Assistant Professor, Financial Planning and CFP/ChFC Program Director

The American College of Financial Services; Illinois; Remote; USD 99,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial education institution is seeking a Program Director for the CFP and ChFC programs. This role involves overseeing program content, ensuring high-quality education delivery, and fulfilling academic responsibilities as a full-time faculty member. Candidates should have a Master's degree, industry designations like CFP, and at least 5 years of practitioner experience. The position offers a competitive compensation package and emphasizes a collaborative, inclusive work environment.

Benefits

25-40 Days PTO

Paid Family Medical Leave

Retirement Savings Plan

Tution Remission and Reimbursement

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Flexible work schedules

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of full-time financial planning practitioner experience.
• Achieved and kept current industry designations such as CFP.
• In-depth knowledge of professional education programming trends.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage content in the CFP/ChFC program.
• Fulfill academic duties as a full-time faculty member.
• Coordinate with various departments for program delivery.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree

PhD preferred

Job description

Overview

The determination to appoint at the Assistant or Associate Professor level will be based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Position Overview

The CFP/ChFC Program Director is primarily responsible for developing and managing the content in the program and overseeing the course delivery process. The Program Director is a subject matter expert in general principles of financial planning as well as more specific financial planning topics (including investment management, risk management, estate planning, retirement planning, tax planning, and behavioral finance). This position will require continuing development of academic content, programs, and ensuring delivery of the highest quality professional and advanced education programs and services to the College’s students.

As a faculty member, the position is responsible for fulfilling all relevant academic duties required of full-time faculty members, including at a minimum, the development of subject matter expertise, creation of high-quality thought leadership, and/or demonstrating high quality teaching and instructional delivery. The American College is a leader in financial planning education and the applicant will have a strong interest in maintaining the quality and relevance of our remotely-delivered courses.

Organization Role

This is a full-time position serving as a key member of the academic leadership team, reporting directly to the Department Chair and Associate Provost. The role requires a high level of interaction and collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders, faculty, and college leadership, with particular emphasis on working closely with the Director of Faculty and Director of Curriculum to ensure the integrated delivery of the CFP and ChFC programs.

Job Scope

This position is housed within the Academics Department and will be an integral part of the team focused on aligning teaching, academic technology, and faculty development to meet the mission of the College. The CFP /ChFC Program Director requires continuing development of academic programs, teaching and staffing courses with part-time faculty program courses, and ensuring delivery of the highest quality professional and advanced education programs and services to the College’s students. The CFP /ChFC Program Director serves as a point of contact for CFP /ChFC Program students enrolled in the program; communicates relevant matters to the program faculty or its committees as needed; informs the faculty of education-related policies, deadlines, and programs as appropriate; and forwards recommendations, nominations, and other information from the faculty to the appropriate collegiate and school administrations. The CFP/ChFC Program Director should coordinate with the Director of Faculty and Director of Curriculum to lead and support program faculty and instructional design teams in the advanced and effective delivery of CFP/ChFC program content.

This position will require some travel to the main campus in King of Prussia, PA, as well as to speaking engagements and occasional in-person instruction. College faculty are encouraged to engage with the profession through applied research and presentations that support the educational mission of the institution.

Expected Contributions

• PROGRAM DIRECTOR (60%)

The Program Director works in close partnership with the Director of Faculty (FD), who oversees instructional faculty development and teaching excellence, and the Director of Curriculum (CD), who leads the course development and assessment strategy. The PD serves as the integrator across these areas, ensuring alignment between curriculum content, instructional delivery, and program strategy. While the PD holds responsibility for overall program leadership, implementation is highly collaborative with the FD and CD to accomplish the following Key/Representative Activities:

• Evaluate the quality of CFP / ChFC coursework, maintain course content per policy changes, and improve student learning outcomes.
• Design the program structure in accordance with modern and sophisticated techniques for e-learning and remote delivery.
• Serve as the champion for the CFP / ChFC designation program.
• Monitor the education needs of the financial planning profession related to foundational financial planning training and concepts.
• Actively align with external curriculum and continuing education requirements as assigned such as CFP, AFC, or AEP, but not limited.
• Actively seek out feedback from client companies, industry experts, and internal college stakeholders.
• Actively market the program to a broad advisory audience and collaborate with the Marketing and Business Development teams to provide input into the program marketing and business development plans.
• Maintain a visible profile in the relevant professional associations.
• Enforce regulations of the University, the relevant collegiate unit(s) and the degree program.
• Provide periodic reports on the program and data to the Associate Provost and Vice Provost.
• Serve as the program’s representative on collegiate governance committees, as appropriate.
• Reviews annual productivity reports (credit-hour production, degrees awarded etc.).
• Provides oversight for the program budget including teaching and course development funding, in collaboration with the approval of the Associate Provost.
• Ensure ongoing curriculum quality in conjunction with the Director of Curriculum and Assistant Provost of Teaching and Learning. Ensure CFP curriculum is in compliance with CFP Board standards.
• Align research, professional speaking, and thought leadership efforts to the CFP ChFC designations.
• Recruit and manage subject matter experts (SMEs) to assist with course revisions.
• Research subject matter for course(s).
• Develop instructional material and update previously prepared material to reflect and incorporate best practices financial professionals apply to marketing, communication skills, financial planning, financial products, practice management and technology.
• Provide subject matter expertise in other designation programs as needed.
• In collaboration with the Director of Faculty, ensure high-quality delivery of program courses, including scheduling, instructor onboarding, teaching evaluations, and instructional best practices.

2. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING (30%)

Key/Representative Activities:

• Support other programs where subject matter expertise is needed, such as in the financial planning learning objectives within, but not limited to, the ChFC, MSFP, and WMCP programs.
• Further develop subject matter and educational leadership expertise by industry professional development opportunities.

3. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS/COLLEGE GOVERNANCE (10%)

Key/Representative Activities:

• Participate in College development and governance activities, program development, Committee service, etc.

Education Requirements

• Master’s degree required, PhD preferred; however, an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience can be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of full-time financial planning practitioner experience
• Have achieved and keep current on such program specific designations including but not limited to:
  • Required Industry Designations: CFP
  • Preferred Industry Designations: AFC, CFA, CPA, EA, AEP.
  • Preferred The College Designations: ChFC, CAP, CLU, RICP, WMCP, CLF
• In-depth knowledge of the professional education industries including:
  • Continuing education programming trends
  • Professional level, distance learner and adult education industry
  • The needs and interests of all students served by the College
• Ability to be a visionary and industry leader with advanced analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
• Must be able to think critically, address complex problems, and leverage modern technologies and information resources to prepare faculty to effectively support student learning. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential to work collaboratively with peers, corporate clients, and prospects.
• Must be able to work effectively with the College and Academics leadership teams, and the faculty; and to represent The College to the industry, the public and accreditation agency representatives.
• Project management skills and demonstrated experience.
• Strong organizational, planning and leadership skills.
• The candidate is committed to the philosophy of The American College and its educational programs.
• A deep personal commitment to continuing professional education.

The College provides an award-winning culture and offers a competitive total compensation package that includes:

• Lucrative Time Off (25-40 Days PTO, Paid Family Medical Leave, 11 Paid Holidays)
• Retirement Savings Plan with Supplemental Contribution and Match
• Tution Remission and Reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellness Benefits
• Company-paid Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible, hybrid, and remote work schedules

The target hiring range is $99,200.00 – $130,000.00

***The salary of the candidate selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The hiring range represents The College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Applications for this opening will be accepted through October 3, 2025.

In policy and practice, we encourage diversity and provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job. We are committed to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment.

The American College of Financial Services is an E-Verify Employer.

The American College is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified individuals. We administer all phases of employment activity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, military or veteran status.