Managing Director, Business Management – Private Markets

The Managing Director, Business Management is responsible for strengthening and scaling the operating model of Manulife’s Global Private Markets platform. The role focuses on how the business runs—driving efficiency, execution discipline, and scalable processes across investment operations and all supporting functions.

The role owns platform-wide operating model refinement, execution governance, and transformation initiatives, including AI strategy and implementation, oversight of functional support and workload management, and delivery of the Private Markets book of work, among others. The role partners closely with the investment and operational leadership of each private markets business (private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, timber and agriculture) and functional support teams, as well as enterprise strategy and transformation teams, to ensure alignment between Private Markets priorities and broader firm initiatives.

The role reports to the Global Chief Operating Officer, Private Markets
and works collaboratively across investments, operations, and enterprise functions to embed durable improvements that support long-term growth.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Operating Model Design & Continuous Improvement

• Own and evolve the Private Markets operating model, ensuring clarity of roles, decision rights, handoffs, and accountability across investments and support functions.

• Lead ongoing assessment and refinement of processes to improve efficiency, scalability, consistency, and control.

• Drive standardization and simplification across investment strategies and business units, where appropriate.

• Establish and maintain effective governance structures to support decision-making in a global, matrixed environment.

2. Efficiency, Scalability & Execution Discipline

• Identify and execute initiatives to improve operational efficiency and productivity, reducing manual work, rework, and process fragmentation.

• Partner with leadership on capacity planning, workload management, and headcount optimization.

• Define and monitor operational KPIs, service levels, and productivity metrics across functions.

• Ensure Private Markets can scale growth without disproportionate increases in cost or operational risk.

3. Book of Work, SOW & Capacity Management

• Own the Private Markets book of work funding and approval process, including intake, prioritization, sequencing, and tracking of initiatives.

• Establish and maintain a disciplined statement of work (SOW) and resource allocation process across teams and functions.

• Balance “run-the-business” and “change-the-business” work to avoid bottlenecks and execution fatigue.

• Lead cross-functional governance forums to ensure alignment, transparency, and accountability for delivery.

4. AI Strategy, Technology Enablement & Automation

• Own the Private Markets AI strategy, aligned with enterprise standards and priorities.

• Identify, prioritize, and sponsor AI and automation use cases across investment and operational workflows, data management, reporting, and risk processes.

• Partner with Technology, Data, and Risk teams to define data and technology strategy to ensure solutions are scalable, well-governed, and adopted by the business.

• Oversee change management to embed new tools and capabilities into day-to-day workflows.

5. Partnership with Operational & Functional Support Teams

• Work closely with Operations, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Technology, Data, HR, and Tax teams to design and execute effective operating processes.

• Drives organizational alignment to private market industry best practices, continuously scanning the market for emerging standards in governance, risk management, operational efficiency, and regulatory expectations—and translating insights into actionable upgrades across the operating model.

• Maintains deep awareness of competitive peer strategies, benchmarking the firm’s processes, technology stack, investment operations, and client‑service capabilities to ensure the platform remains differentiated, scalable, and positioned as a top‑quartile operator.

• Collaborates with business partners to determine best‑in‑class vendor oversight and partnership management, ensuring external partners deliver high‑quality, resilient, and cost‑effective services aligned with the firm’s strategic objectives.

• Serve as a central point of coordination to ensure functional initiatives align with the Private Markets operating model.

• Drive clarity around ownership, service expectations, and escalation paths between Private Markets and support teams.

• Ensure operating processes meet enterprise risk, regulatory, and control requirements.

6. Collaboration with Strategy & Transformation Teams

• Partner with enterprise and Private Markets strategy teams to translate strategic priorities into executable initiatives.

• Coordinate with enterprise transformation teams to align Private Markets initiatives with firm-wide programs, platforms, and standards.

• Ensure transformation efforts are sequenced realistically and resourced appropriately within the Private Markets book of work.

• Act as a bridge between strategy, transformation, and day-to-day execution.

7. Leadership, Influence & Change Management

• Lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority in a matrixed organization.

• Drive adoption of new processes, tools, and governance through effective change management.

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational rigor.

• Provide clear, executive-level reporting on progress, risks, and outcomes.

Key Success Measures

• Improved operating efficiency, scalability, and execution predictability.

• Clear, well-functioning operating model with defined ownership and governance.

• Transparent and disciplined management of the Private Markets book of work.

• Successful delivery and adoption of AI and automation initiatives.

• Strong collaboration and satisfaction across operational and functional support teams.

• Alignment between Private Markets initiatives and enterprise strategy and transformation efforts.

Traits for Success in This Role

• Self-Motivated and Autonomous: Able to take initiative and drive outcomes without constant direction.

• Obsessively Organized: Maintains structure, prioritization, and clarity across complex initiatives.

• Clear, Direct Communication: Communicates effectively with all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Builds trust and fosters collaboration across diverse teams and geographies.

• KPI-Driven and Outcome-Focused: Measures success through tangible results and consistent follow-through.

• Influential Leadership: Navigates a global, matrixed environment to lead without direct authority.

• Change Management Mindset: Champions adoption of new processes and tools with empathy and rigor.

Qualifications & Experience

• 15+ years of experience in asset management, private markets, or complex financial services organizations.

• Senior leadership experience in business management, operating model design, transformation, or COO-type roles.

• Strong understanding of private markets operations and fund lifecycle processes.

• Proven track record delivering cross-functional change initiatives at scale.

• Experience sponsoring technology, data, and AI initiatives from concept through implementation.

• Ability to influence senior stakeholders in a global, matrixed organization.

• Strong executive presence, communication, and analytical skills.

Why This Role Matters

This role ensures that Manulife’s Private Markets platform operates with clarity, discipline, and scalability, enabling growth while maintaining strong controls and execution confidence. By partnering closely with operational teams and enterprise strategy and transformation functions, the role helps translate ambition into sustainable results.

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

Boston, Massachusetts

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$156,700.00 USD - $290,900.00 USD

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/John Hancock 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/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

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Company: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)