Managing Director, Business Management – Private Markets
Manulife Financial, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
The Managing Director, Business Management is responsible for strengthening and scaling the operating model of Manulife’s Global Private Markets platform. The role focuses on how the business runs—driving efficiency, execution discipline, and scalable processes across investment operations and all supporting functions.
The role owns platform-wide operating model refinement, execution governance, and transformation initiatives, including AI strategy and implementation, oversight of functional support and workload management, and delivery of the Private Markets book of work, among others.
The role partners closely with the investment and operational leadership of each private markets business and functional support teams to ensure alignment between Private Markets priorities and broader firm initiatives.
Position Responsibilities
Own and evolve the Private Markets operating model, ensuring clarity of roles, decision rights, handoffs, and accountability across investments and support functions. Lead ongoing assessment and refinement of processes to improve efficiency, scalability, consistency, and control. Drive standardization and simplification across investment strategies and business units, where appropriate. Establish and maintain effective governance structures to support decision-making in a global, matrixed environment. Identify and execute initiatives to improve operational efficiency and productivity, reducing manual work, rework, and process fragmentation. Partner with leadership on capacity planning, workload management, and headcount optimization. Define and monitor operational KPIs, service levels, and productivity metrics across functions. Ensure Private Markets can scale growth without disproportionate increases in cost or operational risk. Own the Private Markets book of work funding and approval process, including intake, prioritization, sequencing, and tracking of initiatives. Establish and maintain a disciplined statement of work (SOW) and resource allocation process across teams and functions. Balance run‑the‑business and change‑the‑business work to avoid bottlenecks and execution fatigue. Lead cross‑functional governance forums to ensure alignment, transparency, and accountability for delivery. Own the Private Markets AI strategy, aligned with enterprise standards and priorities. Identify, prioritize, and sponsor AI and automation use cases across investment and operational workflows, data management, reporting, and risk processes. Partner with Technology, Data, and Risk teams to define data and technology strategy to ensure solutions are scalable, well‑governed, and adopted by the business. Oversee change management to embed new tools and capabilities into day‑to‑day workflows. Work closely with Operations, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Technology, Data, HR, and Tax teams to design and execute effective operating processes. Drive organizational alignment to private market industry best practices and continuously scan the market for emerging standards in governance, risk management, operational efficiency, and regulatory expectations. Maintain deep awareness of competitive peer strategies, benchmarking the firm’s processes, technology stack, investment operations, and client‑service capabilities. Collaborate with business partners to determine best‑in‑class vendor oversight and partnership management. Serve as a central point of coordination to ensure functional initiatives align with the Private Markets operating model. Drive clarity around ownership, service expectations, and escalation paths between Private Markets and support teams. Ensure operating processes meet enterprise risk, regulatory, and control requirements. Partner with enterprise and Private Markets strategy teams to translate strategic priorities into executable initiatives. Coordinate with enterprise transformation teams to align Private Markets initiatives with firm‑wide programs, platforms, and standards. Ensure transformation efforts are sequenced realistically and resourced appropriately within the Private Markets book of work. Act as a bridge between strategy, transformation, and day‑to‑day execution. Lead and influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority in a matrixed organization. Drive adoption of new processes, tools, and governance through effective change management. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational rigor. Provide clear, executive‑level reporting on progress, risks, and outcomes. Key Success Measures
Improved operating efficiency, scalability, and execution predictability. Clear, well‑functioning operating model with defined ownership and governance. Transparent and disciplined management of the Private Markets book of work. Successful delivery and adoption of AI and automation initiatives. Strong collaboration and satisfaction across operational and functional support teams. Alignment between Private Markets initiatives and enterprise strategy and transformation efforts. Traits for Success in This Role
Self‑Motivated and Autonomous: takes initiative and drives outcomes without constant direction. Obsessively Organized: maintains structure, prioritization, and clarity across complex initiatives. Clear, Direct Communication: communicates effectively with all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment. Stakeholder Engagement: builds trust and fosters collaboration across diverse teams and geographies. KPI‑Driven and Outcome‑Focused: measures success through tangible results and consistent follow‑through. Influential Leadership: navigates a global, matrixed environment to lead without direct authority. Change Management Mindset: champions adoption of new processes and tools with empathy and rigor. Qualifications & Experience
15+ years of experience in asset management, private markets, or complex financial services organizations. Senior leadership experience in business management, operating model design, transformation, or COO‑type roles. Strong understanding of private markets operations and fund lifecycle processes. Proven track record delivering cross‑functional change initiatives at scale. Experience sponsoring technology, data, and AI initiatives from concept through implementation. Ability to influence senior stakeholders in a global, matrixed organization. Strong executive presence, communication, and analytical skills. Why This Role Matters
This role ensures that Manulife’s Private Markets platform operates with clarity, discipline, and scalability, enabling growth while maintaining strong controls and execution confidence. By partnering closely with operational teams and enterprise strategy and transformation functions, the role helps translate ambition into sustainable results. 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.
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Own and evolve the Private Markets operating model, ensuring clarity of roles, decision rights, handoffs, and accountability across investments and support functions. Lead ongoing assessment and refinement of processes to improve efficiency, scalability, consistency, and control. Drive standardization and simplification across investment strategies and business units, where appropriate. Establish and maintain effective governance structures to support decision-making in a global, matrixed environment. Identify and execute initiatives to improve operational efficiency and productivity, reducing manual work, rework, and process fragmentation. Partner with leadership on capacity planning, workload management, and headcount optimization. Define and monitor operational KPIs, service levels, and productivity metrics across functions. Ensure Private Markets can scale growth without disproportionate increases in cost or operational risk. Own the Private Markets book of work funding and approval process, including intake, prioritization, sequencing, and tracking of initiatives. Establish and maintain a disciplined statement of work (SOW) and resource allocation process across teams and functions. Balance run‑the‑business and change‑the‑business work to avoid bottlenecks and execution fatigue. Lead cross‑functional governance forums to ensure alignment, transparency, and accountability for delivery. Own the Private Markets AI strategy, aligned with enterprise standards and priorities. Identify, prioritize, and sponsor AI and automation use cases across investment and operational workflows, data management, reporting, and risk processes. Partner with Technology, Data, and Risk teams to define data and technology strategy to ensure solutions are scalable, well‑governed, and adopted by the business. Oversee change management to embed new tools and capabilities into day‑to‑day workflows. Work closely with Operations, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Technology, Data, HR, and Tax teams to design and execute effective operating processes. Drive organizational alignment to private market industry best practices and continuously scan the market for emerging standards in governance, risk management, operational efficiency, and regulatory expectations. Maintain deep awareness of competitive peer strategies, benchmarking the firm’s processes, technology stack, investment operations, and client‑service capabilities. Collaborate with business partners to determine best‑in‑class vendor oversight and partnership management. Serve as a central point of coordination to ensure functional initiatives align with the Private Markets operating model. Drive clarity around ownership, service expectations, and escalation paths between Private Markets and support teams. Ensure operating processes meet enterprise risk, regulatory, and control requirements. Partner with enterprise and Private Markets strategy teams to translate strategic priorities into executable initiatives. Coordinate with enterprise transformation teams to align Private Markets initiatives with firm‑wide programs, platforms, and standards. Ensure transformation efforts are sequenced realistically and resourced appropriately within the Private Markets book of work. Act as a bridge between strategy, transformation, and day‑to‑day execution. Lead and influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority in a matrixed organization. Drive adoption of new processes, tools, and governance through effective change management. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational rigor. Provide clear, executive‑level reporting on progress, risks, and outcomes. Key Success Measures
Improved operating efficiency, scalability, and execution predictability. Clear, well‑functioning operating model with defined ownership and governance. Transparent and disciplined management of the Private Markets book of work. Successful delivery and adoption of AI and automation initiatives. Strong collaboration and satisfaction across operational and functional support teams. Alignment between Private Markets initiatives and enterprise strategy and transformation efforts. Traits for Success in This Role
Self‑Motivated and Autonomous: takes initiative and drives outcomes without constant direction. Obsessively Organized: maintains structure, prioritization, and clarity across complex initiatives. Clear, Direct Communication: communicates effectively with all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment. Stakeholder Engagement: builds trust and fosters collaboration across diverse teams and geographies. KPI‑Driven and Outcome‑Focused: measures success through tangible results and consistent follow‑through. Influential Leadership: navigates a global, matrixed environment to lead without direct authority. Change Management Mindset: champions adoption of new processes and tools with empathy and rigor. Qualifications & Experience
15+ years of experience in asset management, private markets, or complex financial services organizations. Senior leadership experience in business management, operating model design, transformation, or COO‑type roles. Strong understanding of private markets operations and fund lifecycle processes. Proven track record delivering cross‑functional change initiatives at scale. Experience sponsoring technology, data, and AI initiatives from concept through implementation. Ability to influence senior stakeholders in a global, matrixed organization. Strong executive presence, communication, and analytical skills. Why This Role Matters
This role ensures that Manulife’s Private Markets platform operates with clarity, discipline, and scalability, enabling growth while maintaining strong controls and execution confidence. By partnering closely with operational teams and enterprise strategy and transformation functions, the role helps translate ambition into sustainable results. 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr