Director, Product Strategy and Research

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy and Research

Company: Mackenzie Financial Corporation

Location: Greater Toronto Area, ON, Canada

Job Type: OTHER

Category: Product Strategy & Research Operations

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

Experience Level: 7-10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of product strategy and research initiatives within the Product Strategy, Research & Oversight (PSRO) team.

• Drive complex, high-priority strategic projects, acting as an advanced individual contributor and recognized mentor to elevate team capabilities.

• Own and execute the thematic research agenda, identifying long-term trends and disruptive forces to inform the firm's investment theses and market positioning.

• Develop and implement a proactive product lifecycle framework and a formal "Product Intervention" playbook to ensure the product shelf's competitiveness and alignment with investor needs.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, translating intricate research into clear, actionable strategic counsel and influencing cross-functional partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the "Product Strategy, Research & Oversight (PSRO)" department, indicating a strong focus on strategic planning, market analysis, and the operational oversight of product development and lifecycle management. The emphasis on "making and informing hard choices that will drive the firm's growth" suggests a significant impact on the company's strategic direction and profitability, requiring a candidate with strong analytical, strategic, and influential capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Thematic Research Agenda Ownership: Define and manage the firm's thematic research agenda in partnership with the VP, identifying key long-term trends and disruptive forces to shape "where to play" and "how to win" investment theses.

• Product Lifecycle Optimization: Lead the design and execution of a proactive product lifecycle framework and a formal "Product Intervention" playbook, driving strategic interventions like mandate modernizations and structural pivots.

• Strategic Project Leadership: Personally lead the most complex strategic projects, including market entry assessments and evaluation of new revenue streams or value-added services.

• Strategic Recommendation Development: Drive the creation of business cases and strategic frameworks that identify attractive market spaces, and collaborate with Product Innovation & Development to inform solution creation.

• Competitive Advantage Amplification: Champion a continuous focus on identifying and leveraging Mackenzie's unique capabilities to amplify competitive advantages in strategic choices.

• Analytical Framework Innovation: Design and institutionalize new analytical models and frameworks to enhance the quality, consistency, and intellectual rigor of strategic evaluations.

• Senior Advisor Role: Act as a thought partner to the VP and other senior leaders, translating complex research into clear, concise, and actionable strategic counsel.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner seamlessly with Governance & Oversight and Technology, Data Infrastructure & Reporting colleagues to deliver high-quality, synthesized recommendations.

• Talent Mentorship: Mentor and develop other team members as a subject matter expert, guiding their work, providing expert feedback, and elevating the team's overall capabilities through influence.

• Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Own and manage relationships with senior partners in Product Innovation & Development, Sales, and Marketing to ensure deep integration of the PSRO Team's work.

• Representation in Senior Forums: Represent the team's perspective and insights in senior-level forums and critical cross-functional working groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of deep analytical work, strategic foresight, and significant stakeholder management. The emphasis on "Product Intervention playbook" and "mandate modernizations" suggests a need for a candidate who can not only identify strategic opportunities but also drive tactical execution and change management within the product portfolio.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field (Required).

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Integrated Decision-Making: Proven ability to synthesize detailed quantitative analysis with nuanced qualitative insights and logical frameworks to support complex, high-stakes decision-making.

• Strategic & Commercial Mindset: Proven ability to move from abstract analysis to concrete, commercially-driven strategic recommendations that have created tangible business value, with experience incorporating the client perspective.

• Investment & Market Acumen: Deep, nuanced understanding of capital markets, investment theory, and the asset management landscape; recognized as a subject matter expert.

• Executive Communication: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into crisp, compelling narratives for an executive-level audience, demonstrating poise, judgment, and gravitas.

• Influence and Mentorship: Track record of leading through influence, mentoring colleagues, and elevating the capabilities of others without formal reporting lines.

• Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Product Lifecycle Management

• Business Case Development

• Market Opportunity Assessment

Preferred Skills:

• CFA designation (Strongly Preferred).

• Deep understanding of product development processes in the financial services industry.

• Experience with product intervention strategies and portfolio optimization.

• Familiarity with data infrastructure and reporting tools relevant to product performance.

• Proven ability to drive change and influence stakeholders across different departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "7-10+ years of progressive experience" and the preference for an MBA and CFA designation clearly indicate a senior-level role requiring specialized knowledge and a proven track record in financial services strategy. The emphasis on "leading through influence" suggests that strong interpersonal and persuasive skills are as critical as analytical prowess.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Framework Development: Showcase examples of strategic frameworks developed to address complex business challenges, demonstrating analytical rigor and commercial applicability.

• Product Strategy Case Studies: Present detailed case studies of product strategy initiatives, including market analysis, competitive positioning, and strategic recommendations that led to tangible business value.

• Research Agenda Examples: Include examples of thematic research agendas developed, highlighting the identification of long-term trends and their impact on investment theses.

• Product Lifecycle Optimization Projects: Document projects where you implemented or optimized product lifecycle management processes, including "Product Intervention" strategies and their outcomes.

• Business Case Demonstrations: Provide evidence of robust business case development for new market entries, revenue streams, or strategic initiatives, showcasing financial projections and ROI analysis.

Process Documentation:

• Strategic Planning Process: Illustrate your understanding and experience in designing and executing strategic planning processes, from initial research to final recommendation.

• Product Intervention Playbook Design: Detail experience in contributing to or designing "Product Intervention" playbooks, outlining the steps for analyzing underperforming products and recommending strategic pivots.

• Analytical Model & Framework Design: Showcase instances where you designed and institutionalized new analytical models or frameworks to improve strategic evaluation quality and consistency.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration: Document processes for engaging senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams (e.g., Product Innovation, Sales, Marketing, Data Infrastructure) to ensure alignment and buy-in for strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this seniority, a portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, impactful research, and successful product lifecycle management is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the "why," "how," and "what" of their contributions, focusing on the strategic impact and business value generated.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Annual Base Salary: $128,500 - $155,500 CAD

• Explanation: This range is based on the provided job description's stated salary range for the role in the Greater Toronto Area. This aligns with industry benchmarks for Director-level positions in financial services strategy and asset management in a major Canadian financial hub.

Benefits:

• Annual Short-Term Incentive: Eligibility for performance-based bonuses.

• Health and Well-being Benefits: Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision.

• Retirement and Savings Plan: Access to robust retirement savings programs.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation and personal time off.

• Career Development: Opportunities for professional growth, training, and advancement.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet project demands and deadlines inherent in a senior strategy role.

• Hybrid work model: 3 days in the office, 2 days remote.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and aligns with senior-level compensation in the Canadian financial sector. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical for a large financial institution, with a strong emphasis on long-term financial security and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wealth and Asset Management (Financial Services)

Company Size: Large (IGM Financial manages approximately $310 billion in assets, with Mackenzie Investments being a key part of this, suggesting a significant employee base and operational scale).

Founded: Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967. IGM Financial is a leading Canadian wealth and asset management company.

Team Structure:

• Department: Product & Solutions (Product Strategy, Research & Oversight - PSRO).

• Reporting Structure: Reports to the VP, Product Strategy, Research and Oversight.

• Collaboration: Works closely with Product Innovation & Development, Sales, Marketing, Governance & Oversight, and Technology, Data Infrastructure & Reporting teams. The role also involves mentoring and directing the work of other team members indirectly.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on synthesizing detailed quantitative analysis with qualitative insights.

• Strategic Frameworks: Development and application of analytical models and frameworks for strategic evaluations.

• Product Lifecycle Management: Proactive management and optimization of the product shelf through defined frameworks and "Product Intervention" playbooks.

• Market Trend Analysis: Continuous identification and analysis of long-term trends and disruptive forces.

• Client-Centric Strategy: Integrating the client perspective into strategic thinking and recommendations.

Company Website: www.mackenziefinancial.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Mackenzie Investments, as part of IGM Financial, operates within a highly regulated and competitive financial services sector. The company culture emphasizes continuous improvement ("Be better"), responsibility ("Be accountable"), and teamwork ("Be a team"). The PSRO team acts as a strategic hub, requiring a rigorous, analytical, and forward-thinking approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Director, Product Strategy and Research. This is a senior individual contributor role with significant influence and strategic responsibility, often a stepping stone to VP-level positions or specialized leadership roles within product, strategy, or asset management.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the VP, Product Strategy, Research and Oversight. While not a formal people manager, the role involves significant indirect leadership through mentorship and directing the work of other team members.

Operations Impact: This role is central to shaping Mackenzie Investments' product strategy and ensuring its profitability and competitiveness. The "strategic hub" function of the PSRO team means this Director's work directly informs major "where to play" and "how to win" decisions, impacting revenue growth, market share, and investor satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance to VP-level roles within Product Strategy, Research, or broader Product Management functions.

• Specialization Deepening: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in specific areas of product strategy, thematic research, or market analysis within asset management.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to lead major strategic initiatives or cross-functional task forces, expanding influence across the organization.

• Mentorship Development: Honing leadership and coaching skills through the explicit responsibility of mentoring and developing junior team members.

• Industry Recognition: Gaining visibility and potentially leading industry-facing research or presenting at conferences, building a personal brand within the asset management community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is designed for an individual who can operate at a high strategic level, influencing without direct authority. The growth path is clearly defined towards senior leadership, emphasizing strategic impact and expertise development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment with a significant emphasis on collaborative in-office days.

Office Location(s): Primarily located in the Greater Toronto Area, ON, Canada.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The requirement to be in the office three days a week is designed to foster connection, collaboration, and team synergy. This is ideal for brainstorming, strategic discussions, and building strong working relationships with colleagues.

• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools aren't listed, a role of this nature typically involves advanced analytical software, presentation tools, and potentially internal CRM or product management platforms. Access to robust data and analytical resources is expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact with a diverse set of colleagues across Product, Sales, Marketing, and Technology, facilitating a holistic understanding of the business and fostering cross-functional alignment.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week), with flexibility expected for strategic projects and critical deadlines. The hybrid model balances focused remote work with collaborative in-office time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, blending focused individual work with essential team collaboration and face-to-face strategic engagement. This structure is intended to optimize both productivity and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening & Application Review: The recruitment team will review resumes and cover letters, potentially using AI tools for initial screening. Candidates with strong alignment to the experience and qualifications will be shortlisted.

• First Interview (VP/Hiring Manager): Focus on assessing strategic thinking, product strategy experience, market acumen, and leadership through influence. Expect behavioral questions and discussions about past strategic projects.

• Case Study/Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to prepare and present a strategic analysis or a response to a hypothetical product strategy challenge. This assesses analytical rigor, communication skills, and ability to synthesize complex information for an executive audience.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key partners in Product Innovation, Sales, or Marketing to evaluate collaboration style, influence, and ability to build relationships.

• Final Interview (Senior Leadership): A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Impact Focus: Highlight projects demonstrating tangible business value, ROI, or significant strategic impact. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Process & Framework Clarity: Clearly articulate the strategic frameworks, analytical models, or product lifecycle processes you developed or utilized, explaining their design and effectiveness.

• Research & Insight Depth: Showcase your ability to identify trends, conduct deep market analysis, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.

• Influence & Mentorship Examples: Be prepared to discuss instances where you influenced senior stakeholders or mentored team members, even without direct reporting lines.

• Executive Communication Simulation: Structure your portfolio presentation to mimic executive-level communication – clear, concise, data-supported, and focused on strategic outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Strategic Questions: Prepare to discuss your approach to defining a research agenda, optimizing a product portfolio, entering new markets, or responding to competitive threats.

• Case Study Practice: Practice dissecting complex business problems, developing strategic options, and presenting recommendations with clear justifications and supporting data. Focus on the "so what?" and the "now what?" of your analysis.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would influence and collaborate with different departments (Sales, Marketing, Product Development) to drive strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess strategic acumen, analytical capabilities, and influence. A strong, well-articulated portfolio that showcases these skills, particularly through case studies and demonstrated impact, will be critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Advanced Analytical Software: Proficiency in tools for financial modeling, market analysis, and strategic forecasting (e.g., Excel with advanced functions, potentially specialized financial modeling software).

• Presentation Software: High proficiency in creating compelling presentations (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides) for executive audiences.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools that facilitate remote and hybrid team collaboration (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools for creating dashboards and reports to communicate complex data and insights (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) may be beneficial for understanding team outputs.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Understanding of BI platforms for accessing and analyzing performance data related to products and markets.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly responsible for CRM administration, an understanding of how CRM data supports product strategy and market analysis would be advantageous.

• Familiarity with project management or workflow tools that support strategic project execution and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, the role demands a high level of proficiency in analytical and presentation tools. The candidate should be comfortable working with data and translating it into strategic insights, likely leveraging internal company-wide analytics and reporting systems managed by other teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Be Better: A commitment to continuous improvement in research methodologies, analytical frameworks, and strategic recommendations.

• Be Accountable: Taking ownership of the research agenda, strategic initiatives, and the quality of insights provided to leadership. Fostering clarity and empowering responsible action.

• Be a Team: Collaborating effectively with colleagues within PSRO and across other departments to achieve collective strategic goals. United effort for collective impact.

• Integrity & Client-Centricity: Embodying the firm's core values, ensuring that all strategic decisions and product recommendations ultimately serve the best interests of investors and advisors.

Collaboration Style:

• Influence-Based Leadership: Working collaboratively by influencing stakeholders and providing expert guidance, rather than through formal authority.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Seamlessly integrating with Product Innovation, Sales, Marketing, and Technology teams to ensure strategic alignment and effective execution.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Actively engaging in mentoring junior team members and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing to elevate the team's collective expertise.

• Open Communication: Transparent and clear communication with senior leadership and partners to ensure alignment and manage expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values ("Be better," "Be accountable," "Be a team") are central to how the PSRO team operates. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to these principles, particularly in how they approach problem-solving, collaboration, and driving strategic initiatives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Addressing complex, ill-defined strategic questions and market dynamics common in the asset management industry.

• Driving Change Through Influence: Effectively influencing senior leaders and cross-functional teams to adopt strategic recommendations without direct reporting lines.

• Balancing Research Depth with Business Action: Translating deep thematic research into concrete, commercially viable product strategies and interventions.

• Keeping Pace with Market Evolution: Staying ahead of rapidly changing capital markets, investment trends, and competitive landscapes.

• Mentoring and Developing Talent: Effectively guiding and developing colleagues' capabilities, multiplying impact without direct management oversight.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Asset Management Expertise: Gaining advanced insights into capital markets, investment theory, and product development strategies within a leading Canadian asset manager.

• Strategic Leadership Skills: Enhancing capabilities in strategic planning, complex problem-solving, and executive communication.

• Cross-Functional Business Acumen: Broadening understanding of how Product, Sales, Marketing, and Technology functions contribute to overall business strategy and product success.

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to represent the company in industry forums, build a professional network, and stay abreast of emerging trends.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Developing leadership and coaching skills through the explicit responsibility of mentoring junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are directly tied to growth opportunities. Success in navigating ambiguity and driving change through influence will be key indicators of future leadership potential within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you identified a significant market trend and how you translated that into a strategic recommendation for a financial product or service."

• "Walk us through your process for developing a thematic research agenda. What factors do you consider, and how do you ensure relevance to business strategy?"

• "How would you approach optimizing the lifecycle of a struggling product in our existing portfolio? What are the key considerations for 'product intervention'?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Mackenzie Investments' values ('Be better,' 'Be accountable,' 'Be a team') align with your professional approach?"

• "Describe your experience in leading or influencing teams without direct reporting lines. How do you build consensus and drive action?"

• "How do you ensure your strategic recommendations are client-centric and aligned with investor needs?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Strategic Narrative: Frame your portfolio around the strategic problems you solved, the frameworks you used, and the business impact you delivered.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data wherever possible to demonstrate the tangible results of your strategic recommendations and initiatives (e.g., revenue growth, market share increase, cost savings, competitive advantage).

• Showcase Analytical Rigor: Clearly explain your analytical process, the data sources used, and how you synthesized qualitative and quantitative insights.

• Highlight Influence & Collaboration: Provide examples of how you effectively communicated complex ideas to senior stakeholders and collaborated with cross-functional teams.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Tailor your presentation for an executive audience – focus on the "so what" and the strategic implications, avoiding overly technical jargon.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their strategic thinking process, their ability to quantify impact, and their experience in influencing stakeholders. The portfolio presentation is a critical component to demonstrate these skills in action.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Mackenzie Investments careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in product strategy, research, asset management, strategy consulting, and any experience with product lifecycle management or strategic interventions. Use keywords from the job description.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Detail your 7-10+ years of relevant experience, specifically addressing your ability to conduct deep research, develop strategic recommendations, influence senior stakeholders, and mentor teams. Emphasize your understanding of capital markets and asset management.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a selection of work samples or case studies that demonstrate your strategic thinking, analytical skills, research capabilities, and ability to drive business value. Focus on impact and quantifiable results.

• Research Mackenzie Investments: Understand their current product offerings, market position, recent news, and company values to tailor your application and prepare for interview discussions.

⚠️ 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.

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