Job Description

Recruiter
Kristy Gilmore
Opportunity Overview
A Director of Optimization and Enablement in Canada Operations plays a pivotal role in ensuring that operational teams-led by the Head of Core Operations and the overall Canada Operations GP-are equipped, aligned, and empowered to deliver both day-to-day excellence and long-term strategic transformation. This is achieved by leading a high-performing team focused on strategic enablement, project and portfolio leadership, subject matter expertise, operational optimization, and technology and vendor management. This role will provide strategic leadership at the Canada Operations level, shaping business direction, managing risk, and influencing strategy, organizational structure, and talent development. This role will succeed through careful orchestration and collaboration with senior digital leaders, strategic vendors, and a wide range of internal partners including but not limited to Finance, Technology, Infrastructure, Architecture, Security, Digital Product Management, Cloud, Data, AI, Compliance, Wealth Management and Field Management.
Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Enablement: Align operational capabilities with the strategic objectives of the Canada Business Unit and the broader firm. Lead the development and execution of business plans, including the creation and delivery of a roadmap for technology and tool enhancements. Propose and implement solutions in close partnership with Canada Operations senior leaders and the Canada Operations GP to support both regulatory compliance and growth-oriented initiatives. Collaborate with key stakeholders across Operations, Technology, Compliance, Legal, Wealth Management, and other functions to ensure all initiatives are scalable, compliant, and centered on delivering an exceptional client and advisor experience.
• Project & Portfolio Leadership: In the context of Canada Operations, oversee a portfolio of mid- to large-scale initiatives, both mandatory (e.g., regulatory) and discretionary (e.g., platform modernization). Ensure effective project governance, resource allocation, and budget management. Provides oversight of project tracking tools (e.g., Clarity) and reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Operational Optimization: Identify and implement process improvements in partnership with Canada Operations senior leaders to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and improve client and advisor experiences. Leads quality assurance, control testing, and risk mitigation efforts across brokerage operations. Drives continuous improvement through data analysis, feedback loops, and performance metrics.
• People Leadership & Capability Building: Lead a high-performing team that supports both run-the-business and change-the-business efforts. Mentor and develops talent, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration. Ensure teams have the tools, training, and support needed to succeed
• Stakeholder Engagement: Works in partnership with leaders/areas within the division (includes directors, GPs and various levels of executive leadership), across divisions, and externally with vendors, regulators, strategic partners and auditors, to execute objectives and impact current business results.
• Workforce Management: Strategic Workforce Management to develop and implement an annual staffing strategy that supports successful achievement of objectives in their specific area of responsibilities, including but not limited to leaders, associates, contractors, and vendor partners.
• Technology & Vendor Management: Partner with internal tech teams and external vendors to deliver solutions (including run-the-business enhancements) that support operational goals. Evaluate and govern vendor relationships to ensure service quality, compliance, and value delivery. Champion the adoption of new tools and platforms that enhance operational capabilities.
• Financial Stewardship & Governance: Understands firm financials and areas contribution including key drivers. Accountable for certain aspects of financial budget and activity manages key drivers to ensure adherence to budget. Financial stewardship mindset and leads with understanding financial implications and risk/benefit to business decisions. Critical thinking applied to identify OE and FTE savings
• Manage Escalations and Exceptions: This is the position to which high-risk, high complexity decisions are escalated for consultation.
• Industry Involvement: Actively participates on various Industry Committees and drives industry initiatives to proactively address regulatory or client service matters

Position Type
Home Office - Canada
Position Schedule
Full-Time
Company Description
Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500 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 .
Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
External Flexible Work Option(s)
Hybrid
Awards and 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:
Check out our Canadian awards and accolades:
Position Requirements

• 11+ years leadership preferred
• 15+ years financial industry experience preferred
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Canadian Practice Handbook (CPH) held or obtained within 6 months
• Canadian Securities Course (CSC) held or obtained within 9 months
• Insurance Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) held or obtained within 1 year
• Partner, Director, Sr Officer Course (PDO) held or obtained within 18 months
• In depth knowledge of brokerage operations and financial industry processes(security processing, cash processing, trade operations, packaged products, corporate actions,safekeeping, client reporting and custody), procedures, relevant rules and regulations, and automation within brokerage operations.
• In-depth risk management associated with new and existing process, product and service development and management.
• Brings strong technology acumen, with the ability to assess, influence, and implement automation and digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency and scalability. Must also have a solid understanding of the firm-wide risk and control structure and how technology can be leveraged to strengthen it.
• Financial stewardship mindset and leads with understanding financial implications and risk/benefit to business decisions.
• Critical thinking applied to identify OE and FTE savings. Understands firm financials and areas contribution including key drivers.
• Demonstrated ability to identify emerging gaps in systems, capacity, control environments, regulatory compliance, and associate capabilities, and to proactively develop new procedures and systems to ensure compliance and operational resilience.
• Expert in collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration.

Salary Information
Edward Jones' compensation and benefits package includes medical and prescription drug, dental, vision, voluntary benefits (such as accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness), short- and long-term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage. Short- and long-term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage are provided at no cost to associates. Edward Jones offers a 401k retirement plan, and tax-advantaged accounts: health savings account, and flexible spending account. Edward Jones observes ten paid holidays and provides 15 days of vacation for new associates beginning on January 1 of each year, as well as sick time, personal days, and a paid day for volunteerism. Associates may be eligible for bonuses and profit sharing. All associates are eligible for the firm's Employee Assistance Program. For more information on the Benefits available to Edward Jones associates, please visit our .

Skills Required