Program Leader - Professional Designation

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Collaboration. Autonomy. Opportunity. Words our headquarters associates use when talking about working at Edward Jones. Words that describe what it's like being part of a firm where everyone is aligned toward a singular focus: serving the client. And everyone is working to make the firm better together - as they grow as individuals. If these words resonate with you, we should talk.

Job Overview

Position Schedule: Full-Time

The Edward Jones Canada Learning and Professional Development Department is responsible for the learning experience of our branch teams, equipping them with the acumen, skillset and mindset needed to attract, engage, convert, and serve ideal clients through delivery of quality comprehensive advice and guidance.

• Leading moderate to large scope bodies of work, within Professional Designation strategy, at times spanning multiple areas, divisions, and outside vendors.
• Partnering and collaborating with business leaders within the Canada Business Unit, with vendors and across the firm to organize the work, manage resources, and develop recommendations.
• Delivering the right outcomes by using sound judgment to ensure the execution of Professional Designations strategy.
• Ensuring scope, timeline and quality objectives are met while assessing trade-offs to ensure appropriate use of department resources.
• Establish and maintain effective communications and relationships across multiple areas, divisions, outside vendors and project leaders/teams who are working on sub-projects within Professional Designations.
• Leading pieces of strategy creation and execution of work. (e.g., professional designations). This may include:
  • Providing thought leadership that helps to define and guide implementation of the strategy, along with other firm-wide priorities.
  • Delivering the right outcomes by using sound judgment to ensure the execution of the strategy.
  • Ensuring scope, timeline and quality objectives are met while assessing trade-offs to ensure appropriate use of department resources.
  • Establish and maintain effective communications and relationships across multiple areas, divisions, outside vendors and project leaders/teams who are working on projects within scope of work.
  • Collaborating with other business areas and the field to diagnose current and future business needs, related to the strategy.
  • Cross-divisional coordination with internal stakeholders/shared services to support delivery of program(s)
  • Directly supporting/liaising with branch teams and field leaders to drive program adoption and integration.
  • Execute and manage program operational efficiency improvements and evolve best practices to improve effectiveness of the strategies.
• Ensure clear integration of strategy work with other firm strategic and operational initiatives. (e.g., Professional Designations with delivery of Advice & Guidance)
• Leading moderate to large scope initiatives or bodies of work, within a specific area or at times spanning multiple areas, divisions, and outside vendors. (e.g., Professional Designations). This may include:
  • Identifying major and detailed project tasks, critical path, contentions, and resources to manage the tasks.
  • Drive operational efficiencies across strategic initiatives to improve performance and resource utilization.
  • Ensuring project schedule, scope and quality objectives are met by monitoring, using metrics and controls to measure progress, taking corrective action and escalating issues when necessary.
  • Assessing trade-offs to scope using cost / benefit analysis and make recommendations to business leaders.
  • Working with other leaders and business leadership to obtain the necessary resources to achieve initiative objectives.
  • Planning, identifying, analyzing, and resolving initiative issues and risks.
  • Determining and executing prevention and mitigation strategies, as appropriate.
  • Scheduling and facilitating meetings, communicate progress and develop solutions to meet initiative goals. This may be related to a large project with multiple sub-projects.
  • Generate key performance metrics and deliver timely, actionable reports to firm leadership
  • Establishing and maintain effective communications and relationships across multiple areas, divisions, and outside vendors who are working on the initiative.
  • Manage and strengthen relationships with external vendors to ensure alignment, accountability and prescribed service levels.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Financial services industry experience preferred.
• CSC, CPH, WME and Insurance License preferred.
• Financial Services Professional Designation preferred. (CFP, QAFP, PFP, etc.)
• Adult Learning Certification or equivalent experience preferred
• Brinkerhoff Champion Certification required within the first 6 months

• 5 years relevant work experience
• 3+ years in a leadership capacity

• Strong planning and organizing skills to prioritize work and deliverables, juggle priorities, track performance and programs while also monitoring one's own progress.
• Effective coordination, delegation, and management of multiple projects and/or workstreams.
• Ability to champion innovation and change.
• Effective communication skills to set clear and measurable expectations to reach business objectives.
• Ability to lead and manage people.
• Knowledge of change leadership, systems thinking, Agile project management.
• Ability to collaborate and influence others.
• Understanding of the field-facing training and development programs and/or learning agility to onboard quickly.