate progress to senior leadership. 

Product and delivery leadership 

• Lead major product initiatives from opportunity assessment and business case through delivery, launch and benefits realization. 

• Set strategic priorities and desired outcomes for cross-functional delivery teams, ensuring resources remain focused on the highest-value opportunities. 

• Guide discovery, experimentation and validation using customer research, concept testing, analytics and other fit-for-purpose methods before significant investment is made. 

• Partner with Digital, Technology, Design and Operations leaders to create integrated experiences and scalable solutions; provide direction on scope and minimum viable product decisions. 

• Identify and evaluate opportunities  to use AI, automation, data and emerging digital capabilities to improve customer value, operating effectiveness or business performance. 

• Lead the strategic management of external product partners and vendors, working with Procurement and business partners on selection, contracting, renewals, service expectations, performance and ongoing strategic alignment. 

• Ensure product launches and material changes are operationally ready, with appropriate contracts, policy provisions, processes, training, communications, controls and distribution enablement in place. 

Risk, governance and regulatory stewardship 

• Own product governance for the assigned portfolio and ensure material product, customer, contractual, operational, financial and regulatory risks are understood and managed. 

• Work closely with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Privacy and other control functions to obtain required approvals and ensure products and communications meet applicable requirements. 

• Bring forward clear decisions, trade-offs and recommendations when risk, customer value, economics or delivery feasibility are in tension. 

• Maintain appropriate documentation, controls, decision records and escalation paths across the product lifecycle. 

Enterprise leadership and talent development 

• Build strong relationships and influence across functions and levels to align stakeholders, resolve ambiguity and move complex decisions forward. 

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team, setting clear expectations and building strength in strategic thinking, commercial acumen, customer insight and execution. 

• Create an inclusive, accountable and learning-oriented team environment that encourages constructive challenge and sound decision-making. 

• Represent the portfolio in senior leadership discussions, capabilities presentations, distribution forums, client meetings, advisory boards and industry events as required. 

• Lead strategic initiatives spanning the broader product organization or business where enterprise priorities require cross-portfolio leadership. 

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in business, finance, marketing, health, technology or a related field, or equivalent experience. 

• Typically 8+ years of progressive product, strategy, innovation or commercialization, including leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives. 

• Demonstrated experience in financial services, insurance, group benefits, health, wellbeing, disability or other regulated industries. 

• Demonstrated experience developing product or portfolio strategies and translating them into executable roadmaps, business cases and measurable outcomes. 

• Demonstrated ability to apply product and strategic capabilities across different portfolios, quickly build subject-matter expertise and lead effectively as business priorities evolve. 

• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience assessing product economics, investment trade-offs and portfolio performance. 

• Proven ability to lead through influence in a highly matrixed and regulated environment. 

• Experience leading, coaching and developing people and building effective teams. 

• Excellent executive communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues, frame decisions and deliver clear recommendations. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in group benefits, health, wellbeing, dental and/or disability products, including employer-sponsored solutions. 

• Experience managing strategic partnerships, vendors or ecosystem-based propositions. 

• Experience with digital product development, customer experience design, agile delivery and data-informed experimentation. 

• Working knowledge of relevant compliance, privacy, risk and product governance practices. 
• Bilingualism (English and French) is a strong asset. If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

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.

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 [email protected].

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, OntarioHybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$125,100.00 CAD - $175,100.00 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.