Strategy manager Jobs in Waterloo, ON

The GWAM Strategy &Transformation Office is recruiting a Manager (Strategy & Transformation), to assist in driving the transformation initiatives at Manulife Global Wealth and Asset Management. The transformation project team is accountable for driving major transformation projects that span multiple areas of our segment.

50% of the role will be on projects that sit at the intersection of finance and strategy, requiring deep expertise in both. Sample projects include GenAI opportunity identification and business cases for finance teams, designing the finance operating model for a new subsidiary, capital allocation & seed capital strategy and platform profitability and cost-to-serve assessments. The remaining 50% of scope will be pure strategy & transformation projects (e.g. supporting/ leading M&A integrations, offshoring/ outsourcing initiatives).

You’ll work in a dynamic environment with regular exposure to senior leaders (VP/SVP and above) on initiatives that are strategically important to the business. You’ll collaborate closely with a team of former consultants, where the pace is quick and the learning curve is meaningful—but the impact and professional growth can be very rewarding.

The successful candidate will be expected to support and eventually own transformation projects, which entail:

• Framing key issues & problem solving through first principle thinking

• Developing initial hypotheses and structuring data analysis

• Conducting stakeholder interviews to understand business problems

• Drawing meaningful insights from data analysis and external research/ industry trends

• Developing actionable recommendations and articulating them through executive presentations

Position Responsibilities:

• Think analytically to break down moderately complex issues into smaller, manageable components. Frame hypotheses for subcomponents, identify data analysis required, source data

• Analyze large datasets to identify patterns, trends, and insights that inform strategic recommendations

• Maintain a basic understanding of the business, value chain, financial acumen, and customer lifecycle for the strategy being supported

• Conduct market research and use external data, benchmarks, industry trends to inform recommendations

• Articulate output of the data analysis and resulting recommendations to team members and cross functional stakeholders

• Prepare presentations, dashboards, etc. to share insights and recommendations with senior stakeholders (e.g. AVPs and VPs)

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to leverage insights and recommendations for successful project outcome

• Participate in day-to-day operational decision-making and support project management and reporting/ monitoring project performance

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in business management, economics or finance

• 5 - 7 years of experience, preferably 2-3 years in top tier management consulting or similar strategy roles preferred

• Finance and accounting certifications (e.g., CPA or CFA) are strongly preferred

• Strong numerical aptitude, MS Excel proficiency and experience with analyzing large data sets

• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to apply structured thinking process to solve complex problems independently

• Strong storytelling skills and the ability to craft clear, compelling recommendations using Microsoft PowerPoint

• Self-awareness and the ability to use a variety of methods and techniques to achieve goals.

• Ability to identify the "what" and "why” while considering diverse perspectives to build support for ideas.

• Ability to operate comfortably at both levels—diving deep into details when needed while also stepping back to assess the broader context and maintain a clear, strategic perspective

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset. If the successful candidate is in Quebec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec

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.

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 .

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 <.

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$103,270.00 CAD - $153,270.00 CAD

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.