Director, AI Governance & Operational Enablement (Canada)

Director, AI Governance & Operational Enablement – Canada

This role is critical to operationalizing Canada’s AI strategy, governance, and enablement. The Director will ensure AI governance, compliance, reporting, and operational excellence run efficiently and effectively. Acting as the central integrator, this leader will oversee frameworks, processes, and performance measurement to enable responsible AI adoption and value realization. This opportunity offers the chance to shape governance standards, drive operational excellence, and influence strategic priorities across Canada.

Position Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain AI governance frameworks tailored to Canadian regulatory, legal, and ethical standards.
• Establish and enforce policies for Responsible AI, security, privacy, and risk mitigation across AI models and platforms.
• Monitor evolving Canadian AI regulations and partner with legal, risk, and compliance teams to embed governance into the AI lifecycle.
• Lead financial planning and budgeting for AI initiatives within Canada, ensuring efficient resource allocation and ROI tracking.
• Develop and manage reporting frameworks for AI value realization, outcomes, and performance metrics.
• Oversee program management for AI initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business priorities.
• Manage vendor relationships for AI-related services and platforms, ensuring compliance and performance standards.
• Establish dashboards and reporting for model performance, governance compliance, and AI adoption metrics.
• Track and communicate AI ROI and operational KPIs to Canadian leadership and global stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration across key AI stakeholders to ensure consistent governance and operational standards.
• Champion ethical AI practices and embed customer-first principles into AI development and deployment.
• Drive clear communication of governance policies, operational processes, and performance outcomes across stakeholder groups.
• Ensure Canadian AI operations align with enterprise priorities and global AI strategy.
• Provide input on emerging AI trends and operational implications to support future-proof governance and enablement.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology governance, program leadership, or operational enablement, with a track record of executing complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong understanding of AI technologies, governance frameworks, and regulatory landscapes in financial services, particularly within Canada.
• Exceptional financial acumen with the ability to build detailed business cases and assess ROI across AI programs.
• University degree in a relevant field; postgraduate degree or professional designation preferred.
• Well-developed planning and project management skills, including experience managing large-scale program portfolios.
• Strong process and change management capabilities to support transformation and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and conflict resolution skills to foster alignment across business units and functions.
• Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams in a collaborative, customer-first culture.
• Effective conceptual, diagnostic, and analytical skills with the ability to synthesize insights and solve operational challenges.
• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering measurable impact and driving continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in financial services or regulated industries.
• Knowledge of ethical AI frameworks and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with global AI governance standards and operational best practices.

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 recruitment@manulife.com.

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, OntarioHybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$155,270.00 CAD - $205,270.00 CAD.

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com for the salary range for your location. 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. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

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 recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.