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AVP, Workforce Transformation and Future of Work - EN JR25111589 Waterloo

Manulife

Waterloo, Ontario

AVP, Workforce Transformation and Future of Work - EN JR25111589 Waterloo

Manulife

Waterloo, Ontario
 
Salary: $129,800.00 CAD - $241,200.00 CAD
 

Overview

We are transforming how work happens across the enterprise. As technology, AI, business models, and workforce expectations evolve, we need a leader who can rethink how value is delivered, how work flows, and how talent and skills are deployed to enable the future of work. This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution to support enterprise-wide transformation.

Key takeaway: A strategic, execution-oriented leader who designs future-state operating models and workforce strategies to enable enterprise transformation.

What You Will Lead

  • Transforming Work Across the Enterprise: Redesign how work gets done, roles, and operating models that integrate people, skills, technology, and AI.
  • Workforce Transformation & Skills Strategy: Translate work changes into future role requirements, capability shifts, and a clear talent and skills strategy that supports a skills-driven organization.
  • Operating Model Redesign: Partner with leaders across the business to reimagine how core work is structured and delivered.
  • Pilot, Test, Scale: Run targeted pilots that test new ways of working and build repeatable playbooks to scale proven models.
  • Continuous Learning & Trends: Stay ahead of emerging trends in work, skills, AI, workforce models, and organizational practices; convert insights into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

  • Drive AI-enabled organization design using AI-powered tools and analytics to assess structures, model future-state scenarios, and generate actionable insights.
  • Evaluate complex organizational needs; craft and deliver organizational strategy and business transformation solutions.
  • Lead complex discussions; analyze business strategy and organizational architecture; design impactful business interactions.
  • Partner with stakeholders to shape vision, structure, and design of initiatives before execution; work across segments and functions, building credibility and relationships quickly.
  • Integrate organizational strategy, talent, and change into plans and roadmaps; translate complex information into clear, meaningful narratives.
  • Demonstrate understanding of people components in large-scale transformation; deliver professional services in organizational design and workforce planning.
  • Develop people through feedback and foster an innovative, team-oriented environment.

What Success Looks Like

  • Work redesigned across multiple functions, integrating people, skills, and technology.
  • A clear, actionable enterprise skills strategy embedded into workforce decisions.
  • Faster, more adaptive ways of working adopted across teams.
  • Scaled pilots showing measurable impact on efficiency, quality, customer experience, or cost.
  • Leaders using insights to drive decisions related to work, roles, and skills.

Qualifications

  • Experience in workforce transformation, work redesign, org design, or operating model transformation.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and implement—not only advise.
  • Strong grasp of skills-based organizations, workforce strategy, and AI-enabled work models.
  • Strong grasp of skillsbased organizations, workforce strategy, and deep handson experience building and applying AIenabled work models to redesign how work happens across functions.
  • Ability to influence senior leaders and operate confidently in complex environments.
  • Comfort with ambiguity, continuous learning, and building clarity where none exists.
  • Education: Degree in business, organizational development, artificial intelligence or related field.
  • Experience: 5+ years in organizational strategy, workforce transformation, and change management within large multinational corporations.
  • Digital Fluency & AI Literacy: Ability to leverage AI-powered tools and analytics for organizational modeling, workforce planning, and scenario analysis.
  • Leadership & Influence; Innovation mindset; Collaboration & Relationship Building; Continuous Learning.

Why This Role Matters

This role is about shaping the future of a human and AI workforce – helping to transform how work gets done, and shaping the workforce of tomorrow while ensuring the organization remains adaptive, future-ready, and able to unlock value at scale. 

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.

If you are applying to this role in Massachusetts, please note the salary range is $156,700- $290,900USD. Additionally, employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

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

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$129,800.00 CAD - $241,200.00 CAD

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

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.

Jen Warrington at jen_warrington@manulife.com

About Manulife

Manulife is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better.   We provide financial advice, insurance as well as wealth and asset management solutions for individual, groups and institutions. 

Are you looking for unlimited opportunities to develop and succeed? We offer work that challenges and makes a difference within a flexible and supportive environment, so you can help our customers achieve their dreams and aspirations.  We offer a wide variety of roles across our many locations in Canada, including opportunities in Customer Service, Sales, Marketing, IT, Human Resources and much more.  Think big. Get it done together. Own it. Do the right thing. And share your humanity. Find out what Manulife can offer you!