The Head of Agency Distribution Governance is a senior leadership role responsible for strengthening governance across Agency Distribution by driving execution excellence, financial stewardship, compensation governance, and risk management. This role ensures that distribution initiatives, transformation programs, and compensation frameworks are aligned with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and sustainable growth strategies.
Leading a team of four, the incumbent collaborates closely with Agency Distribution leaders and cross-functional partners to establish best-in-class governance frameworks, enhance decision-making, and promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and operational excellence.
Position Responsibilities:
This role is expected to evolve into a strategic governance and transformation leader with the following expanded mandate:
Governance, Program Execution & Risk Management
Establish and continuously enhance governance frameworks, standards, and controls across Agency Distribution.
Oversee governance of strategic initiatives, transformation programs, sales campaigns, and operational projects to ensure alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
Drive execution excellence through governance forums, approval processes, performance monitoring, KPIs, dashboards, and periodic reviews.
Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, and governance risks while ensuring audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
Promote accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across agency operations.
Financial Stewardship & Performance Management
Lead budget planning, forecasting, monitoring, and financial governance for Agency Distribution.
Partner with Finance and business leaders to align investments and resources with strategic priorities.
Monitor financial performance, cost efficiency, investment effectiveness, and cost-to-income outcomes.
Leverage analytics, reporting, and predictive insights to support informed decision-making and strengthen financial controls.
Compensation Governance & Transformation
Oversee agency compensation frameworks, incentive programs, contests, and productivity-linked compensation schemes.
Lead compensation-related transformation initiatives, including program design, governance, simplification, automation, and implementation.
Ensure compensation structures remain competitive, equitable, financially sustainable, and aligned with business objectives.
Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Actuarial teams on compensation modeling, impact assessments, and regulatory requirements.
Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership
Serve as a trusted advisor to Distribution leadership on governance, strategic priorities, and organizational performance.
Partner closely with Agency Distribution, Finance, HR, Compliance, Actuarial, and Strategy/Transformation teams to drive alignment and effective decision-making.
Facilitate strong governance practices across stakeholders and ensure accountability for strategic initiatives and outcomes.
People Leadership
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
Build organizational capability in governance, financial management, analytics, and program execution.
Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, excellence, and continuous learning.
Required Qualifications:
15–18+ years of experience in:
Governance / PMO
Financial planning & analysis
Distribution operations (preferably in Life Insurance)
Proven experience in:
Leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives
Budget management and financial oversight
Incentive/compensation program design
Strong analytical, financial, and project management skills
Leadership experience managing teams
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.
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
Working Arrangement
Hybrid
Manulife is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We have more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents serving ~34 million customers worldwide, and over $1.3 trillion in assets under management and administration.
Visit www.Manulife.com to find out more.
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