Director Compliance

Manulife•Waterloo, ON

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are a leading financial services provider committed to making decisions easier and lives better for our customers and colleagues around the world. From our environmental initiatives to our community investments, we lead with values throughout our business. To help us stand out, we help you step up, because when colleagues are healthy, respected and meaningfully challenged, we all thrive. Discover how you can grow your career, make impact and drive real change with our Winning Team today. Reporting to the Group Benefits Chief Compliance Officer (GB CCO), this role provides strategic advice and independent Second Line of Defence oversight to Canadian first line business units on regulatory compliance matters. The role operates under the direction of the GB CCO and is accountable for the design, execution, and enablement of key components of the Canada Segment Regulatory Compliance Management (RCM) program. Working in alignment with Canada Segment Compliance teams, the role drives a unified, consistent approach in line with Global RCM expectations and provides business‑unit specific compliance support to Group Benefits and Canada Retirement. The Director acts as a senior execution lead for Canada Segment RCM initiatives, operationalizing segment‑wide guidance, training, reporting, governance routines, and core compliance program components in alignment with Canada Segment Compliance strategy and enterprise standards. The role manages complex compliance issues and escalates material risks, themes, and systemic issues to the GB CCO (and peer CCOs, as appropriate).

Requirements

Degree in business, finance, law, risk, audit, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of experience in compliance, legal, risk, audit, or control functions within Canadian financial services.
Proven people leader with experience building and leading high-performing teams (hiring, coaching, performance management, succession planning) and leading through change.
Strong understanding of Canadian regulatory requirements applicable to Group Benefits and Retirement.
Demonstrated ability to set strategy and drive execution for segment-wide compliance program elements.
Strong governance and executive communication skills, including developing clear reporting and delivering credible challenge, themes, and recommendations to senior leaders and committees.
Excellent stakeholder leadership and partnering skills, including influencing without authority and managing complex, cross-functional priorities and appropriate escalation.
Experience with compliance technology platforms such as Archer and analytical tools (including AI) to support prioritization, reporting, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Drive continuous improvements to the Canada Segment compliance program aligned to RCM policies, standards, and Compliance strategy initiatives, in coordination with peer BU Compliance teams.
Translate compliance strategy into sustainable processes, tools, templates, and training.
Contribute to enterprise compliance initiatives (e.g., policy development and training).
Lead day‑to‑day RCM and Archer enablement activities (e.g., implementation support) with Canada Segment Compliance peers.
Develop training, job aids, and guidance for compliance staff and business units, as needed.
Key contributor to Canada Segment Compliance SME oversight for ad‑hoc assessments, surveys, and regulatory inquiries.
Triage requests in line with delegated authority and escalate as appropriate.
Act as a key contributor to AI and automation initiatives supporting compliance modernization and core RCM activities.
Provide oversight and credible challenge on policies, procedures, business unit self-assessments including RCRA (& related processes) for regulatory compliance and ad hoc queries.
Provide programmatic oversight to issues management of business unit teams (including privacy incidents), including triage, assignment coordination, and escalation.
Partner with the business to document identified compliance control gaps, monitor progress to ensure timely completion, and provide oversight and challenge on issue and CAP closure.
Act as the Monitoring & Testing SME. Support centralized testing team, as needed, in line with global methodology, and partner with BU Compliance teams, Risk, and Audit to identify themes and enhancement opportunities.
Support CCOs in quarterly RCM reporting, providing BU updates and escalations; prepare materials and key messages for committees and periodic reporting cycles.
Maintain oversight for regulatory compliance aspects of Archer, ensuring periodic refreshes are completed in coordination with the business; support enhancements and ensure the library (including authoritative sources) remains current.
Provide key support for compliance investigations, privacy incidents, regulatory inquiries, and audits under the leadership of the GB CCO / CR CCO.
Share practical knowledge of the Regulatory Compliance Program and Archer to enable consistent execution and shared ownership of Second Line Compliance activities.
Maintain required compliance program records and documentation in accordance with enterprise and regulatory standards.
Oversee training completion and escalate persistent gaps.
Set team goals (with team leadership) aligned to compliance priorities; translate strategy into execution plans, resource needs, and measurable outcomes.
Coach and develop talent through hiring, performance management, and ongoing feedback; build capability and bench strength for critical compliance activities.
Foster an inclusive, high‑accountability culture grounded in ethics, professionalism, and constructive challenge.
Prioritize work across competing demands, manage risks, and escalate constraints and material themes through established governance.
Ensure adherence to compliance standards, documentation, and training requirements; drive timely remediation when gaps are identified.

Benefits

health
dental
mental health
vision
short- and long-term disability
life and AD&D insurance coverage
adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits
employee/family assistance plans
retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
financial education and counseling resources
holidays
vacation
personal
sick days
full range of statutory leaves of absence