AI Delivery and Program Management Lead, Asia (12-month contract)

Opportunity

As the AI Delivery and Program Management within the Asia Advanced Analytics team, you will report to the AVP, AI Commercialization. You will play a pivotal role in advancing AI and Generative AI initiatives across our business units in Asia by supporting local execution squads and local IT Project Managers and Business Product Owners. This role requires a strategic thinker with exceptional project management skills, a fast-learner in the technical field, and the ability to navigate complex governance requirements including Global, Asia and local stakeholders. The ideal candidate will leverage their expertise to drive AI and Generative AI initiatives from concept to execution and ensuring alignment with business goals. If you have a passion for AI and a relentless drive to move forward with imperfection, this is the perfect role for you.

Responsibilities

Drive and Adaptability:

• Exhibit a relentless drive to progress, recognizing that advancement often comes through iterative action and iteration.

• Maintain a proactive approach, understanding that many insights and solutions emerge through continual effort and adaptation

Team Leadership and Development:

• Act as a role model for project managers and product owners, demonstrating both technical and soft skills essential for success.

• Mentor and guide local project team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.

• Lead the establishment of the AI Center of Excellence, collaborating with external stakeholders to benefit Manulife globally.

Analytical and Strategic Thinking:

• Provide diverse perspectives on project topics, encouraging domain SMEs to rethink and enhance their approaches.

• Assess situations from multiple perspectives, analyzing them logically to inform decision-making and strategy development.

• Highlight how actionable insights can drive effective reporting and tracking, ensuring data is used to inform decisions and strategies.

Agile and Innovative Approach:

• Adjust and tailor agile delivery methods to fit the regional context, leading by example to inspire team adoption of best practices.

• Create detailed planning documents and iterate rapidly to refine project approaches, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

• Keep project team members and stakeholders well-informed of ongoing developments, fostering transparency and collaboration.

• Identify and bring in necessary counterparts from outside the core project team, such as legal, risk, and production support, to ensure comprehensive project support for local teams.

• Proactively connect with key stakeholders, facilitating effective communication and collaboration.

Project Management and Delivery:

• Lead AI projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery within the planned schedule, budget, and quality criteria.

• Support local execution squads and local IT project managers in the end-to-end implementation of AI solutions, including data collection, model development, testing, and deployment.

• Ensure all necessary approvals are obtained within the governance framework, guiding local teams to navigate the process and instilling confidence in project stakeholders.

Budget and Cost Management:

• Manage project budgets and cost forecasts with precision, ensuring financial alignment with project goals.

• Facilitate effective communication with global and Asia finance teams on budget and actual tracking, and manage fund transfers to local teams. Guide local teams to monitor expenditures and optimize resource allocation.

Governance and Compliance:

• Guide and support local teams in navigating legal, compliance, and risk approvals, ensuring all AI initiatives meet regional and company-specific regulatory requirements.

• Facilitate discussions on realized and potential blockers with team leads, providing support to address and mitigate risks promptly.

Impact Metrics:

• Successful and timely delivery of projects in the market

• Securing necessary governance and compliance approvals through local teams

• Effective stakeholder engagement and communication

• Efficient budget and cost management

• Agile and innovative project execution

• Strategic and informed decision-making

What We Are Looking For:

• Proven experience in managing project execution, with a strong understanding of technologies and their commercial applications.

• Preferably experience in AI/GenAI projects, but not necessary.

• Exceptional project management skills, with a track record of delivering complex projects.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse teams.

• Proficient in agile methodologies and adaptable to different project delivery approaches.

• Analytical mindset with the ability to think strategically and make data-driven decisions.

• Bilingual proficiency (English and Vietnamese/Cantonese /Japanese) is highly desirable.

• This is a 12-month contract position. Employment will be placed under an external recruitment partner.

How Will You Create Impact?

This role, reporting to the AI Commercialization Lead, Asia Advanced Analytics, will directly impact the organization by driving the strategic integration of AI solutions, enhancing customer experiences, and contributing to business growth.

What Motivates You?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage, and act for their benefit.

• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.

• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.

• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.

• You do what is right, work with integrity, and speak up.

• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

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.

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 .

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 .