IT Project Manager - New Product Implementation

About the role

Manulife is looking for an IT Project Manager to lead end-to-end delivery of new insurance product initiatives in Tokyo. The role partners with business and technology stakeholders to ensure successful implementation, regulatory compliance, operational readiness and achievement of target launch timelines. It drives project governance, manages risks and dependencies and keeps all functions aligned. The working arrangement is hybrid.

Key responsibilities

• Lead new life insurance product launches from design through regulatory approval, system implementation, testing and launch.
• Manage large-scale cross-functional projects involving Business, Product, Operations, Compliance, Actuarial and Technology teams.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, risks, issues, dependencies and stakeholder communications.
• Coordinate internal teams and external vendors while keeping them aligned with business objectives and delivery timelines.
• Prepare executive-level status updates, steering committee materials and decision papers.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a Project Manager in insurance product development or implementation within life insurance or financial services.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end insurance product lifecycle, including design, regulatory approval, system implementation, testing and launch.
• Experience with business requirements gathering, solution design review, SIT, UAT and production deployment.
• Knowledge of insurance core systems such as policy administration, underwriting, policy servicing and claims-related integrations.
• Preferred: experience delivering new life insurance product launches, knowledge of product configuration and policy administration platforms, and experience in Agile, Waterfall or hybrid delivery.

Required skills

• Project management: PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent preferred.
• Regulatory and compliance requirements for insurance product development.
• Business-level English, written and verbal.
• Leadership, risk and issue management, stakeholder engagement, change management and cross-functional collaboration.