Advisor Development Leader: Onboarding & Growth

Vanguard; Malvern (AR); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks an accomplished executive leader to build and lead the advisor onboarding and development strategy for Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Wealth Management within Personal Wealth. The role creates a best-in-class program to support onboarding, training, coaching, and professional growth, aligning with Vanguard’s client-first philosophy.

You will design scalable learning pathways from entry-level to senior advisor, drive proactive consultative sales mindset, and partner across

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in wealth management, financial advice, advisor development, learning and development, or practice management.
• Deep knowledge of financial planning, advisory services, wealth management products, advisor business models, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience building and scaling advisor training, onboarding, or professional development programs.
• Experience leading teams and influencing senior stakeholders across complex organizations.
• Strong executive presence with exceptional communication, coaching, and change leadership capabilities.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• CFP®, CFA®, CIMA®, CPWA®, or similar professional designation preferred.
• MBA, master’s degree, or equivalent advanced education preferred.
• Experience building advisor academies or enterprise learning organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and execution of building advisor onboarding and professional development programs.
• Build scalable learning pathways that support advisors from entry-level through senior advisor and specialist roles.
• Design training focused on client engagement, financial planning, advice delivery, and relationship management across phone, video, and in-person channels.
• Build training and coaching that helps advisors move to a consultative sales mindset, enabling them to identify client needs, deepen relationships, and confidently connect clients with relevant advice and solutions.
• Develop advisor expertise in Vanguard’s investment philosophy, products, services, account types, planning tools, and client resources.
• Build capabilities in practice management, client segmentation, referral generation, book development, and intergenerational wealth relationships.
• Lead advisor technology enablement, including CRM platforms, planning tools, and digital engagement capabilities.
• Establish readiness standards, coaching frameworks, certification requirements, and performance measures.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of trainers, coaches, instructional designers, and advisor development professionals.
• Partner across Personal Wealth, Human Resources, Compliance, Risk, Product, and Technology to deliver advisor excellence.

Skills

Leadership experience

Financial planning knowledge

Program development experience

Team leadership

Executive communication

Bachelor's degree

CFP/CFA/CPWA designation

MBA preferred

Advisor academies

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

MBA or advanced degree preferred

CFP / CFA / CPWA or similar designation preferred

Job description

Vanguard seeks an accomplished executive leader to build and lead the advisor onboarding and development strategy for Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Wealth Management within Personal Wealth. The role creates a best-in-class program to support onboarding, training, coaching, and professional growth, aligning with Vanguard’s client-first philosophy.

You will design scalable learning pathways from entry-level to senior advisor, drive proactive consultative sales mindset, and partner across