Director, Global Communications
Description
The Director, Global Communications develops and leads strategic communications for the People & Communications portfolio, ensuring messaging supports enterprise priorities, organizational change, and colleague engagement. The role provides senior counsel, shapes integrated communications plans, and delivers clear, high-impact content that strengthens understanding, alignment, and confidence across people, culture, and AI-enabled transformation initiatives. This role reports to the AVP, Global Communications, who has communications oversight for the People & Communications and AI functions.
Core Responsibilities
Lead strategic communications for the People & Communications portfolio, aligned to enterprise priorities and Manulife’s Winning Team & Culture agenda.
Provide senior counsel to People leaders and cross-functional partners on culture, performance, compensation, colleague experience, leadership communications, and enterprise priorities.
Develop integrated communications strategies, messaging, and plans that connect people priorities to business strategy and colleague experience.
Translate complex or sensitive topics into clear, practical communications for colleagues, leaders, and people managers.
Support communications for People & Communications-related AI initiatives, ensuring messaging is responsible, clear, and aligned with enterprise guidance.
Lead development of communications deliverables across channels, including leader updates, editorial content, presentations, FAQs, and event materials.
Lead communications support for key events and leadership forums, including strategy, content development, and end-to-end execution.
Manage priorities, timelines, stakeholder input, and approvals across Communications, People, Legal, Privacy, Risk, and other partners.
Ensure communications are high quality, audience-centered, and consistent with enterprise messaging and tone.
Monitor colleague feedback and organizational context to identify communications risks, gaps, and opportunities.
Recommend approaches that improve clarity, sequencing, leadership readiness, and colleague engagement.
Contribute to continuous improvement in how Communications supports the People agenda and broader enterprise transformation.
Decision-Making Scope
Owns independently
Communications strategies, plans, and messaging within approved business direction and enterprise frameworks.
Day-to-day prioritization and execution across the People & Communications communications portfolio
Development of communications materials and channel recommendations for assigned initiatives.
Stakeholder coordination, review management, and communications advice on routine and moderately complex issues.
Qualifications
8+ years of experience in corporate communications, employee communications, public affairs, or a related field, with demonstrated success supporting senior leaders and enterprise priorities.
Strong strategic communications and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling messages for different audiences.
Experience advising leaders on organizational change, culture, employee experience, or transformation-related communications.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive or high-visibility communications.
Experience working across functions such as Communications, People, Legal, Privacy, and Risk to drive alignment and approvals.
Familiarity with AI, digital tools, or enterprise transformation initiatives, with the ability to communicate change in a grounded and responsible way.
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
The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.
Referenced Salary Location
Toronto, Ontario
Hybrid
Salary range is expected to be between
$125,100.00 CAD - $175,100.00 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 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 for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.