AVP, AI Delivery

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of AI Canada the role leads the Canada AI Delivery function and is responsible for transforming approved priorities into scalable production-ready solutions that deliver measurable business value. The successful candidate will oversee multidisciplinary teams and work closely with business leaders technology partners data teams and AI practitioners to accelerate the delivery of innovative AI-powered capabilities.

This role sits at the intersection of business transformation technology and execution. It requires a leader who can translate strategic ambition into outcomes navigate complex cross-functional environments and build the delivery capabilities required to scale AI at enterprise level. Success in this role requires balancing speed innovation and operational excellence while ensuring AI solutions are scalable reusable responsible and aligned to business objectives.

Unlike traditional delivery leadership roles focused on project execution this role is responsible for helping Canada AI evolve from delivering individual AI use cases to building scalable reusable AI capabilities that drive enterprise-wide impact. The AVP will play a critical role in establishing modern AI delivery practices accelerating organizational maturity and enabling the next generation of AI-powered business outcomes across Manulife Canada.

Lead the evolution of Canada AIs delivery organization establishing the people processes operating model and execution disciplines required to deliver AI solutions with speed quality rigor and consistency at enterprise scale.

Lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for transforming business priorities into deployed and adopted AI solutions ensuring initiatives move beyond experimentation and deliver measurable value for customers advisors employees and business partners.

Champion agile delivery rapid prototyping iterative development product-centric thinking and continuous improvement practices that increase delivery velocity predictability and execution quality while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.

Drive the transition from one-time AI use cases to reusable products platforms and capabilities that can be leveraged across multiple business units creating greater efficiency consistency and enterprise impact.

Partner across business technology data operations risk and global AI teams to align priorities resolve barriers manage dependencies and ensure successful execution of strategic AI initiatives.

Build and mentor exceptional delivery leaders and multidisciplinary teams while strengthening organizational capabilities succession depth and delivery excellence across the Canada AI function.

• 12 years of progressive leadership experience delivering large-scale technology digital data analytics AI or business transformation initiatives within complex enterprise environments.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams responsible for delivering solutions from concept through deployment adoption operationalization and value realization.

• Demonstrated success building and scaling modern delivery organizations including agile teams delivery governance operating models and execution disciplines that improve speed predictability and business outcomes.

• Experience leading the delivery of enterprise AI machine learning generative AI intelligent automation or advanced analytics solutions in production environments.

• Strong understanding of modern AI technologies and delivery approaches including machine learning generative AI agentic AI cloud-based platforms rapid prototyping iterative development and product-centric delivery models.

• Demonstrated experience transforming organizations from project-based delivery approaches toward product platform or capability-based operating models that emphasize reuse scale and sustainable value creation.

• Experience designing delivering or scaling reusable technology products platforms or enterprise capabilities that serve multiple business units customer groups or operational stakeholders.

• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives involving business technology data risk operations and external partners while managing competing priorities and organizational dependencies.

• Experience working across global or distributed teams leveraging shared enterprise platforms and capabilities to deliver scalable technology and AI solutions.

• Strong understanding of Responsible AI principles model governance risk management privacy considerations and regulatory requirements associated with enterprise AI deployment.

• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and communicate complex technology and AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Experience leading leaders building high-performing teams and developing organizational capability within large matrixed organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Engineering Data Science Mathematics Business or a related field. Advanced degrees such as an MBA Masters in Artificial Intelligence Data Science Engineering or related disciplines are considered an asset.

• Experience delivering solutions within financial services insurance healthcare banking or other highly regulated industries.

When you join our team:

• Well empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• Well recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team well 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 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 .

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

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 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 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.