Manager, Marketing Strategy & Chief of Staff

General Description
Manulife Japan's ambition is to be recognized as a reliable partner and expert in wealth accumulation and retirement planning, delivering sustainable growth through differentiated capabilities in digital, AI and customer experience.
Japan Marketing plays a central role in delivering this ambition by advancing the following strategic priorities:
· Establishing the Manulife Japan brand as a trusted and reliable partner and expert in wealth and retirement.
· Developing differentiated wealth and retirement propositions that are communicated simply and clearly.
· Investing in personalization to support customers in making informed decisions and improve distributor efficiency.
· Delivering frictionless customer and distributor experiences through Human-Centred Design practices.
· Becoming AI-led through well-adopted GenAI tools that enable scale, efficiency and differentiation.
· Building Marketing capabilities across AI, Longevity and Customer Experience to support future growth.
The Manager, Marketing Strategy & Chief of Staff is responsible for helping shape, align and accelerate the Japan Marketing agenda by connecting strategy, execution and organizational effectiveness across AI, Longevity and Customer Experience.
Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Manager, Marketing Strategy & Chief of Staff serves as a trusted strategic advisor and execution partner to the CMO. The role works closely with the Marketing Leadership Team, including leaders across AI, Brand and Thought Leadership, Propositions, Growth Marketing and Customer Experience, to translate Marketing priorities into integrated programs, roadmaps and measurable business outcomes.
The role collaborates with partners across Japan, Regional and Global teams, as well as Distribution, Operations, Technology, Finance and Human Resources, to implement strategic initiatives, maximize synergies and strengthen Marketing’s contribution to customer, distributor and business outcomes.
The individual will also support the CMO in driving organizational effectiveness, leadership alignment, strategic communications, employee engagement, governance and capability development across the Japan Marketing function.
This is a high-impact role that requires strong strategic leadership, emotional intelligence, business acumen and analytical capability. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder management, collaboration and influencing skills.
Responsibilities & Accountabilities
The Manager, Marketing Strategy & Chief of Staff will work closely with local, regional and global leaders to deliver Japan’s Marketing strategic priorities, create commercial value and maximize collaboration across the organization.
Co-develop high-impact strategies and execute strategic initiatives that drive sustainable and profitable growth
Partner with the CMO and Marketing Leadership Team to develop strategic plans and execution roadmaps aligned with the annual business plan and Marketing priorities.
Translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives, clear ownership, measurable outcomes and execution plans.
Lead high-priority, cross-functional initiatives and project teams from concept through execution.
Support the evaluation and sizing of new growth opportunities, including the development of business cases and clearly defined financial and non-financial success measures.
Apply market trends, customer insights, competitive intelligence and performance data to strategic planning and decision-making.
Build strong relationships with partners across Distribution, Operations, Technology, Finance, Human Resources and other relevant functions.
Support the timely, clear and engaging communication of Marketing results and progress against strategic priorities.
Drive integration across AI, Longevity and Customer Experience
Partner with leaders across AI, Customer Experience, Brand and Thought Leadership, Growth Marketing and Propositions to strengthen alignment and integrated execution.
Identify opportunities where AI, Longevity and Customer Experience capabilities can work together to create differentiated value for customers, distributors and the business.
Facilitate cross-functional planning and prioritization to align strategic initiatives with enterprise objectives and customer outcomes.
Support the development of a cohesive strategic narrative across Marketing’s growth and transformation agenda.
Identify opportunities to apply AI-enabled solutions, customer insights and longevity expertise to improve business performance and customer and distributor outcomes.
Promote enterprise thinking, shared ownership and collaboration across teams to reduce duplication and maximize strategic impact.
Oversee strategic financial planning, budgeting and expense management to optimize investment and commercial return
Provide strategic oversight of Marketing’s Book of Work to ensure initiatives and business cases are aligned with agreed strategic outcomes.
Support the annual Marketing strategy, planning and budget process in collaboration with Finance and the Marketing Leadership Team.
Facilitate evidence-based prioritization and resource allocation discussions across Marketing teams.
Monitor actual expenditure, forecasts and key financial and non-financial performance indicators.
Translate performance data into insights and recommendations that support informed strategic decisions and timely adjustments.
Advance strategic cost management initiatives that improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and return on Marketing investment.
Ensure clear governance and seamless execution to maintain transformation momentum
Support the CMO in ensuring the effective operation of the Office of the CMO and delivery of the broader Marketing agenda.
Oversee strategic initiatives against agreed financial and non-financial objectives, ensuring that clear action plans are in place to address risks or gaps.
Develop fit-for-purpose governance models and operating cadences that promote accountability without creating unnecessary complexity.
Monitor delivery against agreed plans, identify dependencies and risks, and facilitate timely issue resolution.
Prepare executive-level presentations, business reviews, strategic recommendations and leadership communications.
Communicate Marketing priorities, performance, areas requiring attention and transformation progress clearly across the organization.
Manage requests for reporting, analysis and updates from Japan executives and Regional and Global stakeholders.
Orchestrate leadership and broader team meeting agendas to support effective decisions, alignment and follow-through.
Co-develop a high-performing Marketing organization with a one-team mentality
Support the CMO in driving organizational effectiveness, leadership alignment and employee engagement across Japan Marketing.
Develop approaches that strengthen collaboration, shared accountability and a one-team culture.
Advocate for Marketing-led transformation and new ways of working across the organization.
Promote experimentation, continuous learning and improvement, while ensuring appropriate governance and accountability.
Support capability development across Marketing, particularly in AI, Longevity, customer-centricity and Human-Centred Design.
Support the CMO and Marketing Leadership Team in identifying, developing and retaining talent and building the organizational capabilities required to deliver future growth.
Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams, functions and markets.
Knowledge/Skills/Competencies/Education:
Skills and Competencies:
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen and commercial judgment.
Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management and leading cross-functional initiatives.
Ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable roadmaps, measurable outcomes and effective execution.
Strong analytical capability, including data-driven problem-solving and decision-making.
Ability to influence and align senior leaders and stakeholders across different functions and organizational levels.
Collaborative mindset, high emotional intelligence and the ability to build trusted relationships.
Excellent presentation, writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex messages clearly and concisely.
Experience preparing executive-level presentations, strategic recommendations and communications for senior leadership audiences.
Strong knowledge of project and program management disciplines, including planning, prioritization, risk management and stakeholder coordination.
Financial acumen and experience supporting strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting a