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Working Arrangement

Job Description

Actuarial Lead Data Scientist - Job Description

Job Profile Description

Are you an actuary with a passion for data science? Do you want to leverage your actuarial expertise to solve complex problems and drive innovative solutions? As an Actuarial Lead Data Scientist at Manulife, you will be at the forefront of transforming actuarial analyses with cutting-edge analytics and AI. You will develop and implement analytics-enabled solutions to improve business processes, generate insights, and support business goals and strategy development. You will own and deliver projects of complex scope specifically tailored to actuarial and financial data, including experience studies, reserve forecasting, and risk assessment.

In this role, you will lead and mentor a team of talented data scientists and data engineers, working on the most challenging problems where analysis requires an in-depth evaluation of a variety of factors. You will have the opportunity to work with data across the global enterprise, understand, predict, and influence actuarial assumptions. By translating data-driven output into actionable business insights, you will make significant contributions to our actuarial and financial stakeholders.

Joining Manulife means being part of a company that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. You will have the chance to advance your career in a dynamic environment while making a meaningful impact on the future of actuarial science.

Job Posting Description

Manulife’s bold ambition is to become a digital customer leader. As part of this ambition, we have made a significant investment in Advanced Analytics and AI capabilities. The goal of the Group Advanced Analytics & AI team is to research, build, and deliver cutting-edge capabilities to better support both our external customers and provide actionable insights to our internal corporate stakeholders.

As a Lead Data Scientist, you will be at the heart of our analytics revolution, leading and mentoring a team of data scientists working with vast amounts of data across multiple corporate functions, with a specific focus on actuarial and financial analyses. You will have the unique opportunity to drive our efforts in enhancing actuarial analyses, financial forecasting, and risk assessment through advanced analytics and AI.

In this pivotal role, you will collaborate with actuarial stakeholders, business operations, and IT teams to bring your innovative ideas to life, transforming actuarial processes and driving real change in our organization. You will work on high-impact projects that span across actuarial and financial functions, addressing critical areas such as risk assessment, financial forecasting, and portfolio optimization.

By joining our team, you will not only contribute to the advancement of actuarial science but also be part of a forward-thinking organization that values continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation. This is your chance to make a significant impact and advance your career in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Responsibilities:

• Drive Strategic Actuarial Transformation: Lead AI and advanced analytics projects that revolutionize actuarial and financial functions, focusing on high-impact areas such as risk assessment, financial forecasting, and portfolio optimization. This role is a unique opportunity to step beyond traditional pricing and valuation roles and shape the future of actuarial science.
• Innovative Solutions for Business Challenges: Consult with internal actuarial and business leaders to bring cutting-edge, analytics-driven insights to solve complex business challenges. Your expertise will directly influence decision-making processes and strategic directions.
• End-to-End Analytics Implementation: Develop and implement state-of-the-art analytics-enabled solutions to enhance business processes, drive financial insights, and create substantial organizational value. You'll see your innovative ideas move from concept to production, bringing real change to our actuarial practices.
• Collaborative Cross-Functional Work: Partner with actuarial stakeholders, business operations, and IT teams to seamlessly integrate your solutions into existing workflows, ensuring they are scalable and impactful. This role will expand your influence across the entire organization.
• Enhance Actuarial Processes: Review and analyze current actuarial processes to identify opportunities for enhancement through advanced analytics. Your work will significantly improve efficiency, accuracy, and insights within actuarial functions.
• Comprehensive Data Analysis: Work with extensive actuarial, financial, and other data sources to build sophisticated models for risk assessment and financial forecasting. This hands-on experience will deepen your data science expertise and its application to actuarial science.
• Thought Leadership and Innovation: Provide thought leadership by researching and applying new analytics methodologies, tools, and data relevant to actuarial science. Your innovative approach will keep us at the forefront of industry advancements.
• Empower Non-Professional Analysts: Enable non-professional data analysts to interpret actuarial and financial data effectively through clear communication and visualization of results, fostering a data-driven culture across the organization.
• Impact Measurement and Communication: Calculate the impact and return on investment of models and solutions, effectively communicating the value to stakeholders and ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Mentorship and Collaboration: Peer review the work of other data scientists, participate in model and code reviews, and mentor junior team members, promoting best practices and fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Qualifications:

• Actuarial Expertise: Actuarial designation (FSA, FCIA) with significant experience in progressive actuarial roles. A strong foundation in actuarial principles and methodologies.
• Educational Background: Post-secondary education in Math, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, or equivalent. Advanced degrees such as a Masters or PhD are not mandatory but good to have
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates advanced knowledge regarding technical aspects of work; able to review data or results for reasonability and identify root causes and drivers in the data being reviewed. Experience with SQL, Python, and actuarial software such as R or SAS is required.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Self-starter with the ability to work independently, particularly in the area of data science using sound, independent judgment, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Practical experience with big data processing frameworks and techniques such as Azure, Google Cloud, Spark, Hive, etc.
• Leadership and Team Development: Provides strong, proactive leadership and coaching to a team of actuarial professionals. Allocates and monitors work of the team to ensure accurate and timely completion of assignments within the established timeframes and quality standards.
• Decision-Making and Performance Management: Makes decisions regarding employment, compensation, performance appraisals, training, and development. Cultivates an innovative environment by supporting creativity and high-performance teamwork.
• Adaptability and Resilience: Remains calm and controlled in pressured and stressful situations; demonstrates confidence and persistence in the face of setbacks and obstacles. Adaptable and open to change with strong collaboration and presentation skills.
• Communication and Influence: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate, negotiate, and influence effectively. Results-oriented, able to manage expectations, work under tight deadlines, and manage competing priorities. Strong business acumen with the ability to communicate complex actuarial concepts and results in a clear, concise, easy-to-understand manner.
• Customer Focus and Quality Commitment: Excellent customer focus and commitment to quality. Understanding of Axis modeling and output is a plus but not mandatory.

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About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Asia, Canada, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. At the end of 2022, we had $1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, including total invested assets of $0.4 trillion (US $0.3 trillion), and segregated funds net assets of $0.3 trillion (US$0.3 trillion). We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.

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 recruitment@manulife.com.

Salary & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role is listed below.

Primary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact recruitment@manulife.com 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 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 recruitment@manulife.com for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.