Head of Procurement Strategy & Transformation, Asia Procurement

This position can be based out of any Regional Office location where Manulife is situated, like Hong Kong and Singapore.

Manulife is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at enhancing cost competitiveness, better internal user experiences, vendor & contract management and end-to-end procurement processes & systems. This evolution is designed to deliver greater value, efficiency, and agility across the organization.

Job Description:

• Lead and inspire a high-performing procurement team to deliver cost savings, enhance business value, improve user experience, and drive process efficiency.

• Champion a culture of collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement across the procurement function.

• Act as a senior strategic partner between procurement and key business units to ensure alignment with enterprise-wide goals.

• Act as PMO for procurement transformation initiatives, overseeing cross-functional projects, strategic programs and overall change management.

• Design and execute the procurement transformation strategy & roadmap, ensuring alignment with broader business objectives and enable the procurement organization to operate Easier, Better and Faster (EBF)

• Benchmark functional performance against world-class standards to drive continuous improvement and develop procurement capability

• Ensure consistent deployment of standards across divisions and rigorous governance adherence

• Partner with category cluster leaders and regional & local sourcing teams to drive improvements in cost, quality, delivery, innovation and digital transformation including Gen AI and automation.

• Build a Procurement Center of Excellence (CoE) with standardized methodologies, playbooks, and training programs to elevate capabilities.

• Implement strong governance, risk management, and performance tracking frameworks to ensure successful execution of initiatives.

• Own and advance the digital procurement roadmap, leveraging automation, analytics, and AI to enhance decision-making, compliance, and efficiency.

• 20% business travel is required

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of procurement experience in multinational environments, including 10+ years in leadership roles with a regional perspective and experience of partnering with global teams

• Master’s degree in business, economics, supply chain or a related field; MBA or equivalent postgraduate degree is a plus.

• Proven experience engaging with senior leadership, influencing strategic decisions and working in global MNCs

• Strong ability to develop practical solutions in collaboration with procurement leadership and operational teams.

• Excellent project management & communication skills across all levels and functions.

• Demonstrated success in leading change and delivering complex development projects.

• Deep expertise in sourcing, category management, procurement technologies, and supplier relationship management.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a focus on change management.

• In-depth knowledge of global procurement regulations, sustainability practices, and risk management.

• Proficiency with digital procurement platforms (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, Jaggaer, Oracle).

• Business acumen and a results-driven mindset.

• Ability to simplify complex scenarios and synthesize data from multiple sources.

• Fluency in English; additional languages are an asset.

What We Offer:

• Flexible working hours and a hybrid work environment.

• Extensive learning and development opportunities with global career pathways.

• A competitive compensation and benefits package aligned with senior leadership roles.

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].