Director, Digital Program Management

The Director Digital Program Management is responsible for leading the successful delivery of strategic digital transformation programs that advance Manulifes One Manulife vision.

This role will lead complex multi-year programs that span business units segments and technology organizations including initiatives such as Unified Canada Digital Storefront (DSF) Shared Capabilities and other enterprise customer experience transformation efforts.

The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution. They will operate comfortably with senior executives and business leaders while also diving into delivery details resolving issues managing dependencies coordinating teams and driving outcomes across large cross-functional programs.

Position Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Transformation Delivery

• Lead large-scale digital transformation programs from initiation through execution implementation and business adoption.

• Establish program vision objectives success measures and strategic roadmaps aligned to enterprise priorities.

• Develop and maintain integrated program plans across business product technology operations and vendor workstreams.

• Ensure alignment on scope timelines milestones dependencies deliverables and expected outcomes.

• Drive accountability across multiple teams and stakeholder groups to achieve program objectives.

• Partner with product technology and business leaders to ensure delivery remains aligned to strategic goals and customer outcomes.

Program & Project Management

• Establish and oversee program governance structures delivery frameworks execution plans and operating rhythms.

• Manage complex interdependencies across multiple workstreams products and business units.

• Coordinate planning activities milestone reviews readiness assessments and delivery checkpoints.

• Ensure clear ownership decision-making processes and escalation paths are in place.

• Proactively identify mitigate and escalate risks issues and dependencies.

• Oversee change governance and ensure organizational readiness activities are embedded within program plans.

• Ensure adherence to enterprise delivery governance financial reporting ODF and audit requirements.

Hands-On Delivery Leadership

Unlike a traditional Program Director role this position is expected to actively engage in execution when required.

Responsibilities include:

• Building and maintaining integrated program plans.

• Managing RAID logs and dependency tracking.

• Facilitating working sessions workshops planning events and executive reviews.

• Driving issue resolution and removing delivery blockers.

• Creating executive-ready status reports presentations and briefing materials.

• Supporting roadmap release and milestone planning activities.

• Partnering with Product Owners Delivery Leads and Scrum Masters to ensure execution remains on track.

• Directly project managing high-priority workstreams during critical delivery periods.

Executive Stakeholder Management

• Lead executive governance forums steering committees and transformation reviews.

• Build strong relationships across business technology operations and digital experience teams.

• Manage stakeholder alignment across multiple segments functions and leadership teams.

• Provide clear concise executive communications on program progress risks dependencies decisions and outcomes.

• Escalate issues requiring leadership intervention with context options and recommended paths forward.

• Influence without authority to drive alignment and execution across matrixed organizations.

Strategic Partnership Across Business and Technology

• Act as a key connector between Digital Experience Product Technology Operations and business stakeholders.

• Build strong partnerships across GWAM Canada Segment Shared Capabilities and Global teams.

• Proactively identify and address gaps in delivery ownership handoffs decision-making and execution.

• Foster collaboration across functions to accelerate delivery and improve program outcomes.

• Champion a One Manulife mindset by driving alignment transparency and shared accountability across teams.

Required Qualifications:

Experience

• 10 years of experience leading complex digital transformation program management or technology delivery initiatives.

• Proven experience delivering large-scale cross-functional programs spanning business and technology organizations.

• Experience leading customer-facing digital experience platform modernization or enterprise transformation initiatives.

• Experience operating within large highly matrixed organizations.

• Bachelors degree required; Masters degree (e.g. MBA or MS in a technical or business field) is a plus.

Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional program and project management expertise.

• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

• Advanced PowerPoint Excel and executive storytelling skills.

• Strong financial and delivery management discipline.

• Ability to simplify complex problems into actionable plans.

• Strong organizational and execution skills with attention to detail.

Communication & Influence

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience creating executive-level presentations updates and decision materials.

• Proven ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity and action.

Delivery & Ways of Working

• Strong understanding of Agile delivery practices and product operating models.

• Experience working with Jira Rally Confluence and related delivery tools.

• Familiarity with digital product development from discovery through delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP Certification is considered an asset.

• Experience within financial services is an asset.

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.

#LI-Hybrid

If you are applying to this role in Massachusetts please note the salary range is $128550 - $222820 USD. Additionally employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

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.