Head of Data Platforms

The Head of Data Platforms & Governance will lead the adoption of advanced data technologies, ensuring robust governance and aligning data strategies with business objectives. This leadership role is pivotal in transforming our data infrastructure, fostering data-driven insights, and maintaining Manulife's competitive edge. By championing a transformative data-centric mindset, this leader will position Manulife as an industry leader and ensure long-term success.

The Head of Data Platforms & Governance brings deep expertise in both business and data management within the insurance sector, effectively navigating the complexities of market dynamics, regulatory landscapes, and evolving customer expectations. He/she is responsible for the design and execution of a robust data strategy that not only enhances operational efficiency but also optimizes cost-effectiveness. This infrastructure will underpin comprehensive data governance frameworks, ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and compliance with all relevant regulatory standards. By promoting seamless interoperability across diverse data platforms, this role ensures a unified and holistic view of the organization's data, which is vital for informed decision-making and strategic planning.

The creation and implementation of a revolutionary structured data ownership framework by the Head of Data Platforms & Governance will ensure accountability, accuracy, quality, and consistency of data. By assigning data ownership to business units such as Agency and Operations, this framework will significantly advance Manulife's ability to leverage data for strategic decision-making, enhance customer experiences, and achieve operational excellence, ultimately securing our competitive edge in the market. Specifically, this role is focused on overseeing the impact of data on local agents and customers within Hong Kong and reports directly to the CIO of HK & Macau. This ensures that data strategies and governance frameworks are tailored to meet the unique local requirements and regulatory standards. By providing valuable insights and robust support to local agents and customers, this role reinforces Manulife's commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction in the Hong Kong market.

Position Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership and Vision:
  • Formulate and execute a comprehensive data strategy that aligns with Manulife Hong Kong's business objectives. Focus on deploying advanced data platforms to enhance scalability, security, and efficiency, while ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and regulatory compliance.
  • Lead the integration of data initiatives across various business units. Engage key stakeholders to ensure cohesive and unified data strategies that drive informed decision-making and foster innovation.
  • Continuously integrate emerging data technologies and trends into Manulife Hong Kong's infrastructure. Adopt cloud-based solutions, enhance data integration and interoperability, and implement advanced security protocols to maintain competitiveness and elevate customer experiences.
• Data Platform Management:
  • Design and maintain a scalable and resilient data infrastructure that supports Manulife Hong Kong's strategic goals. Enhance data storage, processing, and disaster recovery capabilities to ensure robust performance and reliability. Ensure that the architecture is flexible enough to adapt to future technological advancements and business needs, thereby providing a solid foundation for data-driven decision-making.
  • Establish and enforce comprehensive data governance policies to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity across all platforms. Develop and implement protocols for data quality management, metadata management, and data lineage tracking. Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards, thereby safeguarding customer data and maintaining trust.
• Data Platform Framework:
  • Develop and enforce detailed data governance policies that cover data ownership, data stewardship, data quality, and data lifecycle management. These policies should be designed to ensure consistency, accuracy, and reliability of data across the organization. Regularly review and update policies to adapt to evolving business needs, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.
  • Design and implement robust data quality management protocols that encompass data profiling, data cleansing, and data validation processes. Utilize advanced tools and techniques to monitor and maintain high data quality standards, identifying and rectifying data anomalies in real-time. Establish clear data quality metrics and KPIs to continuously assess and improve the quality of data, ensuring it consistently meets the organization's standards for accuracy and completeness.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive compliance framework that aligns with all relevant regulatory requirements and industry-specific standards. Implement stringent data security measures, including encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring, to protect sensitive data from breaches and unauthorized access. Conduct regular audits and risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that data governance practices are robust and effective in mitigating risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Proactively develop and sustain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior executives, IT teams, and business analysts, across all business units. This involves understanding their needs, priorities, and challenges to ensure that data platform initiatives are strategically aligned with their objectives.
  • Ensure that data platform initiatives are aligned with business goals through leading regular stakeholder meetings, workshops, and forums to discuss project progress, gather feedback, and address any concerns. This continuous engagement helps to ensure that data strategies are well-understood and receive the necessary support and resources from all parts of the organization.
  • Actively promote the value and benefits of data ownership and data-driven initiatives to secure stakeholder buy-in and commitment. Develop and present compelling business cases, supported by data insights and analytics, to demonstrate the potential impact of data strategies on business performance. Engage stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure their perspectives are considered and to build a sense of ownership and accountability for the success of data projects.
• Team Management:
  • Focus on nurturing and mentoring a team of highly skilled professionals by providing clear direction and setting ambitious yet achievable goals. Offer ongoing coaching to help team members reach their full potential and facilitate their professional development through advanced training programs, certifications, and participation in industry events.
  • Create an environment that encourages teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement. Implement agile methodologies for iterative development and quick adaptation to business needs while recognizing and rewarding achievements to maintain high morale.
  • Establish a culture of excellence centered around data platforms and governance, motivating team members to surpass expectations and actively contribute to the organization's strategic objectives.
• Performance Measurement:
  • Create an extensive and detailed set of key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that accurately represent the effectiveness of data initiatives and the overall health of the data infrastructure. These should encompass critical areas such as data accuracy, system uptime, processing efficiency, and user satisfaction.
  • Schedule systematic performance evaluations and audits to measure data initiatives against established KPIs. Employ automated monitoring and manual audits to detect trends and areas needing improvement and integrate stakeholder feedback to ensure alignment with business objectives.
  • Utilize performance measurement insights to continuously enhance data operations by optimizing processes, elevating data quality, and boosting system performance. Consistently report outcomes to senior management to demonstrate value and inform strategic decision-making.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies/Education:

• Minimum of 10 years in leadership roles focused on data platforms and governance, preferably within the insurance or financial services industry in Asia.
• Demonstrated success in designing and implementing data platforms and governance strategies, with a strong history of driving digital transformation initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic planning and execution skills, with the ability to set a compelling vision for data governance and drive it to completion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of effectively engaging with senior leadership, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with technology vendors, industry experts, regulatory bodies, and consultants, leveraging these relationships to gain insights and ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Deep understanding of the insurance industry, market trends, and regulatory landscape in Asia.
• Expertise in technological advancements and their application in the insurance sector.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Information Technology, or a related field. An MBA or relevant professional certification is a plus.

Problems/Challenges:

Managing the vast and ever-increasing volume of data while ensuring its accuracy, integrity, and security is a primary challenge which requires implementing robust data governance frameworks and staying ahead of technological advancements, which can be resource intensive. Additionally, navigating the complex regulatory landscape in the insurance and financial services industries is a continuous challenge as compliance requirements are stringent and frequently updated. Another critical hurdle is fostering cross-functional collaboration and aligning various departments to a unified data strategy and data ownership with varying demands and workflows. Lastly, building and sustaining strategic partnerships with technology vendors, industry experts, and regulatory bodies requires exceptional negotiation and relationship management skills, vital for gaining insights and maintaining compliance with industry standards.