Director, Enablement Management and Strategy

The Director, Enablement Management & Strategy is a highly visible, high-impact individual contributor role reporting directly to the Head of Global Retail Distribution Enablement. This position serves as the program leader for a Distribution Transformation Program, owning roadmap governance, KPI management, achievement tracking, communications and executive reporting, while also acting as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Head of Distribution Enablement. This role is ideal for a senior enablement or program leader who brings strong executive presence, outstanding communication skills, and the ability to influence across functions. You will operate with structure, initiative, and an ownership mindset—balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Position Responsibilities: 

Distribution Transformation Program Leadership & Governance (Approximately 70%)

• Own and maintain the Distribution Transformation Program master roadmap, ensuring alignment across all workstreams

• Partner with workstream leads to define milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and timelines

• Drive accountability for milestone delivery; proactively identify risks, root causes, and mitigation plans

• Facilitate cross-functional decision-making and call out issues as needed to maintain momentum

• Lead the definition, refinement, and ongoing management of program KPIs

• Partner with Business Intelligence to build and publish monthly KPI dashboards

• Deliver executive-level reporting highlighting progress, risks, wins, and strategic implications

• Organize and lead program governance forums

• Develop agendas, synthesize updates, track actions, and ensure follow-through

• Prepare executive briefings and leadership communications

Chief of Staff to Head of Distribution Enablement (Approximately 30%)

• Track operating budget, vendor spend, and headcount forecasting

• Partner with Finance on variance analysis and annual planning cycles

• Develop leadership communications and strategy decks

• Co-own team engagement strategy and lead operating rhythms

Required Qualifications:

• 8–10 years of experience in financial services, with background in enablement, sales, marketing, strategy, or program management

• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives without direct authority

• Experience leading large‑scale programs, transformations, or enterprise initiatives

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint (executive storytelling) and Excel (data analysis)

• Strong data literacy and comfort working with KPIs, dashboards, BI partners, and analytics outputs

• Expertise in program governance, change management, and stakeholder communications

• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively

• Ambitious, self‑starter mentality; proactive and comfortable operating with minimal oversight

• Highly structured and process‑driven, with the ability to navigate ambiguity

• Excellent relationship‑building and influencing skills across all levels of the organization

• High degree of ownership, accountability, and follow‑through

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.

#LI-WAM

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 pr