Value Stream Delivery Owner are accountable for continuous improvements to ensure highly functional and productive customer delivery systems. They support Value Stream ownership in setting and leading delivery expectations with team members and enables and partners with Business Operations, Functional Support and IT leadership, as needed to deliver in accordance with audit and compliance, as well as human centered design, architecture, technology solution development, etc.

This is a Hybrid opportunity in our Waterloo, Toronto and Halifax office where you will come into the office Tues, Wed, Thurs and can work from home on Mon and Fri.

Position Responsibilities:

Reporting & Communication

• Provide visibility within the value stream of all goals/objectives, dependencies, impediments, and continuous improvement metrics
• Monitor delivery lead times and reports on customer / partner’s journeys, using workflow metrics, OKRs, and KPIs as the basis for continuous improvement and predictability / ability to deliver
• Collect Value Stream-level health data to advise continuous improvement efforts
• Assist Product Owners in facilitation of quarterly planning inputs, coordination, and outputs
• Supports Value Stream delivery with partners via change management, risks identification and business readiness

Improving Value Stream Practices

• Proactively addresses systemic impediments that may slow down execution across the Value Stream
• Identify, provide access to, track, and guide the resolution of impediments, cross-team dependencies, and continuous improvement metrics across the Value Stream(s)
• Guides the Value Stream and partners to understand their impact on the bigger picture of the overall solution development

Facilitation of Continuous Delivery

• Uncover difficulties and opportunities to accelerate the continuous delivery of new value
• Proactively focuses addressing and removing risks, obstacles and blockers that may slow down delivery execution within the Value Stream
• Communicates and advances risks, obstacles and blockers when vital to the VSO group (i.e. resourcing, interdependencies, decisions that have wide-reaching impacts, etc.)
• Coordinates continuous compliance and risk management standards to be included and adhered to, removal of VS impediments
• Facilitates VSO group and partner meetings and handles related logistics in support of the value stream

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 years of relevant work experience agile methodology or project management

• Proven understanding of agile principles, project and program management tools, techniques and methodologies

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills while working in a face-paced environment with changing priorities
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills
• Ability to influence and resolve conflict without having direct authority; confidence to raise issues as required
• Ability to cultivate positive relationships and effectively lead various sized groups to attain collaborative and innovative solutions
• Proactively identify potential problems to prevent unfavorable outcomes
• Adaptable and great interest in change; reprioritize conflicting workloads and deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications:

• SAFe or, PMP or, CSPO designations.
• Preference for strong understanding of Affinity products and processes.

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.

#LI - Hybrid

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

Salary range is expected to be between

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.