Head of BCP Design and Execution

In today’s rapidly evolving financial services landscape, operational resilience is paramount. It encompasses the ability of an organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions. As financial institutions face increasing threats from cyber incidents, natural disasters, and regulatory changes, maintaining operational resilience is crucial to safeguarding critical operations and ensuring business continuity.

We seek a dynamic, experienced leader to oversee implementation of Business Continuity Plans across the organization globally, ensuring Manulife meets its service commitments to customers. This role is responsible for developing the strategies, operating model, and methodologies pertaining to the design, development, testing, and ongoing maintenance of Business Continuity Plans. By managing risk and fostering preparedness, this leader will ensure our business thrives during challenges and maintains customer, stakeholder, and regulator trust.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Head, BCP Design and Execution is a newly established global Line 1 role accountable for ensuring effective implementation of the Company’s Business Continuity Risk Management standard across Manulife. This includes design and development of global strategy on Business Continuity planning, build enterprise capabilities and processes to effectively monitor organization’s risk posture and remediation, and program manage to ensure organization’s compliance to regulatory requirements and business’ resilience objectives are met

• Business Continuity Plan Execution Strategy and Management: (20%)

  • Develop and enhance MFC’s global strategy on Business Continuity Planning in line with evolving internal business strategy and external factors including regulatory environment.

  • Define and document enterprise approach, procedures and operating model for implementation of MFC Business Continuity Management policy, standard

  • Provide thought leadership to segment and functional BCP leads to design, implement, and operate controls, including simulation testing for ensuring business continuity risks are managed within MFC’s risk appetite

  • Lead global Business Continuity Plan program to ensure adherence to execution timeline across segments / functions, and timely escalation of risks

• Business Continuity Plan Governance: (30%)

  • Lead design and implementation of Business Continuity Planning Governance structure, including management committees and working group, in collaboration with L1 and L2 partners

  • Act as Manulife’s primary Line 1 representative to internal stakeholders and regulators on Business Continuity Planning including review, data requests, and other inquiries

  • Influence Segment, Functions stakeholders to ensure ongoing processes are in place to identify, analyze and remediate material gaps in applicable BCPs and the relevant corrective action plans filed and actioned

  • Govern quality of Business Continuity plans and support segment leads in consistent execution of the BCM standard including procedures for implementing appropriate form of testing of the BCPs

  • Lead first line of defense review and feedback on the BCM framework, policies, and standards developed by the Second Line of Defense and propose recommendation on enhancements

• Business Continuity Plan Execution Monitoring and Reporting (30%)

  • Lead the design and consistent implementation of global processes and capabilities including reporting, proactive risk indicator monitoring (including external events), and leveraging AI capabilities, etc.

  • Define, aggregate, analysis, and report enterprise KPIs and KRIs to monitor implementation progress and risk posture and monitor remediation actions

• Team Building, Leadership and Training (20%)

  • Build and lead a team of 5-10 members with direct and matrix reporting to manage business continuity risks, requiring cross-functional skills in strategy, data, change management, and operational resilience knowledge.

  • Develop and lead first line communication and training on business continuity management practices

This job description does not represent a comprehensive listing of job duties that are required of the employee performing this role. We reserve the right to change duties or assign additional duties at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, strategy, operation management, or a related field.

• 10+ years of experience in Insurance, Banking, or Wealth and Asset Management, with 5+ years in Business Continuity Management or Operations Management role

• Extensive knowledge of discipline of operational resilience and business continuity risk management

• Expert knowledge of risk management principles, best practices, and tools

• Membership in relevant industry groups an asset e.g. Business Continuity Institute, Resilience Information Exchange (RIE)

Preferred Qualifications:

• High level of self-motivation and keen sense of 'owning' and delivering on project deliverables

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and mentor a diverse and distributed team

• Proven track record in delivering complex, cross-functional, and time sensitive programs that meets business goals and regulatory expectations

• Expertise in working within a global / matrix organization.

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 recruitment@manulife.com.

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com for the salary range for your location. 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. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

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 recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.