AVP, Product Strategy and Governance

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: AVP, Product Strategy and Governance

Company: Manulife

Location: Singapore

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Strategy & Governance (GTM Operations Focus)

Date Posted: 2026-06-04

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive enterprise-level product strategy and governance to support a customer-segment and proposition-driven model, enhancing GTM efficiency and market competitiveness.

• Oversee the product governance framework, ensuring robust risk controls, regulatory compliance, and alignment with Manulife's strategic objectives.

• Lead insight-led portfolio management, encompassing opportunity assessment, performance reviews, and strategic prioritization to optimize product lifecycle.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Distribution, Marketing, Risk, Tech, and Product Transformation teams to ensure seamless execution of product initiatives and market penetration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Product Strategy and Governance," has significant implications for Go-To-Market (GTM) operations. The focus on a "customer-segment and proposition-driven model" and "insight-led portfolio management" directly impacts how products are brought to market, priced, marketed, and supported, which are core GTM operational functions. The emphasis on collaboration with Distribution and Marketing further reinforces this connection.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership by articulating a clear product vision and aligning teams towards proposition-led objectives, leveraging robust analytics, customer insights, and market intelligence.

• Develop and implement customer-segment, persona- and proposition-based product strategies that enhance market relevance and customer satisfaction.

• Oversee the end-to-end product governance framework, ensuring strict adherence to risk controls, compliance mandates, and regulatory expectations across all product lifecycle stages.

• Drive insight-led portfolio management, including rigorous opportunity assessment, comprehensive performance reviews, and strategic prioritization of product initiatives to maximize ROI.

• Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with Distribution, Marketing, Legal, Risk, Finance, Technology & Operations to ensure the seamless execution and successful launch of product initiatives.

• Offer proactive and strategic counsel on product development, ensuring all propositions are underpinned by solid data, demonstrated market relevance, and sound financial viability.

• Maintain vigilant oversight of product governance forums, audits, and regulatory deliverables, ensuring timely and accurate submissions and adherence to compliance standards.

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and implementing opportunities to streamline governance processes without compromising control rigor or operational efficiency.

• Prepare and deliver compelling strategic recommendations and performance reports to senior leadership, ensuring clear alignment with corporate strategy and evolving customer needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a strategic leadership role with a deep understanding of how product strategy and governance directly influence GTM execution. The emphasis on "proposition-based product strategies," "portfolio management," and "seamless execution" highlights the operational aspects of bringing products to market effectively and compliantly. The need to "streamline governance processes" without compromising control points to an operational efficiency drive.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, or a related field. Master's degree or relevant professional certifications are highly advantageous.

Experience: Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in financial services, with a strong emphasis on product strategy, governance, customer segmentation, and/or market analytics. Proven track record of leading complex initiatives and managing cross-functional teams.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in customer-centric strategy development, segmentation, and leveraging data-driven insights for decision-making.

• Demonstrated leadership in establishing and managing robust product governance frameworks, including regulatory compliance and risk management.

• Proven ability to conduct thorough market intelligence gathering and competitive analysis to inform product strategy.

• Exceptional communication, influencing, and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage and persuade senior stakeholders.

• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and complex problem-solving capabilities.

• Highly collaborative and adaptable, with a results-oriented mindset and the capacity to manage multiple, competing priorities effectively.

• Proven experience in leading and developing high-performing teams, fostering talent growth and engagement. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the insurance or wealth management sectors.

• Familiarity with agile product development methodologies.

• Proficiency in advanced analytics tools and data visualization platforms.

• Understanding of digital product development and GTM strategies.

• Experience with change management initiatives within large, complex organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "15+ years' knowledge and experience" requirement suggests this is a senior leadership role. The required skills point towards a need for strategic thinking, strong analytical capabilities, and significant stakeholder management, all critical for effective GTM operations leadership. The emphasis on "customer-centric strategy" and "data-driven decision-making" aligns with modern GTM operational best practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable case studies showcasing the development and execution of successful product strategies, highlighting market impact and customer adoption.

• Evidence of implementing or refining product governance frameworks, including examples of risk mitigation and compliance adherence.

• Examples of insight-led portfolio management, detailing how data analysis informed strategic prioritization and resource allocation.

• Documentation of cross-functional collaboration initiatives, illustrating successful partnerships with Distribution, Marketing, Risk, and Technology teams.

• Evidence of talent development and team leadership, including examples of fostering team growth and performance. Process Documentation:

• Workflow designs for product strategy development and approval processes, emphasizing efficiency and stakeholder alignment.

• Methodologies for integrating customer insights and market intelligence into product roadmaps and GTM planning.

• Frameworks for continuous improvement of product governance, including audit trails and control mechanisms.

• Protocols for performance monitoring and reporting of product portfolios, linking to GTM success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this seniority, a portfolio demonstrating strategic impact and operational excellence in product development and governance is crucial. The emphasis on "insight-led portfolio management" and "streamlining governance processes" implies a need to showcase practical application of efficiency improvements within established operational frameworks.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for AVP-level roles in Product Strategy and Governance in Singapore, with 15+ years of experience in financial services, the estimated annual salary range is SGD 200,000 - SGD 300,000. This estimate considers the seniority of the role, the complexity of responsibilities, and the competitive market for such expertise in Singapore.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs designed to support employee well-being.

• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, including access to training and certifications.

• Flexible working environment that promotes work-life balance and accommodates hybrid work arrangements.

• Inclusive company culture that values diversity, equity, and belonging, fostering a supportive workplace.

• Employee recognition programs and performance-based incentives.

• Retirement savings plans and financial planning assistance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. Given the hybrid work arrangement, there is flexibility in daily scheduling, with expectations for core collaboration hours to be met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is a professional estimate based on the role's seniority (AVP, 15+ years experience), industry (Financial Services), and location (Singapore), which typically commands a premium for specialized roles. Research was conducted using industry salary data aggregators and financial services recruitment insights for the Singapore market. The benefits are derived from the "When you join our team" section of the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance and Wealth Management focus), with a strong emphasis on digital transformation and customer-centricity. Manulife is a global leader dedicated to helping people make decisions easier and lives better.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Manulife is a multinational financial services provider with a significant global employee base). This size implies a structured environment with ample resources, opportunities for cross-functional impact, and the potential for complex operational challenges.

Founded: Manulife was founded in 1887. This long history suggests a stable organization with established processes, a deep understanding of the financial services market, and a commitment to long-term growth and customer relationships.

Team Structure:

• The role will lead a new team focused on Product Strategy and Governance, implying a foundational and formative stage for this function within the organization.

• The team will likely consist of specialists in areas such as product analytics, market research, regulatory affairs, and governance operations.

• Reporting is expected to be to a senior executive (e.g., Chief Product Officer, Head of Strategy, or a similar senior GTM leader), providing high visibility. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, utilizing customer analytics, market intelligence, and robust financial viability assessments.

• A proposition-led approach guides product development and GTM strategy, aligning offerings with specific customer segments and their needs.

• Strong emphasis on governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance to ensure product integrity and market trust.

• Collaborative methodology, requiring close partnerships with Distribution, Marketing, Risk, Legal, Finance, and Technology to ensure holistic product success.

Company Website: https://www.manulife.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "About Manulife" section from the job description provides context on the company's mission and values. The size and founding date suggest a mature but evolving organization. The role's leadership of a "new team" is a key point for understanding the operational setup and the opportunity for impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position (AVP - Assistant Vice President level), responsible for shaping the strategic direction and governance of Manulife's product portfolio. It involves significant autonomy, budget oversight (potentially), and direct influence on the company's market offerings and GTM success.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a senior executive, likely within the Product, Strategy, or GTM leadership. This position will also have direct reports, managing a newly formed team dedicated to product strategy and governance.

Operations Impact: This role has a profound impact on revenue generation and business decisions by ensuring that products are strategically aligned with market needs, customer demands, and regulatory requirements. Effective product strategy and governance are foundational to successful GTM execution, directly influencing sales performance, market share, customer acquisition, and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand the scope of product governance and strategy to encompass broader GTM operational frameworks or even lead into a Chief Product Officer (CPO) or similar executive role.

• Organizational Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of Manulife's product organization, establish best practices, and build a high-performing team from the ground up.

• Industry Expertise Development: Deepen expertise in financial services product innovation, regulatory landscapes, and customer-segmentation strategies through hands-on leadership.

• Mentorship and Development: Gain experience in mentoring and developing talent within a critical strategic function, preparing future leaders for the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's seniority and the description of leading a "new team" suggest significant growth potential, not just in terms of career progression but also in shaping the function itself. The impact on GTM operations is direct and substantial.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, balancing remote work with in-office collaboration. Manulife Tower in Singapore is likely a modern corporate office space designed to facilitate collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): Manulife Tower, Singapore. This central location in Singapore's business district offers accessibility and integration within a key financial hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on partnering across departments necessitate a workspace that supports team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional engagement.

• Technology & Tools: Access to Manulife's standard suite of productivity and collaboration tools, including enterprise-grade CRM, project management software, and data analytics platforms, will be essential for effective operations.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with direct reports, peers in Distribution, Marketing, Risk, and Technology, and senior leadership, fostering a dynamic and integrated work experience.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility inherent in the hybrid arrangement. Core collaboration hours will be important for team alignment and cross-functional engagement, particularly for a role that bridges strategy and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement and the specific location in "Manulife Tower, Singapore" are key details. The description implies a modern, well-equipped corporate office setting conducive to strategic work and collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deep dive into your experience with product strategy, governance, team leadership, and GTM alignment. Be prepared to discuss your approach to building a new team and driving strategic change.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with leaders from Distribution, Marketing, Risk, and Technology to assess your collaboration style, influencing abilities, and understanding of their respective functions and how they integrate with product strategy.

• Case Study/Presentation: You may be asked to present a strategic proposal, analyze a product portfolio, or outline a governance framework, demonstrating your strategic thinking, analytical skills, and presentation capabilities.

• Senior Leadership Interview: Final discussion with a senior executive to assess strategic vision, executive presence, and overall fit for the role and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategic Impact: Showcase 2-3 key projects demonstrating leadership in product strategy development and successful governance implementation. Focus on the "why" and "how" of your strategic decisions and their business outcomes.

• Quantify GTM Results: For each case study, clearly articulate the impact on GTM metrics such as market penetration, customer acquisition, sales enablement, or revenue growth. Use data and KPIs to support your claims.

• Highlight Governance & Risk Mitigation: Detail your experience in establishing or improving governance frameworks. Illustrate how you ensured compliance, managed risks, and streamlined processes without compromising control.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Provide examples of successful cross-functional partnerships, emphasizing your ability to influence diverse stakeholders and drive consensus towards shared product and GTM objectives.

• Showcase Team Leadership: Include examples of how you've built, developed, and led teams to achieve strategic goals, focusing on your leadership philosophy and talent development approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Frameworks: Be ready to articulate your preferred frameworks for product strategy development, market analysis, and portfolio prioritization.

• Governance Model Design: Prepare to discuss how you would design or refine a product governance framework for a financial services company, considering regulatory nuances and operational efficiency.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would handle conflicting priorities or differing opinions among key stakeholders (e.g., Sales vs. Risk vs. Product).

• Data Interpretation: Be prepared to analyze hypothetical data sets related to product performance or market trends and propose strategic actions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is inferred based on the seniority and strategic nature of the role, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and strategic impact. The portfolio and challenge preparation are tailored to highlight GTM operational relevance and strategic leadership.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM Systems: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar for customer data management and sales insights.

• Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for workflow tracking and team collaboration on product initiatives.

• BI & Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, QlikView for analyzing product performance, market trends, and creating executive dashboards.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools for statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and customer segmentation (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, advanced Excel).

• Market Research Tools: Familiarity with platforms for competitive analysis, market trends, and customer feedback aggregation.

• Financial Modeling Software: Tools for business case development, ROI analysis, and financial viability assessments.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms: HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot (for understanding how product strategy translates to marketing campaigns).

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: Tools that manage product information, workflows, and collaboration throughout the product lifecycle.

• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Platforms: Specialized software for managing regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and compliance workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is inferred based on the role's focus on product strategy, governance, customer analytics, and cross-functional collaboration within a large financial services organization. These tools are critical for effective GTM operations and strategic decision-making.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs through well-designed and compliant products.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Reliance on rigorous analysis, insights, and metrics to guide strategic choices and operational improvements.

• Integrity & Compliance: Upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct, risk management, and regulatory adherence in all product-related activities.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly towards shared goals.

• Innovation & Efficiency: Continuously seeking opportunities to improve product offerings and streamline governance processes to enhance market competitiveness and operational effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Proactively engaging with Distribution, Marketing, Risk, Legal, Finance, and Technology teams to ensure alignment and integrated execution of product strategies.

• Transparent Communication: Maintaining open and honest dialogue, sharing insights, challenges, and progress updates across all relevant functions.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: Encouraging an environment where feedback is welcomed and utilized for continuous improvement of both product development and governance processes.

• Outcome-Focused: Prioritizing collective success and driving towards measurable business outcomes, ensuring that strategic initiatives translate into tangible results for the company and its customers.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred from Manulife's stated values ("making decisions easier and lives better," "well-being and inclusion") and the inherent requirements of a senior product strategy and governance role that necessitates extensive cross-functional interaction.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Governance: Navigating the inherent tension between bringing new, competitive products to market quickly and ensuring robust governance, compliance, and risk controls in a highly regulated industry.

• Driving Proposition-Led Transformation: Leading the organizational shift towards a customer-segment and proposition-driven model requires significant change management, stakeholder alignment, and overcoming established operational paradigms.

• Building a New Team: Establishing a new product strategy and governance function from the ground up, defining its mandate, processes, and team structure, while integrating it effectively within the broader organization.

• Data Integration & Utilization: Ensuring seamless integration of data from various sources and leveraging advanced analytics to drive truly insight-led decision-making for product strategy and portfolio management.

• Navigating Regulatory Landscapes: Staying abreast of and adapting to evolving regulatory requirements in the financial services sector across different jurisdictions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Acumen: Developing advanced skills in executive-level strategy formulation, influencing, and organizational change management.

• Deepening Industry Expertise: Gaining comprehensive knowledge of financial product development, market dynamics, and regulatory frameworks within the insurance and wealth management sectors.

• Team Building and Talent Development: Mastering the art of building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Enhancing abilities to collaborate with and influence diverse senior leaders across business units, technology, and risk functions.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events, gain certifications in product management, governance, or financial services, and network with peers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the role's description, particularly the emphasis on transformation, building a new team, and operating within a regulated industry. Growth opportunities are aligned with senior leadership development and industry specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a customer-segment and proposition-driven product strategy. How would you ensure alignment with overall GTM objectives?" (Focus on process, data sources, and stakeholder engagement).

• "How would you design or refine a product governance framework for a financial services organization? What are the key components and how do you balance control with agility?" (Highlight risk assessment, compliance mechanisms, and continuous improvement).

• "Walk me through a time you successfully influenced senior leadership to adopt a new product strategy or governance approach. What was your methodology and what were the outcomes?" (Emphasize communication, data-driven persuasion, and results). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Manulife's mission and its current transformation towards a customer-centric model?" (Show research into company values and strategic direction).

• "How would you foster a collaborative and inclusive culture within your new product strategy and governance team, and with key cross-functional partners?" (Discuss team-building, communication, and conflict resolution).

• "Given Manulife's focus on making decisions easier and lives better, how would your product strategy and governance efforts directly contribute to this mission?" (Connect your role to the company's overarching purpose). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level summary of your strategic vision and key accomplishments. For each case study, clearly state the problem, your strategic approach, the operational execution (including GTM aspects), the results (quantified with KPIs), and key learnings.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear, concise slides with impactful visuals (charts, graphs, simple diagrams) to illustrate complex strategies, governance structures, and performance metrics. Avoid text-heavy slides.

• Focus on GTM Integration: Explicitly explain how your product strategies and governance frameworks supported or enabled successful Go-To-Market execution, sales enablement, and market penetration.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Highlight your role in leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and driving change. Be prepared to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you empower your team.

• Address Challenges Proactively: Be ready to discuss any challenges encountered in your case studies and how you overcame them, showcasing resilience and problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are tailored to the specific requirements of an AVP-level role in Product Strategy and Governance within a financial services context, with a strong emphasis on GTM operational alignment and strategic transformation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Manulife careers portal.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 15+ years of experience, focusing on achievements in product strategy, governance, customer segmentation, data analytics, and senior leadership. Quantify your impact with specific metrics related to revenue, market share, or operational efficiency improvements.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate 2-3 compelling case studies that demonstrate your strategic thinking, governance implementation, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership. Ensure these examples clearly articulate your impact on product success and GTM effectiveness.

• Research Manulife: Understand the company's mission, values, strategic priorities (especially the shift to a customer-segment and proposition-driven model), and the competitive landscape in the financial services sector in Asia.

• Practice your presentation: Be ready to articulate your strategic vision, present your portfolio with confidence, and discuss how you would approach building and leading the product strategy and governance team at Manulife.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.