Project Leader - Firm Strategy

Opportunity Overview

Firm Strategy Project Delivery is seeking a project leader to lead and manage multiple projects across the division and firm as the key business contact on projects to align business efforts and strategic initiatives. This role is cross-functional, working with leaders across the enterprise to ensure resources and project deliverables are met.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading medium to large projects simultaneously, with a medium to high degree of risk, visibility and urgency within a functional area or at times spanning multiple areas, divisions or outside vendors. Leading project coordinators and/or project team members in completion of medium to large scope projects.
• Providing leadership, development and mentoring to team through modeling of best practices and providing timely feedback.
• Ability to rapidly learn about a new area in order to lead a project effectively.
• Driving and recommending improvements in project management and industry "best in class" practices within the firm.
• Driving business efforts. This role is the key business contact on the project.
• Identifying major and detailed project tasks, critical path, contentions and resources to manage the tasks across multiple sub-projects.
• Ensuring project schedule, scope and quality objectives are met by monitoring, using metrics and controls to measure progress, taking corrective action and escalating issues when necessary. Assess trade-offs to scope using cost / benefit analysis and make recommendations to senior leaders.
• Responsible for working with other leaders and senior leadership to obtain the necessary resources to achieve project objectives. Responsible for allocating, onboarding, assigning and oversight of project resources to ensure project objectives are met.
• Planning, identifying, analyzing and resolving project issues and risks.

  Determining and executing prevention and mitigation strategies, as appropriate.

• Scheduling and facilitating meetings, communicate progress and develop solutions to meet project goals. This may be related to a large project with multiple sub-projects.
• Providing timely communication of relevant data to senior leadership for decision making.

  Establishing and maintain effective communications and relationships across multiple areas, divisions, outside vendors and project leaders/teams who are working on sub-projects within a project.

• Leading vendor selection in a project with a large number of vendors. Managing vendor relationship throughout the life of the project.

EEO Statement

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.

Company Description

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.

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: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones

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

Position Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is preferred.
• MBA or graduate degree preferred.
• Project management certification (PMP and/or Company Specific Certifications) preferred.
• Experience with Clarity, JIRA, AHA desired.
• Possess a working knowledge of project and product management life cycles. Has the ability to utilize and decipher which method to use and when to use Agile (SAFe) or Waterfall Methodologies.
• Experience in Change Management, ADKAR or Prosci preferred.
• 3+ years of experience leading projects including project cost / benefit reviews.
• 3+ years of industry or position-related experience. Previous leadership experience preferred.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills; effectively communicates with project team, other project leaders, multiple areas, divisions and outside vendors. Incorporates effective listening and collaboration skills.
• Superior presentation skills preferred.
• Superior organization and coordination skills.
• Ability to independently identify, prioritize, monitor, communicate, and/or resolve elements that can impact a project.

Problem Solving:

• Effectively analyze and resolve complex problems while working with divisions across the firm. Ability to identify, prioritize, monitor, communicate and/or resolve issues that impact medium to large projects that require facilitation among multiple areas.
• Ability to look at business objectives and provide solutions to problems that are right for the firm. Thinks creatively to find potential solutions and examines the possibilities and outcomes before submitting a recommendation.

Decision Making:

• Make and communicate complex decisions and/or recommendations with consideration for risks and long-term impacts. Some decisions may be in gray areas where little or no guidance is available. Engage appropriate leadership when necessary. Responsible for the day-to-day decisions for their projects, as well as oversight of other project leaders' decisions.

Span of Influence:

• Position may have influence over projects/programs that could impact the entire division/firm/clients.
• Affects and interacts with all levels of the firm. They are in frequent contact with partners, leaders and associates in other departments and divisions. This role may have a significant amount of interaction with senior leadership.

Salary Information

At Edward Jones, we value and respect our associates and their contributions, and we recognize individual efforts through a rewards program that promotes a long-term career, financial security and well-being. Visit our career site to learn more about our total compensation approach, which in addition to base salary, typically includes benefits, bonuses and profit sharing. The salary range for this role is based on national data and actual pay is based on skills, experience, education, and other relevant factors for a potential new associate: