Operations Project Lead

at  Manulife

We are a leading financial services provider committed to making decisions easier and lives better for our customers and colleagues around the world. From our environmental initiatives to our community investments, we lead with values throughout our business. To help us stand out, we help you step up, because when colleagues are healthy, respected and meaningfully challenged, we all thrive. Discover how you can grow your career, make impact and drive real change with our Winning Team today.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Manulife Bank is seeking an experienced Operations Project Lead to join our Business Services & Development (BSD) team. In this role, you will be responsible for the successful implementation of key projects and initiatives within Bank Operations and will lead Intake and prioritization of initiatives for Operations in alignment with our Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking and team member and project management skills to ensure the successful execution and delivery of initiatives. Reporting to the Director of BSD, you will have a proven track record in optimally handling multiple initiatives, engaging stakeholders, leading challenging priorities, building collaborative relationships and working with others to deliver in a fast paced and changing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution and monitoring of Operational initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational objectives (i.e. Annual Bank tax processes, Dormant Accounts, Operational projects)
• Apply change management practices with our customers in mind to ensure stakeholders and operations teams are set up for success to lead changes
• Lead Intake for Operations including prioritization, capacity planning and workforce management
• Lead the Operations Kanban board and using reporting to drive delivery and improvements
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines for each initiative and supervise progress against key milestones and regulatory dates
• Provide leadership and guidance to stakeholders and teams to define scope, objectives, cost/benefit and deliverables ensuring clear communication, effective change management and accountability in alignment with initiative goals
• Lead and foster an agile mindset across BSD’s initiatives
• Identify and mitigate risks, issues and dependencies that may impact the successful delivery or initiatives
• Supervise and report on initiative progress, including KPI’s and OKR’s to partners and leadership
• Serve as a point of contact for operational initiatives and OKR delivery for Operations
• Provide effective and regular communication within the team, partners, and management

Job Requirements:

• You have at least 4 years proven experience in successfully leading multiple, complex initiatives– you are comfortable wearing many hats
• You are proactive – you take the initiative and lead with expertise
• You are results driven and work with a urgency
• You are customer first focused
• You are accountable – you make it happen, you own it and you find solutions
• You have a proven track record to collaborate, build trust and negotiate with various stakeholders with exciting priorities, you maintain your composure and bring your best-self during challenging times and interactions
• You’re comfortable driving solution progress forward – even when you don’t have all the answers
• You have experience with technology and can translate technical information into plain business language
• You consider operational risks, you mitigate and ensure effective controls are in place
• You are resilient, adaptable to change and lead others through change
• You learn fast. You pick up new insights, concepts, technologies, and tools easily
• You have an agile mindset and are familiar with Agile principles, JIRA and Kanban
• You are values driven and a strong great teammate – you want to be a part of, and contribute to an engaged, collaborative and accountable team
• You know how to build successful relationships with your coworkers – whether they are sitting across the table from you - or across the globe. You mesh naturally in an environment with geographically and culturally diverse cross-functional teams
• You already know about financial services and Bank products and the types of technology solutions that allow a Business to lead them

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship We build a business that benefits all team members and has a positive social and environmental impact.

• Lead the planning, execution and monitoring of Operational initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational objectives (i.e. Annual Bank tax processes, Dormant Accounts, Operational projects)
• Apply change management practices with our customers in mind to ensure stakeholders and operations teams are set up for success to lead changes
• Lead Intake for Operations including prioritization, capacity planning and workforce management
• Lead the Operations Kanban board and using reporting to drive delivery and improvements
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines for each initiative and supervise progress against key milestones and regulatory dates
• Provide leadership and guidance to stakeholders and teams to define scope, objectives, cost/benefit and deliverables ensuring clear communication, effective change management and accountability in alignment with initiative goals
• Lead and foster an agile mindset across BSD’s initiatives
• Identify and mitigate risks, issues and dependencies that may impact the successful delivery or initiatives
• Supervise and report on initiative progress, including KPI’s and OKR’s to partners and leadership
• Serve as a point of contact for operational initiatives and OKR delivery for Operations
• Provide effective and regular communication within the team, partners, and managemen