Head of Advisor Onboarding & Development

Vanguard; Malvern (Chester County); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks an accomplished executive to build and lead the advisor onboarding and development strategy for Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Wealth Management within Personal Wealth. This role leads onboarding, training, readiness, coaching, and career progression for advisors and leadership.

Based in Malvern, PA, the role partners across HR, Compliance, Product, and Technology to deliver scalable, best-in-class programs that instill Vanguard's client-first philosophy while advancing a

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in wealth management or advisor development.
• Deep knowledge of financial planning and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience building and scaling advisor training programs.
• Experience leading teams and influencing senior stakeholders across complex organizations.
• Strong executive presence with exceptional communication and coaching capabilities.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• MBA or master’s degree preferred.
• Experience building advisor academies or enterprise learning organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and execution of onboarding and professional development programs.
• Build scalable learning pathways from entry-level through senior advisor and specialist roles.
• Design training focused on client engagement, financial planning, advice delivery, and relationship management across channels.
• Develop training to move advisors to a consultative sales mindset and connect clients with advisory solutions.
• Develop advisor expertise in Vanguard’s investment philosophy, products, services, and tools.
• Build capabilities in practice management, client segmentation, referrals, book development, and intergenerational wealth relationships.
• Lead advisor technology enablement including CRM platforms and planning tools.
• Establish readiness standards, coaching frameworks, certification requirements, and performance measures.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of trainers, coaches, and instructional designers.
• Partners across Personal Wealth, HR, Compliance, Risk, Product, and Technology to deliver advisor excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Executive presence

Communication

Change leadership

Strategic thinking

Advisor development

Learning & development

Stakeholder management

Education

Undergraduate degree

MBA

CFP®

CFA®

CIMA®

CPWA®

Tools

CRM software

Planning tools

Technology platforms

Job description

Drives the delivery of transformational change by providing leadership and direction to large, complex, multi-stakeholder programs focused on overarching improvements to processes, operations, or teams. Leads and directs the activities of multiple large departments or several managers and specialists.

Vanguard is seeking an accomplished executive leader to build and lead the advisor development strategy for Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Wealth Management within Personal Wealth. This role is responsible for creating a best-in-class advisor development program that supports advisors & advisor leadership from onboarding through advanced career stages, ensuring excellence in onboarding, training, readiness, coaching, and professional growth. The Head of Advisor Onboarding & Development will establish the architecture, programs, and standards that enable advisors to deliver exceptional client experiences while building deep client relationships grounded in Vanguard's investment philosophy and advice methodology. A key mandate is helping advisors evolve from a service-oriented mindset to a proactive, consultative sales mindset while preserving Vanguard's client-first approach.

What It Takes

• 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.
• Partners across Personal Wealth, Human Resources, Compliance, Risk, Product, and Technology to deliver advisor excellence.

Required 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.

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection.

We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.