Director, Strategy & Reporting, Corporate Real Estate

Manulife • Toronto, ON

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Corporate Real Estate (CRE) function at Manulife is responsible for managing the office space housing Manulife’s operations, across North America, Asia, Europe and Caribbean locations, comprising 7M square feet in 400+ locations worldwide. This role provides strategic leadership for Manulife’s global corporate real estate portfolio, driving long‑term optimization, expense efficiency, and workplace effectiveness through data‑driven strategy, strong stakeholder alignment, and disciplined execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate, or related field.
• 10–12+ years in corporate real estate (CRE) strategy and portfolio management, with 5+ years in leadership roles; experience operating at Director level.
• Proven track record leading multi‑year transformation programs and large, complex initiatives across functions and geographies; adept at navigating matrix organizations.
• Strong financial acumen: business case development, lease/transaction analysis, financial modeling, capitalization principles, budgeting, and ROI/NPV justification.
• Expertise in portfolio optimization, workplace strategy, and sustainability integration (e.g., energy efficiency, green building standards) to drive cost and experience outcomes.
• Advanced analytics and KPI management: defining, tracking, and reporting portfolio metrics; translating insights into executive‑ready recommendations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication; comfortable presenting to executive audiences.
• Governance & Process: Experience establishing and adhering to governance frameworks; skilled in documenting processes and policies with strong controls and auditability.
• Comfortable working across time zones and partnering with cross-functional teams globally.
• Current knowledge of workplace trends and CRE best practices; ability to integrate sustainability and cost-efficiency into portfolio decisions.
• Strong computer skills; ability to develop sophisticated spreadsheets which leverage data from multiple sources; and create concise compelling presentations and reports.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or relevant designation (e.g., CFA, CPA, PMP, LEED) is an asset.
• Management consulting experience preferred; demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive executive-level recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long‑term CRE strategy that optimizes footprint, costs, sustainability, and workplace experience.
• Lead, review or support the creation of executive‑ready business cases and documentation, including financial modeling, accounting treatment of leases, depreciation, etc.; navigate internal approval and procurement processes; align stakeholders across business lines, geographies, and functions.
• Communicate clear, executive-ready insights to initiative owners, stakeholders and Senior Management on initiative status, performance, risks, and impacts.
• Stay current on CRE best practices and market trends; recommend applicability to Manulife’s portfolio.
• Own complex, multi-year initiatives; manage scope, timelines, dependencies, risks, and change. Drive execution and delivery.
• Define, track, and report critical portfolio metrics; report on project KPIs against set objectives.
• Drive analysis around the global portfolio that is relevant, timely and assists to drive decisions the strategic planning function and office design.
• Proactively remove blockers, reprioritize deliverables, and drive decisions to maintain momentum.
• Establish and maintain concise, accessible standards, policies and process documentation.
• Lead high‑value strategic projects on behalf of CRE.
• Partner with operations, design, and cross functional teams; coordinate across time zones.
• Duties may change or be assigned as needed.

Benefits

• 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.
• various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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