Executive Director of Operations

Florida Financial Advisors; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Financial Advisors seeks an Executive Director of Operations to drive the operational engine of a premier insurance and financial services organization. You will oversee Licensing, Contracting, Compliance, Recruiting, Onboarding, and Finance operations, partnering with the C-suite to execute strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of senior leadership in large-scale operations, deep securities and insurance industry knowledge, and a proven ability to develop leaders,

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of executive or senior leadership experience leading large operational teams.
• Active FINRA securities licenses required (Series 7 and 24 or 26 preferred; additional registrations are a plus).
• Deep experience within the securities and insurance industries.
• Extensive knowledge of licensing, contracting, compliance, recruiting, onboarding, compensation, finance and accounting, and operational support.
• Demonstrated success leading operational teams within a high-growth organization.
• Strong financial, analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, coaching, and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop managers and operational teams across the organization.
• Oversee Licensing, Contracting, Compliance Operations, Recruiting Operations, Onboarding, Compensation Administration, Advisor Support, Finance & Accounting, and General Operations.
• Ensure compliance with FINRA, SEC, state insurance regulations, and carrier requirements.
• Partner with executive leadership to execute operational initiatives that support the company's strategic objectives.
• Maintain and monitor departmental KPIs, scorecards, and performance metrics to ensure accountability and continuous operational excellence.
• Foster collaboration and consistency across all operational departments while ensuring existing processes are executed effectively.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve communication, execution, and advisor experience.
• Manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and succession planning.
• Serve as the operational liaison between the Home Office and Executive Leadership Team.
• Deliver an exceptional advisor experience from recruitment through ongoing operational support.
• Foster a culture of servant leadership, accountability, urgency, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Team coaching

Operations management

Financial analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Licensing platforms

Contracting systems

Compliance platforms

Job description

Florida Financial Advisors (FFA) is seeking an exceptional Executive Director of Operations to lead the operational engine of one of the nation's premier insurance and financial services organizations.

This executive will be responsible for leading, developing, and supporting the teams responsible for every stage of the advisor lifecycle—from recruiting and onboarding through licensing, contracting, compliance, compensation, finance and accounting, and ongoing operational support.

The Executive Director of Operations will oversee multiple operational departments and their leaders while partnering closely with the executive team to execute the company's strategic vision. The successful candidate is an experienced operational executive with a proven track record of leading large teams, developing high-performing leaders, driving operational excellence, fostering accountability, and delivering exceptional service to advisors and internal stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is committed to learning FFA's existing operational systems and processes while continuously coaching teams to execute them with consistency, efficiency, and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop managers and operational teams across the organization.
• Oversee Licensing, Contracting, Compliance Operations, Recruiting Operations, Onboarding, Compensation Administration, Advisor Support, Finance & Accounting, and General Operations.
• Ensure compliance with FINRA, SEC, state insurance regulations, and carrier requirements.
• Partner with executive leadership to execute operational initiatives that support the company's strategic objectives.
• Maintain and monitor departmental KPIs, scorecards, and performance metrics to ensure accountability and continuous operational excellence.
• Foster collaboration and consistency across all operational departments while ensuring existing processes are executed effectively.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve communication, execution, and advisor experience.
• Manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and succession planning.
• Serve as the operational liaison between the Home Office and Executive Leadership Team.
• Deliver an exceptional advisor experience from recruitment through ongoing operational support.
• Foster a culture of servant leadership, accountability, urgency, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of executive or senior leadership experience leading large operational teams.
• Active FINRA securities licenses required (Series 7 and 24 or 26 preferred; additional registrations are a plus).
• Deep experience within the securities and insurance industries.
• Extensive knowledge of licensing, contracting, compliance, recruiting, onboarding, compensation, finance and accounting, and operational support.
• Demonstrated success leading operational teams within a high-growth organization.
• Strong financial, analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, coaching, and relationship-building abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• Experience supporting independent financial advisors, agencies, broker-dealers, or insurance organizations.
• Experience working with CRM, licensing, contracting, and compliance platforms.

Success in the First 12 Months

• Build strong relationships and trust across all operational departments.
• Become fully proficient in FFA's operational systems, workflows, and processes.
• Maintain and monitor departmental KPIs and operational scorecards to ensure consistent performance.
• Improve onboarding, licensing, and contracting turnaround times through strong leadership and execution.
• Increase advisor satisfaction and responsiveness across operational departments.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain exceptional operational leaders.
• Strengthen collaboration and communication between operational teams and executive leadership.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team.

At Florida Financial Advisors, operations are the foundation that enables our advisors to change lives. This is an opportunity to lead exceptional people, develop future leaders, and oversee the teams that power one of the fastest-growing financial services organizations in the country.

If you are a servant leader who believes that great operations begin with great people, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is passionate about developing high-performing teams while delivering an exceptional advisor experience, we invite you to join us