Reads like a Data Leadership role: running a data team.
Working Arrangement HybridRead the full posting
Employment type in the employer’s posting: Full timeFrom the employer’s posting
Design and deploy AI, ML and GenAI solutions for underwriting use cases
Embed AI solutions into end-to-end underwriting workflows with governance
Lead, coach and develop a team of data scientists
Build LLM, RAG and evaluation approaches for text-heavy underwriting data
Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI, ML, and Generative AI solutions supporting underwriting use cases
Drive adoption of AI solutions by embedding them into end-to-end underwriting workflows
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of data scientists
Large Language Models (LLMs) for text-heavy underwriting data
10+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics, preferably within financial services.
Practical experience with Generative AI, including:
Experience with cloud and big data platforms (e.g., Azure, Spark, Databricks, Hadoop).
Proven experience leading complex analytics initiatives in highly regulated environments.
Strong understanding of deploying models into production, including monitoring and lifecycle management.
Leadership & Communication
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.
In the employer’s words · Read in context
Open 6 monthsWe first saw this posting 188 days ago and it is still up. Roles open this long are often slow to fill or kept open to collect applications.
These dates show when we found the posting. Check the employer’s website to confirm it is still accepting applications.
Day 188
Up longer than most. Similar jobs usually come down between day 8 and day 57.
Well past Manulife Financial’s usual: its jobs come down by about day 27.
From 9,470 similar postings that came down, and 179 of Manulife Financial’s. Coming down is not always a hire.
36 open jobs
Open jobs by the week we first saw them, last 12 weeks.
Add your resume and we’ll mark which of these tools you already use, and point out anything in the posting that could rule you out.
- Strong hands-on expertise in ML/statistical modeling, segmentation, and underwriting or claims analytics. - Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and common data science toolchains (R, SAS a plus). - Practical experience with Generative AI, including:
- AI governance and responsible AI practices - Experience with cloud and big data platforms (e.g., Azure, Spark, Databricks, Hadoop). - Strong understanding of deploying models into production, including monitoring and lifecycle management.
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New Data Leadership postings at the employers we follow are about the same over the last 6 weeks compared with the 6 before.
Each bar is one week of new postings. The darkest bars are the last 6 weeks.
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We file this job under Data Leadership, by the work the posting describes.
Data leaders run data teams or design how a company's data fits together. Managers hire, set priorities and answer for whether the data work pays off; architects choose the systems and the shape of the data.
Expect years of hands-on data work, experience leading people or projects, and the ability to explain tradeoffs to executives.
Unlike a senior engineer or analyst, most of a data leader's week goes to people, planning and decisions rather than building.
The government has no code for data leaders, so these figures are for the closest group, computer and information systems managers, which includes data processing and data operations managers.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and Employment Projections (2025 to 2035). Occupation code 11-3021.
The Lead Data Scientist – Underwriting is a senior leadership role responsible for driving regional and BU-level AI, ML, and Generative AI solutions to transform underwriting decision-making across Asia. This role combines deep technical expertise, people leadership, and strong business partnership to deliver scalable, compliant, and value-generating underwriting capabilities.
You will lead and grow a team of data scientists focused on underwriting AI, while also acting as a hands-on technical leader shaping advanced predictive, prescriptive, and generative solutions. The role partners closely with underwriting, risk, technology, and regional stakeholders, and supports the Chief AI Officer in delivering the Asia AI Value agenda and building world-class, revenue-generating analytics.
Position Responsibilities:
Technical & Business Leadership
Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI, ML, and Generative AI solutions supporting underwriting use cases, including:
Underwriting summarization and document intelligence
Risk assessment and decision support
Straight-through processing (STP) and workflow automation
Data-driven underwriting rules optimization
Translate complex underwriting and business problems into scalable analytical and GenAI solutions with measurable business outcomes.
Drive adoption of AI solutions by embedding them into end-to-end underwriting workflows, ensuring usability, governance, and regulatory compliance.
Partner with reinsurers, vendors, and external technology providers to co-develop or integrate advanced underwriting solutions.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of data scientists focused on underwriting AI and analytics.
Generative AI & Advanced Analytics
Lead the application of AI and especially GenAI in underwriting, including:
Large Language Models (LLMs) for text-heavy underwriting data (e.g., medical reports, financial statements, applications)
Prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and evaluation frameworks
Model orchestration, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop designs
Ensure AI solutions are responsible, explainable, auditable, and compliant with internal AI governance and regulatory expectations.
Establish standards for model lifecycle management, performance monitoring, and value tracking for AI and GenAI solutions.
Strategy, Governance & Stakeholder Management
Contribute to AI and data strategy, focusing on data optimization, monetization, and external data enrichment.
Collaborate with global and regional teams to define common modeling standards, governance, and reusable AI assets, aligned with AI CoE guidelines.
Maintain a regional/global model repository to track models in use, performance, and risks.
Act as a trusted advisor to underwriting and business leaders, influencing prioritization and investment decisions.
Proactively identify risks, data challenges, and stakeholder conflicts, and drive alignment and mitigation plans.
Required Qualifications:
10+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics, preferably within financial services.
Strong underwriting, insurance, or reinsurance domain knowledge (highly preferred).
Proven experience leading complex analytics initiatives in highly regulated environments.
Technical & GenAI Skills
Strong hands-on expertise in ML/statistical modeling, segmentation, and underwriting or claims analytics.
Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and common data science toolchains (R, SAS a plus).
Practical experience with Generative AI, including:
Large Language Models (LLMs)
Prompt engineering and RAG architectures
Model evaluation, bias mitigation, and explainability
AI governance and responsible AI practices
Experience with cloud and big data platforms (e.g., Azure, Spark, Databricks, Hadoop).
Strong understanding of deploying models into production, including monitoring and lifecycle management.
Leadership & Communication
Demonstrated ability to lead and scale teams, mentor data scientists, and manage ambiguity.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders across regions.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, translating technical concepts into business language.
When you join our team:
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 hr@manulife.com.
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Hong Kong
Working Arrangement Hybrid
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