Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

About the Role

This role serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the AVP, Affinity Operations, driving business performance, strategic execution, and organizational effectiveness. The Manager, Strategy & Chief of Staff acts as an extension of the AVP, ensuring clarity, discipline, and focus by connecting strategy, performance management, governance, communications, and leadership priorities. The position is accountable for leading the business operating system for Affinity Operations, including strategic planning, performance management, governance, executive enablement, and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Requirements

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.
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.
Strong 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.

Skills

AI
Automation
Emerging technologies
Strategic planning
Performance management
Governance
Executive enablement
Cross-functional coordination
Business analysis
Problem-solving
Business planning
Communication
Presentation
Storytelling
Collaboration
Organizational skills
Change enablement
Portfolio management
Operational excellence

Location

Waterloo, Ontario

Work Type

Hybrid

Experience Level

5-8 years

Education Level

University degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, Communications, or a related field.

Salary/Compensations

$93,390.00 CAD - $143,390.00 CAD

Benefits

Opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.
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, and sick days.
Full range of statutory leaves of absence.

About the Company

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better.
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 hr@manulife.com.

Equal Opportunity

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 hr@manulife.com.