Senior Director / Director AI & Data Strategy & Transformation Lead

Manulife Hong Kong is moving from individual AI and data initiatives to an enterprise-scale AI & Data agenda. This requires stronger strategic orchestration, disciplined prioritization, and a consistent operating rhythm across business, technology, risk, finance and regional stakeholders.

As investments expand across Enterprise Data Products, AI Platform, AI Adoption, AI Champions, strategic partnerships and priority AI use cases, the organisation needs a dedicated leadership role to connect ambition, funding, portfolio decisions, value tracking, adoption and executive communications.

This role helps ensure AI & Data initiatives are managed as a coherent enterprise portfolio with clear priorities, business ownership, measurable outcomes and sustained adoption rather than as disconnected initiatives.

Position Responsibilities:
AI & Data Strategy and Roadmap
• Develop and maintain the AI & Data strategy, roadmap and priority portfolio.
• Translate business priorities into AI & Data capability needs, initiatives, sequencing and outcome measures.
• Support annual strategy refresh and Book of Work planning for AI & Data initiatives.
• Develop executive proposals, business cases and decision materials for senior leadership.
• Coordinate planning across strategic initiatives such as Enterprise Data Products, AI Platform, AI Adoption, AI Champions and strategic partnerships.

Portfolio Discipline and Investment Prioritization
• Maintain a consolidated view of AI & Data initiatives, owners, funding, dependencies, risks and decisions.
• Define portfolio prioritization criteria and facilitate trade-off discussions across competing demand.
• Coordinate portfolio reviews and executive decision forums.
• Track demand, resourcing assumptions, delivery dependencies and strategic alignment.
• Drive decision logs, escalations and operating discipline across the portfolio.

Transformation Operating Rhythm
• Establish and coordinate the operating cadence for the AI & Data agenda.
• Prepare executive updates, dashboards and management materials.
• Coordinate cross-functional alignment across AI, Data, Technology, Risk, Finance, business functions and regional teams.
• Facilitate escalation of material risks, dependencies and decisions.
• Support evolution of the AI & Data operating model as business priorities mature.

Value Realization, Adoption and Engagement
• Develop benefits realization and KPI framework for AI & Data initiatives.
• Track adoption, business outcomes, productivity impact, cost avoidance and risk reduction where applicable.
• Prepare executive narratives and materials for CEO, SMT, Board, regulator and strategic partner discussions.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and change support for adoption-focused initiatives.
• Support communications and adoption activities for AI Champions, AI literacy and enterprise transformation initiatives.

Scope Clarification
• Owns AI & Data portfolio discipline, transformation orchestration, investment alignment, adoption planning and executive engagement.
• Does not own data platform standards, data architecture or enterprise data governance controls; these remain with the existing Data Platform & Governance leadership.
• Does not own AI platform technical controls, observability, model lifecycle or platform operations; these sit with the AI Platform Lead.
• Does not own technology delivery, data science, engineering delivery or day-to-day project management.

Required Qualifications:
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, transformation, consulting, portfolio management, enterprise program leadership, digital, data or AI-related domains.
• Strong executive communication, structured problem solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience translating ambiguous business needs into clear plans, portfolios, roadmaps and senior-level decisions.
• Ability to work across business, technology, risk, finance and regional stakeholders.
• Financial services experience preferred; exposure to AI, data, analytics, digital transformation or operating model design strongly preferred.

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.

Hybrid