Want a meaningful career where you can make a difference? Edward Jones sounds perfect for you.
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
As an Initiatives Leader within Canada Operations, this role is accountable for the end-to-end execution and successful delivery of complex, mid-to-large scale strategic initiatives, including both mandatory and discretionary programs. These initiatives are highly cross-functional in nature, often span multiple years, and may impact multiple business units, portfolios, operational capabilities, and technology platforms across the organization.
The Initiatives Leader serves as the primary execution leader for transformation efforts, overseeing all aspects of initiative delivery including strategic planning, financial management, stakeholder alignment, resource planning, organizational change management, risk mitigation, service readiness, operational implementation, and overall execution. The role holds significant influence across Canada Operations, driving solutions that affect systems, processes, organizational structures, people, controls, and client experiences.
This role is critical to advancing strategic initiatives across Digital and Canada Operations. Success requires extensive orchestration and collaboration with senior business and Digital leaders, strategic vendors, and a broad network of internal partners, including Technology, Infrastructure, Architecture, Cybersecurity, Digital Product Management, Cloud, Data & AI, Compliance, Legal, Wealth Management, Risk Management, and Field Management teams.
In addition to initiative delivery, the role provides strategic leadership by helping shape business direction, influence organizational strategy, strengthen operational capabilities, and support talent development. The Initiatives Leader plays a key role in ensuring the organization is positioned to effectively manage risk, achieve regulatory compliance, optimize operational performance, and deliver sustainable business outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Initiative Leadership
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex, high-impact initiatives that span multiple functions, portfolios, business units, and technology domains.
- Develop and execute strategic plans that align initiative outcomes with organizational priorities and long-term objectives.
- Establish and maintain initiative governance structures, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making.
- Drive organizational transformation efforts involving systems, processes, operating models, controls, and workforce capabilities.
- Ensure successful execution of multi-year initiatives while balancing strategic objectives, operational requirements, regulatory obligations, and client needs.
Technology, Process, and Solution Delivery Leadership
- Hold overall accountability for technology and process design, budget management, implementation execution, and operational readiness.
- Ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to solution development, delivery, and deployment with clearly defined quality, performance, and measurement metrics.
- Align technical solution designs with target-state architecture, business strategies, and operational requirements.
- Facilitate collaboration among Architects, Technology Leaders, Product Leaders, and business stakeholders to ensure end-to-end solution integrity.
- Oversee end-to-end testing activities, implementation planning, and readiness assessments as appropriate.
Stakeholder and Organizational Leadership
- Build alignment and commitment among senior leaders, executives, and cross-functional teams to achieve strategic outcomes.
- Facilitate complex conversations and decision-making across organizations impacted by initiative delivery.
- Partner with business, operations, technology, and vendor teams to manage competing priorities, dependencies, and delivery risks.
- Influence key strategic decisions with long-term organizational impact, including technology investments, vendor selection, solution design, and operating model changes.
Financial and Resource Management
- Manage initiative budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring effective allocation of funding and resources.
- Oversee resource planning strategies across multiple teams and organizational boundaries.
- Monitor benefit realization and ensure initiatives deliver measurable business value and operational improvements.
Risk, Governance, and Regulatory Oversight
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex, cross-functional risks, issues, and dependencies throughout the solution lifecycle.
- In partnership with Senior Technology Executives (STEs), Release Train Engineers (RTEs), and other leaders, ensure risks are effectively identified, mitigated, and managed.
- Verify compliance with legal, regulatory, security, operational, and organizational requirements.
- Ensure established governance practices, standards, controls, guidelines, and working agreements are consistently followed across teams.
- Facilitate Go/No-Go decision processes and confirm alignment with operational readiness plans.
Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence
- Lead efforts to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability through process redesign and technology enablement.
- Foster innovation and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
- Identify integration opportunities across business areas and promote strong partnerships that enhance organizational performance.
- Support the evolution of organizational capabilities, operating models, and talent development strategies to meet future business needs.
Scope and Impact
This position exercises significant influence over decisions with long-term strategic and operational implications, including technology architecture, vendor selection, process design, and service delivery models. Decisions made in this role may impact multiple departments, business divisions, advisors, branches, clients, and enterprise platforms. Given the scale and complexity of the initiatives led, ineffective decisions could have substantial operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational consequences.
The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and leadership responsibility and serves as a critical driver of Canada Operations’ transformation agenda, supporting the organization’s strategic objectives and long-term growth.
Skills/Requirements
- 8-10 years of experience leading initiatives across one or more technical disciplines, including software engineering, technical program management, solution architecture, and large-scale technology implementations.
- Strong knowledge of Lean-Agile principles and practices, with experience applying frameworks and methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and Agile delivery approaches.
- Proven ability to lead and influence geographically dispersed, cross-functional teams comprised of leaders, associates, vendors, consulting partners, and SaaS providers, without direct management authority.
- Demonstrated domain expertise in financial services and related operational functions, including brokerage operations, wealth management, or similar business areas.
- Extensive experience leading mid-to-large scale platform conversions, implementations, and transformation initiatives.
- Expertise in planning and overseeing functional, non-functional, integration, and end-to-end testing for large-scale technology deployments.
- Strong understanding of software engineering, technology delivery, business processes, and system development lifecycles, enabling effective oversight, governance, and decision-making.
- Data-driven leadership approach with experience leveraging metrics and performance indicators to monitor delivery outcomes, quality, and business value. Experience as a software engineering leader is considered an asset.
- Experience utilizing enterprise portfolio, product, and delivery management tools such as Jira, Clarity, Aha!, and related platforms to track, manage, and measure value delivery from portfolio through product and team execution.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment across business, operations, and technology organizations.
Awards & Accolades
At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. We’re proud of our associates’ contributions to the firm and the recognitions we have received.
Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
About Us
Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.
Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.
People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.
View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.
¹Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
It’s like professional
development in the
world’s largest sandbox.
Training, continuing education and mentoring – that’s only the beginning. Our headquarter campuses offer thousands of roles – and as many opportunities – for you to try new skills, get involved on different projects and step up as a leader. You’re in charge of your professional development. We just provide the opportunities.
Hear from Experienced Advisors who’ve transitioned their practice to Edward Jones.
Where clients come first. And you are part of a branch team making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Where the culture is surprisingly collaborative. And opportunities to lead push you to grow – as you grow your practice.
Extra compensation
when you need it most –
with no ceiling on how
much you can earn.
And we really mean it. There is no ceiling on how much you can earn as we have a work hard and be rewarded philosophy. We also understand that new financial advisors might be more worried about the floor. So we provide a guaranteed salary for your first four years. Did we mention bonuses, commissions, profit sharing and travel awards?
“As hard as I want to work determines how successful my business can be.”
– Mark Audet, CFP Financial Advisor – St. Louis
Edward Jones Managing Partner
Our branch teams – including our BOAs – play a critical role in getting to know and truly understand each client.
Penny Pennington
Managing Partner
Come as you are.
We will teach you
everything you need
to know.
Our Branch Office Administrators come from many different career backgrounds. Sales. Marketing. Customer service. Even finance. But they have one thing in common: a desire for a rewarding career that empowers them to make a difference in people’s lives. Your training begins with six months of dedicated onboarding – and is built out with mentoring, learning plans tailored to your needs, and a dedicated team at our home office in Mississauga, ON making sure you have everything you need to succeed.
Employee Testimonial
We are a firm of good people, doing meaningful work, all focused on helping our clients achieve their goals.
Tyler Kucera
Municipal Bond Trading – Tempe Headquarters
I have the fortune of coming into work, knowing that I have the opportunity to make someone’s life better, while directly contributing towards our firm’s delivery of value to our branches and clients.
Chris Koo
Firm Strategic Enablement Office – Headquarters
At Jones, the profit center is the branch office. Everything is focused on you – and your ability to serve the needs of your clients.
Jeff Allen
Financial Advisor – Tacoma, WA
I was transitioning away from a career I worked so hard for, but when I asked myself what mattered the most to me and the value of my work, it was the people I was helping. When I came across Edward Jones it was the perfect fit. I liked the idea of running my own business but not having to worry about the logistics of location, real estate, etc.
Nanette Fahrenbruch – Former Attorney
Financial Advisor with Edward Jones since 2000 – Lakewood, CO
I am empowered to make decisions for our branch.
Linda Richards
Senior Branch Office Administrator – St. Louis, MO
Our clients need to know they are our priority at all times.
Jennifer Hernandez
Senior Branch Office Administrator – Irving, TX
It feels good to be able to work with the financial advisor to help our clients meet their personal and financial needs.
Gwen Peebles
Senior Branch Office Administrator – Oro Valley, AZ
There is a huge support system, not only within the region of financial advisors and our peers, the other BOAs. But you also have the headquarters to support you. A phone call away. I’ve never felt alone in this position. I’ve always felt like support was just around the corner.
Linda Richards
Senior Branch Office Administrator – St. Louis
Here at Edward Jones, we have an outstanding benefits package, I have had opportunities for branch and firm bonuses, and fun challenge awards we can earn each trimester. I love knowing there are opportunities for growth for me with this firm.
Jennifer Hernandez
Senior Branch Office Administrator – Irving, TX
Bring your skills and
experience here.
We’ll find a place to put
them to work.
Tech? HR? Marketing? Operations? You’ve got the skills. We’ve got the team. We are a large firm with many areas of expertise but each division is small enough for you to make an impact. And you can test the waters in other areas. We encourage it. Learning new skills and gaining leadership experience along the way.
Employee Testimonial
Although I’ve worked in the Information Systems division since I started at Edward Jones, I’ve had the pleasure of building relationships across divisions as I’ve worked on key projects for the firm.
Chris Koo
Firm Strategic Enablement Office – Headquarters
Edward Jones has helped create a path to define what career trajectory can look like and, more importantly, how to realize the opportunities ahead. Personally, with a focus on performing at a high level, representing myself and my firm in a professional way and building trusted relationships, there is no limit to what can be achieved here.
Miquez C. Hadley
Team Leader – Branch Development
When it comes to your
compensation,
we want to be clear.
#1 Your performance drives your compensation – and we won’t limit it with earning caps. Not now, not ever.
#2 Our compensation is competitive and multi-faceted. Commissions and trimester bonuses – based on individual branch and firm profitability – make up the bulk of your variable income. But your total payout may include travel awards and profit sharing. And the opportunity to be rewarded for transitioning client relationships to financial advisors looking to grow.
#3 Our compensation is simple and transparent. We make it easy to understand how you are rewarded and strive to minimize grid changes. You know exactly what to expect and how to impact your results.
Our partnership structure frees you to focus on your clients.
Being a partnership makes us distinctly different from our competitors. More than a structure, it’s a mindset. And it permeates every aspect of our business. From how we work with each other – think collaboration not competition – to our long-term investment philosophy. It’s most at work in our shared focus on doing what’s right for the client. And it’s easy for us to do. Because we have no competing interests. No shareholders clamoring for short-term profits. We can take the long view, because we only answer to our clients. And to ourselves. Our financial advisors find this single-minded focus freeing. A clear mandate for success. And a clear path to get there.
Transitioning your
practice is a difficult
decision.
We’re here to help.
Moving your practice to another firm may be the most stressful decision of your professional life. We understand. And our transition team is here to help. From early days when you are just beginning to consider the opportunity. To that glorious first day of opening your practice. And our support is not one-size-fits-all. We will tailor your transition to you and your practice – with you leading the way. Ensuring a smooth transition for you and your clients. And a solid path forward for next-level growth.
Investing in You
As a valued branch-team member, you will share in the success of your branch – and the firm. Our market competitive compensation program recognizes your individual contributions, promotes a long-term career, contributes to your financial security and promotes the well-being of you and your family.
Edward Jones Due Diligence Events
How will I be compensated? Will my clients be taken care of? Will Edward Jones’ products meet my clients’ sophisticated needs? You have many questions, and we have the answers. Talk with firm leaders who can share their personal stories and insights. Meet with subject matter experts and learn about our technology, marketing, transition support – and how we can help you grow your practice your way.
No experience in finance?
Bring your developed skills, we’ll guide you the rest of the way.
Some of our most successful financial advisors come to us from other fields. Our training and development is designed to help you succeed. From helping you pass your licensing exams and training you to understand the complexities of our industry, to arming you with the knowledge and skills to build your practice, we invest in your training and development. Every. Step. Of. The. Way.
Employee Testimonial
You don’t have to have a financial background. Some of us have sales backgrounds, but some of us were teachers or engineers. I think that as long as you’re willing to work hard and have the resiliency to get through building your business, you can be successful.
Jennifer Heal, CFP
Financial Advisor – Roswell, GA
Upcoming Events
Mississauga or even your home.
Opportunities are available in our Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, ON, and we offer flexible work policies which allow some associates to work from home.
Headquarters Events
Occasionally we have recruiting events providing unique opportunities to network with hiring leaders and recruiters. Currently there are no events scheduled – please check back soon.
Connect with us at a virtual or in-person event
Learn how Edward Jones is built differently – and how our unique business model puts you in charge of unleashing your potential. Virtually or in-person, we’ve created several opportunities for you to network and learn more from current Edward Jones financial advisors.
Webinars
Register for one of our “Meet the Edward Jones of Now” webinars. These confidential, 30-minute programs provides insight into our compensation structure, our business model, our training and support, and our client-centric solutions. Ask questions and get answers from Edward Jones financial advisors working in the field today.
Explore Our Webinars
Learn more at a virtual or in-person event
Learn how Edward Jones is built differently – and how our unique business model puts you in charge of unleashing your potential. Virtually or in-person, we’ve created several opportunities for you to network and learn more from current Edward Jones financial advisors.
Webinars
Register for our “Investing In You: The Edward Jones Financial Advisor Opportunity” webinar. This confidential, 30-minute program provides insight into what financial advisors do, valuable transferable skills and the ongoing support you’ll be provided throughout your career. Ask questions and get answers from Edward Jones financial advisors working in the field today.
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