We are seeking a strategic and innovative Lead Product Owner to support our Underwriting team in transforming the life insurance purchase journey—from application through to policy issuance. This role serves as the voice of both the business and the customer, championing the development and delivery of advanced underwriting capabilities. The preferred candidate should excel in risk assessment for underwriting, handling medical and non-medical details with a tech emphasis. Outstanding leadership and collaboration skills are crucial to lead agile, cross-functional teams consisting of underwriters, actuaries, operations specialists, data scientists, and developers.
This role requires a strategic and innovative perspective, supported by a strong background in research and development, project delivery, and creative problem-solving. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in driving impactful results aligned with key business priorities, while offering deep subject matter expertise and thought leadership across underwriting initiatives.
Position Responsibilities:
Drives the planning and delivery of key capabilities for the underwriting journey
Brings a senior-level strategic view and tactical delivery of products or product components, aligned to segment priorities
Acts as a thought partner to business team members on multi-million-dollar business priorities & initiatives
Work with subject matter experts across the business unit to lead the development of new insurance underwriting capabilities that range from instant and non-invasive to high-touch, fully underwritten
Prioritize work, focusing on initiatives generating the most value for the business and driving key outcomes and capturing work in US segment Jira and other tools with all applicable details
Estimate financial and business benefits and track progress towards key results and financial values
Collaborate with teams to develop innovative, data-driven underwriting solutions and capabilities that ensure a seamless experience for a broad customer base.
Lead in ensuring value creation for the business, customers, and end-users by owning the squad backlog and ensuring that the highest value work is always being executed
Ensures the roadmap and backlog is visible, clear and understood by stakeholders and team members.
Shared accountability with the Delivery Lead for alignment on release strategy and release content with pertinent stakeholders
Keep abreast of competitor actions and industry trends and new vendors that may add value.
Keep abreast of external factors that may affect underwriting (e.g. medical and technical advancements, industry rules, compliance and regulations)
Manage relationships with external vendors, partners and technologies that support the delivery and implementation of business capabilities
Ensure risk and governance requirements are met, including post-implementation monitoring plans
Responsible for leading discussions to communicate recommendations, results and progress to senior leadership
Required Qualifications:
Experience with projects and large-scale technology implementations and owning the translation of business requirements to technology capabilities
Experience with communicating requirements and developing test plans
Advanced knowledge and experience of underwriting risk assessment - medical, non-medical, financial
Highly engaged: able to self-manage, create solutions, prioritize deliverables and execute projects under deadline pressure
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written (technical) communication skills
Exceptional collaboration and presentation skills, demonstrated through experience working with various technical audiences and across multiple functions such as actuaries, medical, data scientists, operations, legal and compliance teams
Coaching mindset and abilities, enabling team members to define solutions, and delivering to outcomes and maintain a continuous improvement mindset
Excellent MS Office Skills, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, knowledge of JIRA/project management tools and web tools
Ability to work across virtual teams and sites and in open and collaborative workspaces
Occasional travel may be required
Preferred Qualifications:
Undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree in science, medical or related field or a minimum of 5 years experience in underwriting-related and/or research experience preferred
FALU/FLMI an asset
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.
#LI-Remote
#LI-JH
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 https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.
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.
Referenced Salary Location
USA, Massachusetts - Full Time RemoteWorking Arrangement
Salary range is expected to be between
$128,550.00 USD - $222,820.00 USDEmployees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact hr@manulife.com for the salary range for your location.
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.
Know Your Rights I Family & Medical Leave I Employee Polygraph Protection I Right to Work I E-Verify
Company: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)
EVT
Simples Dental
Unidas
Altera
Smartsheet
Manulife
Manulife
Manulife