AVP, Product Transformation & Agile Delivery

Manulife • Boston, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a seasoned product transformation expert to accelerate the evolution of our Product organization. This role is critical in shaping how we deliver solutions by embedding agile principles, optimizing delivery processes, and driving measurable improvements in throughput and velocity. The AVP will assess our current operating model, identify opportunities for improvement, and design a future-ready structure that enables high-performing teams. In addition to building long-term capabilities, this individual will play a hands-on role in our current enterprise transformation initiative, ensuring we meet critical deliverables this year. This is a unique opportunity to deliver critical outcomes while shaping the future operating model—balancing immediate execution needs with long-term transformation goals. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, can diagnose and solve complex delivery challenges, and influences change across a diverse set of stakeholders.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading agile transformation and delivery optimization in complex product organizations.
• Deep understanding of agile frameworks (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban) and scaling practices.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to diagnose bottlenecks and design solutions.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills; able to drive change without direct authority.
• 10+ years in product delivery, transformation, or related roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Proven experience in product delivery and execution with a focus on agile practices and transformational leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in large scale business transformations requiring significant technology portfolio oversight and delivery.
• Strong program management skills with experience in strategy, design, and delivery integration.
• Expertise in capacity planning, throughput management, and process optimization.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Agile Maturity & Enablement (20%): Develop and implement strategies to improve agile adoption and effectiveness across the product organization.
• Transformation Execution (25%): Drive execution of the current enterprise transformation initiative, ensuring milestones and deliverables are achieved.
• Delivery Optimization (20%): Analyze throughput, velocity, and capacity planning; implement best practices to enhance predictability and speed-to-market.
• Operating Model Design (15%): Design future-ready structures and processes that enable scalable, efficient product delivery.
• Continuous Improvement (10%): Establish metrics and feedback loops to monitor performance and drive ongoing enhancements.
• Stakeholder Influence (10%): Build alignment and secure buy-in across product, technology, and business stakeholders.

Benefits

• Manulife/John Hancock 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/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.
• Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive