Credit Risk Specialist - Mortgage Special Assets

The MSA Team works closely with MLI’s Real Estate Finance Group (“REFG”) across the United States and Canada to review, approve, and manage below‑investment‑grade (“BIG”) loans and investment‑grade loans identified as higher‑risk or problem exposures within the GA portfolio. The team also collaborates with MBC’s Specialized Lending and Credit Risk Management teams on all MBC commercial mortgage loans, including annual reviews, post‑closing matters, and emerging credit issues.

Working closely with other members of the MSA team, the Credit Risk Specialist will be responsible for analyzing and monitoring credit risk associated with BIG and problem loans across both portfolios, assessing new investment opportunities for MBC, and maintaining accurate credit records and documentation to support resolution discussions and presentations to Senior Management. The position is based in Canada and reports directly to the Director, Mortgage Special Assets.

Position Responsibilities: 

• Oversight of BIG loan exposures across GA and MBC, including preparation of Deal Overview summaries and proactive management of assigned files, in collaboration with regional offices to finalize risk ratings and identify, monitor, and manage problem loans.
• Conduct credit analysis and underwriting of real estate mortgage transactions across the GA BIG and MBC portfolios, ensuring maintenance of evidence supporting credit review and approval decisions.
• Participate in loan workout and resolution discussions, including evaluation and negotiation of workout strategies, assessment and recommendation of expected credit losses and provisioning adjustments, and coordination of required approvals from Senior Management.
• Maintain comprehensive records of loan documentation, third-party reports, internal approvals, memoranda, legal documentation, and correspondence related to the workout and resolution of BIG loans for both GA and MBC.
• Support analysis and documentation of post-closing matters across the GA BIG and MBC mortgage portfolios in accordance with operating guidelines.
• Participate in the review of new mortgage investment opportunities for MBC in partnership with REFG Production, providing credit risk analysis and adjudication.
• Manage MBC loan maturities and discharges in collaboration with MSA and Specialized Lending teams, ensuring timely resolution and accurate documentation.
• Assist in the preparation and review of presentation materials for GA Quarterly Loan Review Committee and MBC Credit Committee meetings.
• Compile and analyze real estate market research, statistics, and data across Canada and the United States to support mortgage underwriting, portfolio analysis, and informed credit decision-making.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of commercial mortgage lending or related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Proficient with Microsoft Applications (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Strong portfolio management skills and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills, with a proven ability to multitask, manage competing priorities, and effectively respond to urgent and time-sensitive requests.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally within all levels of the organization, including Senior Management, front and back offices, as well as external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (oral and written).
• Experience working effectively with internal and external audit, representing the Business Unit.
• Proven ability to provide a thorough review of qualitative and quantitative analysis to a broad business audience.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to Manulife’s core values of excellence, transparency, humility, integrity, and collaboration, and inspires the same in others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with credit risk analysis and making recommendations to changes in risk rating, accrual status, charge-downs and charge offs is an asset.
• Exposure to automated reporting is an asset (PowerBI)

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

#LI-Hybrid

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

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].

Referenced Salary Location

Halifax, Nova ScotiaHybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$65,850.00 CAD - $109,750.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [email protected] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [email protected] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.