Lead Release Train Engineer Jobs in Toronto, Canada at Manulife
Title: Lead Release Train Engineer
Company: Manulife
Location: Toronto, Canada
Category:
As a Lead Release Train Engineer (Director), you will lead and optimize large-scale Agile delivery across multiple teams within an Agile Release Train (ART). This role focuses on enabling predictable, high-quality delivery while fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and alignment between strategy and execution. You will partner with cross-functional leaders to improve delivery systems, support decision-making, and help teams deliver value efficiently and sustainably.
Position Responsibilities:
Lead and improve the end-to-end flow of work across an Agile Release Train to support alignment and delivery outcomes
Facilitate program-level events such as Program Increment (PI) Planning, ART syncs, system demos, and retrospectives
Translate business priorities into clear Program Increment objectives and track progress against delivery goals
Identify and address risks, dependencies, and impediments, escalating when needed with recommendations
Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to support prioritization and value delivery
Provide visibility into delivery health, capacity, and resource needs
Use Agile metrics (e.g., velocity, throughput, predictability) to identify improvement opportunities
Coach leaders, Scrum Masters, and teams on Agile practices, mindset, and effective collaboration
Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and psychologically safe team environment
Continuously improve ways of working by incorporating industry-leading Agile practices
Required Qualifications:
8+ years of experience in Agile delivery, program management, and scaled Agile environments, including defining, implementing, and operating a SAFe‑based delivery practice at the program and portfolio level.
5+ years of hands‑on experience using Agile delivery and portfolio tooling (e.g., Jira and Confluence) to support scaled delivery, governance, and continuous improvement in large or complex enterprise environments.
Experience facilitating large-scale planning events and coordinating across multiple teams
Knowledge of Agile frameworks (e.g., SAFe), delivery metrics, and program governance practices
Ability to influence stakeholders and translate strategy into actionable plans
Preferred Qualifications:
SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), or Agile coaching certification
Experience delivering technology programs in financial services or other regulated industries
Familiarity with Dev Sec Ops practices, CI/CD pipelines, and system or solution architecture
Experience supporting organizations through transformation or growth initiatives
Strong communication and facilitation skills, including experience working with senior stakeholders
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.
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 .
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
