Professional Development Specialist I

Want a meaningful career where you can make a difference? Edward Jones sounds perfect for you.

Collaboration. Autonomy. Opportunity. Words our headquarters associates use when talking about working at Edward Jones. Words that describe what it's like being part of a firm where everyone is aligned toward a singular focus: serving the client. And everyone is working to make the firm better together - as they grow as individuals. If these words resonate with you, we should talk. **

Job Overview**

Position Schedule: Full-Time

The Professional Development Specialist I is responsible for supporting Financial Advisors, Financial Advisor trainees, Client Support Team member and Home Office associates as they pursue regulatory and elective courses/professional designations to build their foundational industry knowledge, and business acumen. The Specialist will partner with business leaders, associates, and third-party vendors to ensure the development program continues to evolve to meet the needs of our branch teams and clients. The Specialist will lead and support moderate to large scale bodies of work associated with the various courses. **

Key Responsibilities**

• Provide 1:1 and group support to branch team members as they navigate courses on path to achieving a regulatory/elective professional designation. Helping them develop necessary knowledge, skills, attitude and behavior to build and grow their professional practice.
• Provide study support, coaching and encouragement to those completing the regulatory courses required to become both CIRO Securities and Insurance licensed representatives. The courses include:
• Canadian Securities Course (CSC)
• Conduct and Practices Handbook (CPH)
• Life License Qualification Program (LLQP)
• Ensure that all trainees receive a professional onboarding experience and are equipped with the required equipment, course materials, and resources necessary to complete their studies successfully.
• Collaborate with other Branch Development (BD) stakeholders to develop tailored learning plans that consider individual trainees' (i.e., experienced advisors, industry professionals and career changers) client transition periods and study requirements.
• Contribute to and provide coverage for our broader designations support, as needed, helping ensure business continuity when it comes to field support.
• Execute and lead various projects that support Onboarding and act as a representative for the department across the firm.
• Design, develop, and deliver engaging, multi-modal learning experiences that lead to learner adoption through a focus on moments that matter applications and activities that enable performance-based outcomes.
• Partner with learning and development colleagues, end-users, stakeholders, and leaders to design, develop, and deliver impactful learning and development solutions that achieve business outcomes.
• Creating and maintaining digital assets to enhance regulatory study and professional development programs
• Leading and supporting moderate to large scope bodies of work within Regulatory Study, at times spanning multiple areas, divisions, and outside vendors.
• Identifying, recommending, implementing, and maintaining solutions that support Regulatory Study and our Onboarding Program processes and strategies.
• Ensuring scope, timeline, and quality objectives are met while identifying and overcoming obstacles related to the implementation of strategies.

Skills/Requirements

Position Requirements:

• CSC, CPH and LLQP required (WME preferred)
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Financial Services Professional Designation is advantageous (e.g. CFP, QAFP, PFP, CIWM, CFA).
• Solid understanding and knowledge of the Canadian regulatory educational requirements.
• Knowledge of the financial industry
• 3+ years experience in designing, developing, curating, delivering and coaching adult learners, including counseling and providing feedback, in a distance learning format.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to use and learn a wide variety of digital tools and platforms, from standard tools such as Microsoft Office, to administrative systems, to basic content creation
• Excellent coaching and consulting skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with home office and field audiences, including senior leaders, with the ability to conduct engaging presentations
• Ability to influence without authority using empathy and data
• Demonstrated ability to champion innovation and change
• Strong planning, organizing, and time management skills to work on multiple tasks, juggle priorities, and track program performance working as part of a distributed remote team
• Agility to work independently, learn quickly, and apply learnings from previous experiences
• Understanding of the Firm's values, beliefs, policies, and procedures
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to track multiple program participants
• Has displayed ability to work on multiple tasks, juggle priorities and monitor one's own progress
• Ability to confidently discuss situations and recommendations with Firm leadership including General Partners
• Conflict resolution skills
• Possess strong communication skills for face-to-face, group presentations and 1:1 consulting by phone and video conference
• Understand Human Resources and Compliance policies

Awards & 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: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones **

About Us**

Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 8 million clients and 19,000 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 Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.

1Fortune 500, published June 2023, data as of December 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.