People Partner

The People Partner is a strategic advisor and trusted partner to business leaders across the UK and Europe providing endtoend people leadership within a global operating model. This role works in close partnership with senior stakeholders to translate business strategy into impactful people solutions that enhance performance engagement and longterm organisational health.

Operating within a matrixed international environment the role requires strong judgement cultural intelligence and the ability to balance global consistency with local insight. The People Partner is a visible advocate of Manulifes values the One HR model and our commitment to an inclusive and ethical workplace.

Manulife Investment Management and MCQS will be undertaking the integration of HR systems and employees over the next 12 months. During this transitional period the incumbent will be accountable for ensuring that all existing HR operations continue to run smoothly and effectively within MCQS.

This will include full oversight of payroll HR cyclical activities (such as performance and reward processes) and recruitment ensuring activities are delivered in a timely compliant and professional manner.

The role will play a fully active part in the integration programme supporting process alignment data migration and employee transition activities. Strong TUPE knowledge and practical experience will be essential to successfully manage employee transfers and associated employee relations considerations

Position Responsibilities

Strategic People Partnership

• Build deep trusted relationships with leaders acting as a strategic advisor on all peoplerelated matters.

• Partner with the business to cocreate and deliver people plans that enable growth resilience and organisational effectiveness.

• Provide balanced commercially grounded advice that aligns employee experience regulatory obligations and business outcomes.

• Coach leaders to strengthen inclusive leadership capability and create highperforming teams.

HR Programme & Cycle Leadership

Lead the delivery of core global HR programmes across assigned client groups including:

• Employee Engagement and Listening

• Performance Planning and Goal Setting

• Talent Review and Succession Planning

• Annual Compensation and Reward Cycles

Ensure programmes are delivered with rigour consistency and strong stakeholder engagement aligned to global standards and local requirements.

Integration & Change Enablement

• Act as a key People Partner supporting the integration of Manulife Investment Management and MCQS in the UK.

• Provide practical ontheground support across organisational design role harmonisation workforce transition and cultural integration.

• Support leaders and employees through change with empathy clarity and confidence reinforcing Manulifes values throughout the process.

Employee Relations & Governance

• Partner with leaders and global Centres of Expertise to manage employee relations matters effectively and in line with Manulifes policies values and local legislation.

• Apply knowledge of UK employment law and TUPE to support business change and manage risk responsibly.

• Exercise sound judgement when navigating complex or sensitive situations escalating appropriately while maintaining accountability.

Workforce Insights & DataLed Decision Making

• Leverage Workday and workforce analytics to identify trends risks and opportunities.

• Translate data into clear actionable insights that support leadership decisionmaking and workforce planning.

• Use insights to inform engagement retention capability and succession strategies.

One HR Model & Global Collaboration

• Serve as a visible ambassador of the One HR model ensuring seamless customerfocused delivery of HR services.

• Collaborate closely with global Centres of Expertise (primarily in the US and Canada) ensuring the right expertise is engaged to meet business needs.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes practices and ways of working.

• Utilise centres of expertise to effectively and professionally manage payroll HR queries recruitment and selection global mobility immigration benefits pensions

Enterprise & GWAM Initiatives

• Actively participate in GWAM and enterprisewide people initiatives and project work.

• Provide proactive support to the Global GWAM People Partner community sharing insight best practice and lessons learned.

• Support GWAM succession planning and top talent development.

Skills & Capabilities

• Advanced operational and analytical capability in Workday

• Strong working knowledge of UK employment legislation including TUPE

• Demonstrated experience supporting organisational integration and harmonisation

• Ability to operate credibly across multiple countries cultures and regulatory landscapes

• Working knowledge of AI and digital HR tools with a curiosity for innovation in HR

• Strong coaching consulting and influencing skills

• Confident in conflict leadership and complex stakeholder management

• Excellent execution discipline with strong project management skills

• Resilient pragmatic and comfortable navigating ambiguity

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in HR or a related discipline

• CIPD partqualified or fully qualified (or equivalent)

• 46 years experience in an HR advisory People Partner or HR Business Partner role

• Proven experience delivering people initiatives within a complex matrixed organisation

• Strong IT capability including Excel Word Outlook and HR systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in organisational effectiveness change enablement or workforce transformation

• Exposure to reward recognition or performance frameworks

• Experience within financial

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.

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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 .