The opportunity

The primary functions of the role are (1) to provide timely and reliable legal services to the business units in a variety of legal topics, (2) to collaborate with management to devise efficient and legally defensible strategies, (3) to effectively and efficiently support the distribution compliance and human resources – employee relations segment, (4) to closely coordinate with external counsels to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and (5) to manage litigious and regulatory matters.

The position requires a highly qualified lawyer to oversee the legal aspects of the Company to ensure legal compliance and minimize probability of exposure to legal and regulatory risks, among others.

General Responsibilities

• Draft and solidify legal opinions, contracts, and other legal documents
• Research and evaluate different risk factors, especially legal and regulatory risks, regarding business decisions and strategies.
• Offer proactive advice of possible legal issues.
• Communicate and negotiate with external parties, including but not limited to the regulators, external counsels, counterparties, etc.
• Deal with simple and complex regulatory and legal matters with different stakeholders.
• Release responses to Requests for Legal Assistance (RLA) within turn-around-time (TAT).
• Communicate and provide answers to legal queries of the business units in a language understood by them.
• Manage the legal risk exposure of the Company by ensuring compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Provide assistance and support to the management of the corporate governance of the boards and committees of the Company and its affiliates.
• Assist other subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company.

Specific Legal Services

• Provide legal advice or opinion on and conducts legal review of proposed actions of business units as well as actions on issues to support management decision making that will impact the operations of the Company.
• Assist the business units in their BAUs and special projects to ensure appropriateness of their activities.
• Review product literature, proposals, policy contracts, training decks, brochures, and other communication materials, participate in product development, and provide legal assistance in securing regulatory approvals.
• Provide timely, effective, and complete advice on complaints against the Company, agents, and/or employees observing compliance with he Company’s sales and distribution policies and the Market Conduct Guidelines of the Insurance Commission.
• Provide legal advice on the disciplinary actions against employees ensuring observance of legal and regulatory processes on labor and employment and other related matters.
• Represent the Company as legal counsel in regulatory, judicial, quasi-judicial proceedings and attend conciliation, mediation, or arbitration proceedings with the NLRC, DOLE, IC, etc.
• Promote legal awareness among local management and staff.
• Liaise with regulators.
• iWork on regulatory changes or legal issues with the IC or the PLIA on consultation papers or workgroups for legal issues related to the life insurance industry.
• Manage local or regulatory projects or activities of the Company as may be directed from time to time.
• Monitor legislations, regulatory and legal environment where the business is operating and provide strategic recommendations in order to timely and effectively adapt to such changes.

Legal Records Management

• Keep an updated and complete record of all legal/litigation documents and proceedings for the Company
• Organize, maintain and keep updated the RLA tracker.
• Timely and accurately record all RLAs handled in the Legal RLA tracker. Ensure that all legal opinions rendered and contracts reviewed are properly coded, recorded and uploaded in the RLA tracker.
• Ensure that background and specific objective/s of the RLAs are timely gathered through internal meetings and thereafter properly documented
• Ensure confidentiality of documents maintained and track chain of custody.
• Adhere to Company document and retention policy/ies

Training and Participation in Value Adding Projects

• Complete required training courses/seminars.
• Attend and participate in Webinars, trainings, or meetings related to the insurance business, and the legal profession.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest regulatory and legal changes.
   

Expense Efficiency

• Closely coordinate with external counsel to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness
• Reduce the use of paper and support the use of an online system (ie. SharePoint)

Perform other tasks as assigned

How will you create impact?

The Legal Manager assists the Legal Head in supporting the management and the business units of the Company.

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

• College graduate with and Law Degree (Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws, or its equivalent) Bar Passer and Member of the Philippine Bar
• · Proven experience as a legal counsel in business environment or law firm, or relevant experience in litigation and/or corporate work
• Comprehensive knowledge of the legal processes and legal framework of insurance business in the
• Philippines and other applicable substantive laws, rules and regulations. Above average reading, comprehension, and writing skills
• Negotiating skills
• Highly developed communication and relationship building skills
• Analytical and Logical Thinking
• Computer proficiency – Microsoft Work, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Powerpoint

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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].

Hybrid