Director Credit Risk Escalations

Reporting to the AVP Credit Risk, Manulife Bank, the Director Credit Risk Escalations is responsible for the management of the Credit Adjudication function for the Residential and Specialized Lending Credit Risk team. The Director is involved with daily adjudication activities of the team, monitoring workflow, volumes and resourcing as well as reviewing files within the Director’s assigned Delegated Lending Authority (DLA). The Director provides insight into more complex transactions and, for those transactions that exceed the Director’s lending authority, makes recommendations to the AVP Credit Risk on processing. The Director is also responsible for supporting quality reviews, which include the review of a sampling of each team member’s authorized credits on a monthly basis. The results of these audits will be used for coaching purposes.

The Director supports the AVP, Credit Risk, on key initiatives, including policy and guideline updates, product development input, reporting, and process optimization. The Director also serves as a delegate for the CCO in working groups where Specialized Lending is identified as a core stakeholder.

The Director will also be a non‑voting member of the Credit Committee.

Position Responsibilities

• Residential and Specialized Lending Portfolio
• Design, implement and maintain the processes and technology necessary to manage the adjudication workflow.
• Act as the point person for new initiatives that drive smooth processing, collaboration and effective management of risk and service.
• Oversee the effective and ongoing credit risk monitoring of files within the portfolio, specifically the completion of annual reviews in the Specialized Lending Portfolio, ensuring appropriate and timely information is obtained such that the Bank can appropriately monitor the ongoing health of the specialized lending portfolio.
• Support any updates required to policies and guidelines to support product changes, regulatory requirements and business requirements.

Credit Risk Management / Adjudication

• Working with the AVP Credit Risk, monitor the credit risk characteristics of the Residential and Specialized Lending portfolio; identify trends and areas of credit deterioration. Make recommendations to address portfolio and individual credit risk within delegated authority.
• Apply your deep credit risk expertise, financial acumen and experience in the review and analysis of applications to ensure compliance with the company’s policies and standards and regulatory requirements. Ensure the analysis demonstrates an appropriate risk/reward trade‑off with appropriate mitigation as needed.
• Exercise discretionary lending limits as delegated to approve and decision credit applications in line with the Bank’s risk appetite.
• Support a team of independent adjudicators. Act as a point for file escalations and suggest changes to the structuring of transactions to strengthen the company’s position as needed. Provide field guidance on deal structure to ensure a smooth authorization process.

Leadership & Building a High‑Performing Team

• Inspire, coach, guide, and actively engage employees; motivate and encourage staff.
• Manage performance, providing formal and informal feedback and coaching. Establish accountabilities and performance standards.
• Build talent capability and engage employees through focused career discussions, as well as providing professional development opportunities.
• Role model critical behaviors to enhance customer experience.
• Demonstrate inclusive behaviors and provide opportunities to collaborate across teams.

Required Qualifications

• Deep credit risk experience in residential lending and specialized lending.
• Strong collaboration and individual leadership skills.
• Communication and presentation skills.
• Exceptional negotiation skills, both internal and external, to achieve the best outcomes.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of all regulatory requirements that would impact Manulife Bank.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is a strong asset. If the successful candidate is in Quebec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

Location

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary Range

$108,000.00 CAD - $158,000.00 CAD

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 hr@manulife.com.

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