Product Manager, Design Operations

DesignOps Product Manager

You'll act as the PM for DesignOps services, partnering closely with Design Operations, Design System, and Content Design to strengthen end-to-end delivery. This role focuses on internal enablement—clarifying workflows, optimizing processes, and improving how teams plan, collaborate, and execute. You'll make a meaningful impact on design quality and operational maturity while working in a hybrid environment that values clarity, coordination, and continuous improvement.

Position Responsibilities:

DesignOps Enablement & Product Design Operating Models

• Develop and evolve DesignOps frameworks and services, including intake models, prioritization structures, operating rhythms, and dependency management.
• Establish scalable workflows that reduce ambiguity and improve delivery predictability across Product Design teams.
• Provide structure and coordination to help Product Design teams collaborate effectively with Engineering, Product, Research, Design System, and Content Design.

Cross-Domain Partnership

• Partner with Design System and Content Design leads to ensure DesignOps workflows align with each team's roadmap, governance, and contribution approach.
• Maintain visibility into cross-domain dependencies, risks, and capacity constraints, facilitating resolution where needed.
• Support adoption and enablement by improving how Product Design engages with Design System and Content Design teams.

Rituals, Workflow & Delivery Coordination

• Facilitate key operating rituals for Product Design delivery teams and DesignOps services.
• Track dependencies, risks, and progress across delivery workstreams, escalating and coordinating where required.
• Remove blockers or coordinate resolutions with the appropriate partners.

AI-Enabled Automation & Operational Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to automate manual or repetitive workflows using AI-assisted tooling.
• Partner with DesignOps and Engineering to evaluate and adopt safe, governed AI practices.
• Contribute to defining an AI-assisted DesignOps roadmap focused on enabling delivery teams.

Required Qualifications:

• 4–7 years as a Product Manager, Product Owner, Program Manager, or in a similar internal enablement/operational role.
• Experience supporting Product Design delivery teams through workflow, planning, intake, or operational frameworks.
• Strong understanding of design workflows, terminology, and partner dynamics in product organizations.
• Experience facilitating Agile/Scrum/Kanban rituals.
• Comfort collaborating with engineering and technical stakeholders (no coding required).
• Strong communication, alignment-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience navigating large, matrixed, or regulated environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting Design, Design System or Content Design teams
• Understanding of design tokens, documentation frameworks, or system governance.
• Familiarity with design tools like Figma and component libraries.
• Experience with AI tools or automation workflows.
• Background in marketing or brand-heavy organizations.

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 hr@manulife.com.

Referenced Salary Location

Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between $92,900.00 CAD - $142,900.00 CAD

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 hr@manulife.com 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 hr@manulife.com 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.