Product Director

This is a Product Director role for US Retirement with a focus on Client Alignment initiatives. This role will lead cross-functional efforts to ensure a seamless external experience throughout product transitions and launches. This role partners closely with internal partners to develop and execute communication plans for sponsors, advisors, TPAs, and participants, and collaborates with key stakeholders to confirm priorities and approach. The director will align relationship managers (RMs) and client service managers (CSMs) on external experience expectations, coordinate with training to prepare for client product conversations, and engage SMEs to provide clear guidance and talking points. They will provide guidance on required client alignment activities, including obtaining advisor/client approvals when needed, and escalate issues appropriately to ensure timely resolution.

This role owns tracking and reporting of readiness for all client alignment items and drives continuous improvement through proactive feedback collection. The Product Director will coordinate client centric initiatives, ensuring end-to-end governance and accountability. Success in this role requires strong stakeholder management, communication, and program execution skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear actions, maintain rigorous operational discipline, and deliver a consistent, client-centered experience.

Responsibilities:

• Outstanding product management skills, demonstrated ability to deliver products involving complex stakeholders.

• Critical thinking skills with initiative, comfortable with ambiguity and adept at designing a plan of action.

• Excellent communication, ability to influence and negotiate effectively with peers and higher levels of management, both verbally and in writing.

• Ongoing product support, project management, intake request management, backlog prioritization, and provide ad hoc support for client and distribution needs.

• Drive development and prioritization, Focus on key deliverables and ensure their successful execution.

• Act as an intermediary between investment professionals, distribution channel partners, marketing, operations, and technology teams.

• Contribute to the product strategy and vision for retirement solutions, aligning with the company’s strategic objectives.

• Lead, mentor, and support teams to ensure effective execution of the product roadmap, fostering professional growth and development.

• Work with senior management, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to prioritize initiatives and make informed product decisions.

• Work with an agile development environment (SAFe preferred) within the Product Management team, ensuring alignment with Agile principles and practices.

• Monitor market trends, customer feedback, and competitive landscape to inform product strategy and innovation.

• Ensure that product development efforts deliver value to customers and meet business objectives, while maintaining a focus on quality and compliance.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and support for product initiatives.

• Collaborate with sales, marketing, operations, and legal teams to delivery products, drive adoption, enhance user experience, and optimize performance.

• Plan and implement products to improve the business’s overall capabilities for serving all customers, including sponsors, advisors, TPAs, and participants.

Required Skills:

• 7-10 years, preferably in product management, product strategy or project management roles.

• Deep understanding of the retirement plan industry, including regulatory requirements, plan design, and investment options.

• Demonstrated ability to drive progress on key initiatives while coordinating and aligning critical dependencies.

• Strong skills in leadership and problem-solving.

• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals from different functional areas and varying levels of experience.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, presenting sophisticated proposals, issues, and arguments to key partners and senior leaders.

• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).

• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and managing the product development lifecycle from concept to launch.

• Ability to think strategically and drive innovation in a fast-paced environment; strong decision-making skills, translating insights into actionable plans.

• Proven track record of successfully managing and mentoring a high-performing team.

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 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 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.

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

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 hr@manulife.com 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.

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.

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