Director - ETF Product Development

Director, ETF Product Development

The Global Product Development Team is responsible for the ideation, research and development of investment products and strategies across Retail, Retirement, and Institutional channels within Manulife – Manulife John Hancock.

The Director, ETF Product Development contributes to driving our North America ETF product strategy, determining which investment strategies are best delivered through the ETF wrapper, and overseeing the design, pricing, launch, and ongoing evolution of the ETF lineup. This role plays a critical role in identifying product gaps, enhancing existing offerings, or closures to ensure a competitive, scalable platform aligned with client needs and firm strategy. The Director will also contribute to the development of our Asia ETF launch strategy.

Working cross-functionally with Portfolio Management, Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Operations, and Platform Governance, the Director will lead ETF product development from market research and business case development through regulatory approval, and launch execution. This role will materially shape the firm’s ETF strategy and contribute to the long-term growth of Manulife – Manulife John Hancock’s ETF platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to ETF product strategy in alignment with firm-wide and global product priorities.

• Develop a deep understanding of Manulife’s ETF platforms, portfolio management capabilities, and the competitive ETF landscape.

• Identify market opportunities and product gaps through competitive, client, and industry analysis.

• Lead the development of new ETF products, including product design, structure, pricing, regulatory considerations, and go-to-market strategy.

• Build comprehensive business cases assessing investor demand, competitive positioning, financial impact, risks, and operational considerations.

• Execute ETF launches in partnership with internal stakeholders and external market participants.

• Manage the ongoing evolution of the ETF lineup, including product enhancements, rationalization, mergers, or closures as appropriate.

• Contribute to broader global product strategy discussions with an ETF-focused lens.

• Act as a senior ETF subject-matter expert across the organization.

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the product development team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or a related field.

• 10+ years of experience in asset management, with experience in ETF product development, management, or strategy.

• CFA charter and/or MBA strongly preferred.

• Deep understanding of ETF structures, regulatory frameworks, and launch mechanics.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization.

• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proven relationship-building, influencing, and negotiation skills.

• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Power BI, Bloomberg, and Morningstar Direct.

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 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 and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our 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. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [email protected] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

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.