The opportunity
The Corporate Real Estate (CRE) function at Manulife is responsible for supporting Manulife’s business operations globally through the provision of cost-effective, high-quality office accommodations to enable the organization to pursue and realize all its goals. The office portfolio comprises approx. 7M square feet across 400+ locations with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Reporting to the Global Head of Corporate Real Estate, the Head of Workplace Design and Delivery will lead a team of professionals in the development and delivery of Manulife’s Workplace Design Strategy as well as overseeing its implementation across large projects with our regional CRE partners within North America, Europe, and Asia. This leadership role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, providing strategic direction and guidance regarding the design and utilization of office locations, and will be responsible for developing and delivering best-in-class office environments enhancing employee experience and performance.
Key Accountabilities
Individual Accountabilities:
- Develop a framework for optimizing office space design to align with Manulife’s goals and priorities, driving engagement and productivity.
- Accountable for managing, communicating, gaining support, and approval for short and long-term workplace strategy within the team and other groups or leadership within the company.
- Contribute to the development of the overall portfolio optimization strategy and long-term direction.
- Ensure design information is of the right quality and keeps pace with project timescales.
- Maintain knowledge and use of workplace KPIs; avail of and provide insights into the use of data and analytics to further assist strategy and delivery of group’s goals.
- Lead workplace transformation to support Manulife’s hybrid Working Better model.
- Deliver workplace solutions and amenities to enhance the employee experience.
- Design accommodation for our employees that meet or exceed corporate policies for safety, security, and amenities.
- Cultivate relationships with executive leaders to align with company mission and objectives.
- Work with the Regional MD to lead design and construction of office accommodations for 35,000 full-time, contingent employees, and agents.
- Manage the workplace design teams directly and through a matrix management model.
- Improve upon existing solutions, programs, and processes using significant conceptualizing, reasoning, and interpretation.
- Produce and manage global workplace fit-out guidelines/playbook and associated recommended furniture list to ensure global consistency.
- Oversee project planning and execution of large global projects with regional teams including scope, timelines, budgets, and vendor management.
Key Shared Accountabilities:
- Combine knowledge of workplace design and strategies with employee requirements to ensure a productive work environment that supports company culture.
- Work closely with CRE colleagues to implement programs or projects associated with the group’s strategy.
- Manage relationships with external providers, as dictated by workplace programs or projects.
- Collaborate with marketing to obtain supporting demographic data and align with and promote the enterprise brand to all audiences.
- Maintain up-to-date industry knowledge on workplace design and strategy, and communicate/disseminate within the CRE team and other groups as required.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for workplace strategy and design for the group.
- Focus on agility and flexibility for RE and workforce needs; aggregate data for multiple strategic planning initiatives in the works.
- Define and report metrics on cost tracking to enable better decision-making.
- Present ad-hoc analysis for improving efficiency and quality of workplaces.
- Manage the design process using commercial, contractual, and technical expertise.
- Support, understand, and advise the client as to the requirements and their obligations in the development of a building design.
- Encourage and inspire design consultants to produce their best work using their full flair, experience, resources, and talents in a cost-effective way.
- Ensure the design process recognizes current legislation, standards, and codes of practice, where appropriate.
- Strive to eliminate health and safety risks in the design and financial risks during construction.
Job Requirements:
- B.A. or B.S. in design, architecture, or related field; MBA or related graduate degree is a plus.
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in workplace design/architecture, at a senior level.
- Proven track record of successfully delivering complex design and construction projects on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards across multiple geographies.
- Familiarity with sustainable design practices and certifications is highly desirable.
- Requires strong negotiation skills with internal or external partners and senior executive leadership.
- Ability to communicate at all levels appropriately and convey complex ideas in a simple manner.
- Strong understanding of employee experience.
- Requires ability to communicate with senior executive leadership regarding matters of strategic importance to the organization/project.
- Thorough knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Applications: CAD, familiarity with leading design platforms.
- Travel to various locations globally, as needed.
Competencies:
- Provides overall leadership and contributes to strategic planning, portfolio alignment, metrics, reporting, and utilization.
- Creates, analyzes, and proposes RE property scenarios that optimize space utilization and cost, and provide attractive workplaces.
- Creates and makes aesthetic, functional, and safe interior designs for corporate buildings.
- Applies expert domain knowledge, professional principles, and theories to develop advanced concepts, techniques, solutions, and standards.
- Communicates with internal and external collaborators.
- Provides objective viewpoints and clarity for multiple requirements across diverse groups with separate and distinct needs, ensuring the best result for company goals.
- Professional presentation skills using data-driven content for C-Suite decisions.
- Excellent negotiating skills dealing with multiple levels of internal and external clients.
- Financial analysis, accounting, and project management skills.
- Strong analytical problem-solving abilities as well as the ability to complete multiple diverse tasks simultaneously.
- Active member of related industry associations such as CoreNet and BOMA.
- Accountability of work with clients to determine their needs, preferences, security requirements, and intended use of the space.
- Leads and facilitates meetings across groups with senior leadership, corporate services, and individual contributors regarding workplace design and project delivery.
- Provides overall leadership and accountability, and drives workplace design and project delivery.
- Negotiates and influences others to understand and accept new concepts, practices, and approaches.
- Strategic vision and excellent leadership skills with a focus on employee engagement, attraction, and retention, with the ability to motivate a large diverse workforce team to ensure consistently high service levels to our clients.
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.
What can we offer you?
- A competitive salary and benefits packages.
- A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
- A focus on growing your career path with us.
- Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
- Professional development and leadership opportunities.
Our commitment to you
- Values-first culture
We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together. - Boundless opportunity
We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career. - Continuous innovation
We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services. - Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives. - Championing Corporate Citizenship
We build a business that benefits all collaborators and has a positive social and environmental impact.
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 our story .
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
Primary Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Working Arrangement
Hybrid
Salary range is expected to be between
$148,400.00 USD - $275,500.00 USD
If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact for the salary range for your location. 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. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.
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.
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Company: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)
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