Agency People Development Specialist

The opportunity

As an Agency People Development Specialist focuses on enhancing the performance and potential of our agency leaders. This role encompasses documentation, project initiative and kick-off, change management planning and execution, coordination, and conducting organizational maturity and health index assessments of the organization. This role will collaborate closely with the National Sales Head, Zonal teams, and other key stakeholders to implement strategies, design professional offerings, and manage the plans’ execution. This role emphasizes the reinforcement of necessary communication and change management plan to ensure clarity and alignment across all initiatives.

The role is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to effectively disseminate development initiatives and performance management processes. This position ensures that all communication channels are reinforced, guaranteeing that stakeholders are consistently informed, engaged, and aligned with the goals and plans. The role involves close coordination with key stakeholders to foster alignment and active participation in  the initiatives.

Additionally, the role includes conducting maturity and health index assessments of the organization to evaluate current capabilities and identify areas for improvement. Based on these assessments, the role involves developing actionable plans to enhance organizational maturity and readiness for future challenges, ensuring the organization remains competitive and well-positioned for growth.

Responsibilities

Project Initiatives Management:

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for all development initiatives, ensuring clarity and accessibility for all stakeholders.
• Lead project initiatives related to performance management and leadership development from conception through execution.
• Coordinate project kick-off meetings, ensuring alignment of objectives and responsibilities among team members and stakeholders.

Change Management Planning and Execution:

• Design and implement change management strategies that support the successful adoption of new processes and initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand change impacts and devise appropriate plans to mitigate resistance and enhance acceptance.
• Monitor and report on change management progress, adjusting plans as necessary to ensure successful implementation.

Professional Development and Strategy:

• Design professional development offerings tailored to the needs of agency leaders and their teams.
• Measure the experience, effectiveness, and efficiency of programs to drive continuous improvement.

Engagement and Communication Coordination:

• Develop and implement a communications strategy to effectively disseminate development initiatives and performance management processes.
• Reinforce necessary communication channels to ensure all stakeholders are informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure alignment and engagement in development initiatives.

Maturity Assessment:

• Conduct maturity and organizational health index assessment of the organization to evaluate current capabilities and identify areas for improvement.
• Develop action plans based on assessment findings to enhance organizational maturity and readiness for future challenges.

Key Accountabilities (Individual / Shared):

Project Management:

• Successfully lead and manage project initiatives, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for all development initiatives, ensuring it is clear, accessible, and up-to-date.

Change Management:

• Develop and execute effective change management strategies to ensure smooth adoption of new processes and initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand change impacts and devise plans to manage resistance and enhance acceptance.
• Monitor change management progress and adjust plans as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.

Professional Development:

• Design and implement programs tailored to the needs of agency leaders and teams.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and use feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Communication and Engagement:

• Develop and implement effective communication strategies to disseminate information about development initiatives and performance management processes.
• Ensure that all stakeholders are informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals through appropriate communication channels.

Maturity Assessment and Improvement:

• Conduct organizational maturity and health index assessments to evaluate current capabilities.
• Develop and implement action plans based on assessment findings to enhance organizational maturity and readiness for future challenges.

Stakeholder Coordination:

• Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure alignment and engagement in development initiatives.
• Facilitate project kick-off meetings and ensure clear understanding of objectives and responsibilities among team members and stakeholders.

How will you create impact?

The role will report to the Head of Agency Onboarding & Performance Management.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8 years experience in performance management, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Managed employee engagement, design, and communication.
• Proven experience in change management, project coordination, and documentation.
• Experience in conducting organizational maturity and health index assessments.
• Strong understanding of assessment tools and methodologies for evaluating competencies and team dynamics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at various levels.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture
  We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity
  We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation
  We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship
  We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.

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].

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