Director, Aladdin Investment Operations

Manulife is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make decisions easier and lives better. Join us in shaping the future of Global Wealth & Asset Management Investment Operations and help drive a platform‑enabled, scalable, and resilient operating model across our global investment businesses.

The Director, Aladdin Investment Operations will play a critical leadership role in defining and executing the strategic direction of Manulife’s investment operations capabilities, with a particular focus on BlackRock’s Aladdin platform. This role combines deep platform expertise, operational leadership, and cross‑functional influence, partnering closely with front office, middle office, accounting, technology, and risk stakeholders to ensure Aladdin is leveraged as a strategic enterprise platform rather than solely an operational tool.

This leader will oversee complex operational processes across multiple asset classes, guide platform configuration and optimization, and lead teams in mastering Aladdin to support scale, efficiency, risk management, and regulatory compliance globally.

Position Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Platform Ownership

• Act as the global operations subject matter expert for BlackRock’s Aladdin Operations Platform, setting standards for usage, configuration, controls, and operating model design.
• Partner with Investment Operations, Technology, and Business leadership to define the Aladdin roadmap, including new functionality, operating model changes, and integration with downstream systems.
• Translate business strategy, regulatory change, and growth objectives into scalable Aladdin‑enabled operational solutions.

Operational Oversight & Risk Management

• Ensure strong controls, governance, and data integrity across valuation, settlement, and post‑trade processes are in place within Aladdin, partnering closely with Middle Office, Accounting, Risk, and Compliance.
• Proactively identify operational, data, and platform risks, and implement mitigation strategies aligned to Manulife’s enterprise risk and control framework.
• Maintain deep awareness of the global investment operations landscape, including regulatory developments and industry best practices, and assess impacts to the firm.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex Aladdin operational or platform issues, providing clear direction, decision‑making, and resolution.
• Build deep organizational capability by coaching teams and stakeholders on Aladdin functionality, controls, and best practices.

Stakeholder & Enterprise Partnership

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Portfolio Managers, Traders, Business Unit Heads, Technology, Finance, and external partners.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, clearly communicating priorities, trade‑offs, risks, and recommendations in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Support transformation initiatives by balancing day‑to‑day operational stability with long‑term strategic goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related discipline; advanced certifications (e.g., CFA, CPA) are an asset.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Investment Operations and/or Derivatives Operations, including broad exposure to multiple asset classes and global operating models.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with BlackRock’s Aladdin Operations Platform, including configuration, controls, and enterprise‑level deployment.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and influencing senior stakeholders in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Strong understanding of trade lifecycle processes, valuation, settlements, data governance, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and make sound, risk‑aware decisions.
• Exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, business‑relevant insights.

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.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

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 [email protected].

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

Employees 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 [email protected] 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.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.

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