Director of CEO & Canada Segment Communications - Short Term Assignments

Reporting to the Vice President, Head of Canada Segment Communications and National Public Relations, the Director of CEO & Canada Segment Communications will lead all aspects of communications for Manulife Canada’s CEO. Additionally, you will support the VP in aligning Canada Segment Communications, working closely across the team that supports executives and business units, including Group Benefits, Individual Insurance, Manulife Bank, and Affinity.

In this role, you will define and amplify our CEO’s voice, shaping Manulife Canada’s corporate narrative to align with our mission, engage colleagues and key stakeholders, and ensure impactful messaging across all channels.

As a trusted communications partner, you will manage both external and internal communications to drive thought leadership, visibility, and outcome-driven results. This role is vital for enhancing collaboration within the team, ensuring unified communication, and delivering the perspective required to represent Manulife Canada cohesively.

Position Responsibilities:

• Strategic Messaging: Develop and execute a communication strategy that defines and strengthens Manulife Canada’s CEO voice, aligning with the company's mission and values for different stakeholder audiences.

• High-impact, customer-centric content: Craft speeches, blogs, executive briefs, social media posts, town hall presentations, press engagements, quarterly earnings messaging, and other public-facing content.

• Engaging and empowering employees: Develop internal communications, town hall presentations, and other employee-focused materials that reflect and promote Manulife's mission and values.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Oversee messaging for key audiences (employees, customers, media, and investors) to drive Manulife Canada’s reputation and brand, while fostering transparency, and ensuring alignment with business priorities.

• Reputation Management: Proactively identify, mitigate, and advise on communication risks while handling sensitive issues with confidentiality.

• Collaboration: Partner with teams across Canada Segment, Global Communications, Marketing, Government Relations, agency partners, and many others to ensure cohesive and consistent messaging.

Required Qualifications ​ :

• 7-9+ years of relevant work experience gained in external and internal communications at a publicly traded company, preferably in the financial services industry. Insurance industry experience is an asset.

• Experience across multiple communications disciplines (e.g. strategy communication, thought leadership and transformation messaging, engagement, people, culture, brand, issues management, and storytelling).

• Experience supporting senior-level or C-suite leaders through communications strategies, thought leadership initiatives, and media interviews.

• Experience in navigating media issues and providing strategic counsel to minimize or mitigate reputational risks.

• A strong grasp of global issues, current events, and business trends.

• Proactive idea generator and critical thinker, adept at translating complex technical issues and financial strategies into clear, actionable insights for employees.

• Proven ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects at a fast pace, ensuring attention to detail, completeness, and accuracy, while aligning results with strategic business objectives.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, English, journalism, or related field.

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 [email protected].

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [email protected] 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 [email protected] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.