Director, MLOps (Canada)

This is a pivotal opportunity to shape Canada’s AI transformation through modern, enterprise grade MLOps capabilities. The Director will architect and operationalize solutions that enable scalable, reusable, and well governed AI deployments across segments.

You will set the vision for MLOps in Canada, drive alignment with our global AI organization and partnering technology teams, and ensure consistency in patterns, tooling, and delivery practices. A critical part of the role includes leading change management—helping teams adopt new processes, modernize ways of working, and increase trust in AI powered solutions.

The role also requires strong skills in experimentation and rapid prototyping, enabling fast learning cycles that accelerate innovation while maintaining high standards of security, compliance, and reliability. Working across business, engineering, and data science teams, you will influence enterprise architecture and ensure that AI initiatives translate into measurable, sustainable business impact.

Position Responsibilities: 

• Define and architect MLOps capabilities and AI tooling to support Canada’s cross-segment initiatives and ensure scalability, governance and reuse.
• Hands-on implementation of MLOps solutions, integration with new platforms and enabling the team of data scientists with infrastructure
• Design solutions that enable model development, deployment, CI/CD automation and monitoring across multiple use cases.
• Implement and establish best practices for model validation, risk assessment, performance monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Co-design solutions with global AIOps/MLOps teams, IT, and data teams to align with enterprise standards and leverage shared platforms.
• Drive R&D for advanced AI capabilities, ensuring integration with modern cloud-based platforms, agentic systems and next generation LLMOps tooling.
• Act as the subject matter expert for MLOps, guiding teams on automation, CI/CD for ML, observability, operational excellence, and model runtime optimization and operationalization of AI models.
• Ensure reliable environments (dev/test/prod/sandbox) are available, cost efficient, compliant, and ready for development and productionized AI workloads.
• Partners with product owners, business stakeholders and data scientists define clear pathways from experimentation to production, including guardrails for GenAI applications, APIs, agent workflows, and monitoring dashboards.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning Engineering, MLOps, or AI Engineering, Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI Engineering, with a strong focus on MLOps and solution architecture.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing scalable ML pipelines, real time/near real time scoring systems and AI platforms in enterprise environments.
• Expertise in model development validation, deployment, GenAI workflows, agent orchestration, and monitoring using modern cloud (Azure preferred) and MLOps frameworks, validation, and deployment using modern cloud technologies and MLOps frameworks.
• Strong understanding of data assets, platforms, and advanced analytics concepts.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborate with IT, InfoSec, data governance and global AI teams.
• Excellent communication skills influence technical and business stakeholders.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related quantitative fields.
• Experience with agentic AI platforms, orchestration frameworks (e.g., LangChain style, Azure Agent Services), Adaptive ML, Akka and safe integration into enterprise systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity Expertise with cloud AI platforms and enterprise architecture a nd modern LLMOps frameworks.
• Experience in financial services or regulated industries.
• Knowledge of ethical AI frameworks, model governance, security patterns for GenAI, and regulatory compliance (e.g., model risk policies).

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. 

#LI-Hybrid

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.