Director, Head of Product Development

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**Working Arrangement**

In Office

As the Head of Product of Manulife Financial Advisers (MFA), this role is to position both MAG and MFA as the leading Financial Adviser by managing product strategies and propositions of all insurance and wealth management (insurance and investment) services to achieve business targets. Identify advisers needs and opportunities, monitor market trends and competitive environment across the country. Recognize product gaps and business opportunities to inform MAG and MFA Management Team. Manage relationships with internal business partners and external third-party providers to ensure competitive products and business terms. Report the development of Wealth Management plan numbers and delivery and provide oversight of sales, income, and product targets. Manage the risks and controls for the insurance and wealth management business within the agreed risk appetite.

**Responsibilities**

**Product Due Diligence & Product Research**
- Responsible for competitive market, product, and distribution information updates. Keep abreast with latest industry and market movement.
- Secretary of Product Committee.
- Present and recommend changes to product offerings at Product Committee meetings, if required.
- Present product ideas and findings in Product Committee meetings.
- Conduct comparisons on product and compensation and communicate product positioning and key features and benefits.
- Conduct feedback / focus group sessions with reps.
- Monitor product sales performance.
- Exercise product inventory control to ensure product line is competitive and productive
- Handle product enquiry from sales force and internal customers.

**Wealth Platform**
- Ongoing review of all investment products on the Approved Funds List (AFL) are continually monitored - prompt action required where the product, market or legislation changes and to ensure information is kept up-to-date and accurate.
- Creating and maintaining Recommended List based on different asset classes, sectors and regions to meet clients’ needs.
- Ensuring products on the list meets the firms’ standards according to agreed standardized procedures.
- Advice on products recommendation and assist advisers with FAQ on a timely basis as required.
- To develop and set up essential and/or unique product offerings, which will aid advisers in their investment planning recommendations to clients / customers, e.g., Model Portfolios.
- Construction of customized portfolios for advisers, as and when required.
- Work closely with Funds analyst to select best funds for MFA and for model portfolios.

**Product Launch**
- Manage the whole end to end process of product due diligence to product launch.
- Take a key role in Product Committee to ensure smooth launch of products.
- Present product due diligence and ensure approval from various parties.
- Ensure products and its collaterals are in compliance with necessary regulatory guidelines.
- Developing sales tools for sales force to enhance their knowledge and competency.
- Ensure the firms are operationally ready for new products from all aspects including IT.

**Product Trainings**
- Liaise with Manulife Business Academy team to organize new product/fund launch trainings.
- Conduct induction training and facilitate presentations and educational training as and when required, so as to increase the knowledge, awareness and competency of advisers.
- Rationale on Products Differentiation of the funds based on the firms’ Recommended list.
- Ensure all training materials are approved.

**Business Relationships**
- Main liaison officer with providers for products and sponsorships.
- Handle partner relationships and sourcing for suitable partners for onboarding to enhance our firm’s value proposition.

**Special Projects**
- Handle projects in compliance with regulatory/industrial guidelines involving changes to product summary, benefit illustration, etc.
- Handle projects related to the firms’ suite of Products e.g., product comparison library, product comparison tools, etc.
- Provide marketing support to other ad-hoc projects including exhibitions, company events, etc.
- Support company in ad-hoc projects/initiatives.
- Actively participate in discussion with Manulife product team on product ideation and development

**Governance and Compliance**
- Member of Disciplinary and Balanced Score Card (BSC) Appeal Committee.
- Provide advice and support in related to Third Party Products to Sales Advisory Proces