The Manager, Strategy & Chief of Staff is a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the AVP, Affinity Operations, responsible for driving business performance, strategic execution, and organizational effectiveness across the function.

Acting as an extension of the AVP, this role ensures Affinity Operations operates with clarity, discipline, and focus by connecting strategy, performance management, governance, communications, and leadership priorities.

The successful candidate will bring structure to how the business is managed, enabling leaders to make informed decisions, align resources to key priorities, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

This role is accountable for leading the business operating system for Affinity Operations, including strategic planning, performance management, governance, executive enablement, and cross-functional coordination.

As Chief of Staff to the AVP, the Manager serves as a central connector across teams and stakeholders, providing insight, alignment, and execution support to advance strategic priorities and drive operational excellence.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, trusted partner, and skilled communicator who excels at bringing clarity to complexity.

They demonstrate a growth mindset and embrace AI, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance decision-making, streamline processes, and improve business outcomes.

They are highly collaborative, proactive, and comfortable navigating ambiguity while driving alignment, accountability, and results.
**Position Responsibilities:**
**Strategy & Execution**
Support the development, communication, and execution of the Affinity Operations strategy and roadmap.

Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, measurable outcomes, and execution milestones.

Provide strategic analysis, insights, and recommendations to support business decision-making.

Monitor progress against objectives, identify risks and opportunities, and drive accountability for results.
**Business Performance & Governance**
Lead business performance reporting, scorecards, dashboards, and executive insights.

Develop and manage key performance indicators aligned to business objectives.

Establish and manage governance routines, business reviews, and planning cycles that support transparency, prioritization, and execution.

Provide actionable insights that inform leadership decisions and continuous improvement.

Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance reporting, decision-making, operational effectiveness, and business outcomes
**Chief of Staff & Leadership Enablement**
Serve as a trusted advisor to the AVP, Affinity Operations, helping manage priorities, decisions, and leadership effectiveness.

Coordinate leadership forums, executive reviews, and business planning activities.

Develop executive presentations, briefing materials, and leadership communications.

Ensure alignment, follow-through, and accountability across leadership priorities and commitments.
**Stakeholder Engagement & Organizational Alignment**
Build strong partnerships across Affinity, Operations, Technology, Finance, and enterprise stakeholders.

Develop and maintain a pulse on Affinity business performance, strategic priorities, product direction,



and growth opportunities, ensuring Affinity Operations remains aligned to evolving business needs and positioned to enable strategic outcomes.

Act as a central point of coordination for cross-functional initiatives and strategic priorities.

Foster alignment, remove barriers, and support informed decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups.
**Communications & Change Enablement**
Support communication and change strategies that advance business priorities and organizational goals.

Translate complex business information into clear, compelling messages tailored to different audiences.

Partner with stakeholders to deliver leadership communications, employee engagement activities, town halls, offsites, and other business forums.

Support adoption of key initiatives by ensuring effective engagement, alignment, and communication.
**Required Qualifications:**
University degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, Communications, or a related field.
5-8 years of progressive experience in strategy, business management, operations, consulting, transformation, chief of staff, or related roles.
**Preferred Qualifications:**
Demonstrated curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance productivity, business insights, collaboration, and decision-making.

Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders and driving cross-functional initiatives.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and business planning skills.

Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive storytelling capabilities.

Proven ability to influence and collaborate across complex stakeholder environments.

Solid organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Experience in insurance, financial services, affinity partnerships, or operations environments.

Experience in strategic planning, governance, performance management, change enablement, or portfolio management.

Familiarity with operational excellence and business management 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.
**#LI-HYBRID**
The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.
**マニュライフとジョン・ハンコックについて**
マニュライフ・ファイナンシャル・コーポレーションは、「あなたの未来に、わかりやすさを」を提供する、国際的な大手金融サービスプロバイダーです。当社について詳しくは、
https://www.manulife.co.jp/ lをご覧ください。
**マニュライフは機会均等を是とする雇用主です**




マニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックでは、多様性を受け入れます。私たちは、サービス提供先であるお客さまと同様に、多様な人材を引きつけ、育成し、定着させ、文化や個人の力を受け入れる包括的な職場環境を促進するよう努めています。当社は公正な採用、定着、昇進、報酬に努めています。当社のすべての慣行およびプログラムは、人種、祖先、出身地、肌の色、民族的出自、市民権、宗教または宗教的信念、信条、性別（妊娠および妊娠関連の状態を含む）、性的指向、遺伝的特徴、退役軍人としての地位、性自認、性に関する表明、年齢、婚姻状況、家族状況、障害、または適用法で保護されるその他の要因に対する一切の差別を行うことなく管理されます。
雇用への平等なアクセスを提供するために、障壁を取り除くことが当社の優先事項です。人事担当者は、応募者が応募プロセス中に合理的配慮を要求する場合に協力します。配慮要求のプロセス中に共有されるすべての情報は、適用される法律およびマニュライフ/ジョン・ハンコックのポリシーに準拠した方法で保存および使用されます。申請プロセスにおいて合理的配慮を要求するには、 [email protected] までご連絡をお願いします。
**Referenced Salary Location**
Waterloo, Ontario
**Working Arrangement**
ハイブリッド勤務
**Salary range is expected to be between**
$93,390.00 CAD - $143,390.00 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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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 (https://careers.manulife.com/global/en/talentacquisitionprivacystatement) .

📌 Affinity Operations - Business Operations Manager (Kitchener)
🏢 Manulife
📍 Kitchener