Head of Transformation Office

The Head of Transformation Office is an integral contributor to the Strategy & Transformation function with the goal to define, champion, and drive goals in alignment to the organization's strategic objectives and client/customer needs. The role partners cross functionally to connect strategic goals to initiatives and outcomes. In doing so, the role helps business lines to build realistic attack plans that connect the resource commitment to measures of success. The role enables transparency through the support and oversight of the firm's governance practices and is uniquely positioned to identify and escalate themes, issues and risks to ensure execution readiness across the segment.

Position Responsibilities:

Responsibilities :

Company Portfolio Management – To successfully manage and support the portfolio of work ensuring strategic alignment.

• Ensure that the enterprise portfolio remains aligned to strategy and contribute to strategic planning – working to shape a balanced, sustainable and achievable portfolio.

• Build best in class reporting and analytics to support the strategy and portfolio execution; provide proactive recommendations to drive enhancements across reporting and analytics.

• To support and continuously improve the use of PPM across Asia (Planview) and support and further develop real time portfolio level reporting (PowerBI).

• Partner effectively with cross functional and virtual teams (IT Delivery Teams, Finance, Strategy, Global, Operations, and Corporate teams) by demonstrating collaboration, adaptability, and influence.

• Provide Executive Committee with information needed to assess and decide which proposals have the highest potential value, impact and strategic alignment; define project priorities, implementation opportunities, challenges and communicate project risks and opportunities.

• Maintain the integrity of the portfolio to ensure project business cases are valid and that sanctioned projects are initiated, prioritized, funded and resourced for success; and providing clear advice to the Executive Committee regarding implications of specific re-prioritization on the delivery profile and do-ability of the portfolio.

• Monitor and control project progress at a business unit level and provide regular reports on portfolio health including time, cost, scope and benefits.

PMO/Project Practices – Support portfolio and project delivery lifecycle (PDLC), governance, processes and reporting.

• Drive the governance practices of Manulife. To manage portfolio and project governance and to comply with group and regional requirements on policy, DoA, risk and audit.

• Actively work with Function Heads, Project Sponsors to mobilize the roadmap as per plan; and maintain reporting on the status of project mobilization against plan.

• High level review of business cases to ensure the inputs are of a consistent and high quality and are aligned with enterprise roadmap and regional strategy.

• Manage the risk, issue and change resolution process, and work with other leaders to take corrective action as needed.

• Ensure mechanisms for benefits realization are prepared and accountable project sponsors are enabled to manage and deliver against plans through subsequent business operation

Portfolio Leadership & People Management - To provide PMO leadership and to manage the performance and development of all members of the PMO team (direct and indirect reports).

• Cultivate a community of committed project professionals that will share and eventually drive development of best practices and continuous improvement.

• Ensure quality of deliverables (projects/programs on time, within scope and on budget) by enforcing controls and coaching/mentoring PMs

• Partner actively with IT Delivery teams to manage resource utilization across projects.

• Build good relationships at senior levels with technology, solutions, distribution, and vendor groups.

• Contribute in delivering company’s objective, key results as well as other AdHoc requests in a timely manner.

Accountability (Individual) :

• Execution : Ensure timely and effective execution of assigned tasks.

• Documentation : Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation.

• Continuous Improvement : Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the team.

• Strategic Planning : Lead company-wide portfolio / project prioritization and ensuring alignment with company’s strategic business plan

• Performance Metrics : Develop and maintain a dashboard of KPIs to track the success of company’s initiatives.

• Team Development : Mentor and develop the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Accountability (Shared) :

• Collaboration : Individual is required to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with the identified internal partners

• Strategic Objectives : Contribute to the overall company’s strategic objectives.

• Support : Support Head of Strategy, Planning, and Governance in achieving departmental KPIs and objectives.

Problems / Challenges:

• Change management : Overcome reluctance to new technologies or processes. Develop and implement effective change management strategies to ensure smooth transitions.

• Complexity : Manage the complexity and scope of large-scale transformation projects that may span multiple departments and functions.

• Alignment Across Departments : Ensure cross functional alignment and collaboration, address potential conflicts or misalignments that may arise during projects.

  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, IT or related field required.

• A min. of 15 years of strategy and/or portfolio management experience preferred.

• Expert‐level knowledge of project and change management, methodologies, techniques, processes.

• Understanding of the life insurance industry including key financial metrics is a must.

• Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and challenges in a fast-paced environment

• Organizational and political agility; developed negotiation and influencing skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (i.e Project, Excel, Word, Powerpoint) and analytical tools

• Excellent writing, public speaking, and presentation skills. Proven communication skills (oral and written) in English

• Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders.

• Flexible, adaptable and resourceful when managing changing timelines and multiple deliverables.

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 [email protected] .

Working Arrangement