Senior Strategic Implementation Manager

About the role

Kestra Financial is a wealth‑management platform that empowers independent financial professionals—including traditional and hybrid RIAs—to grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client service. The Senior Strategic Implementation Manager serves as a pivotal execution leader accountable for disciplined delivery of Kestra’s highest‑priority strategic initiatives in investment products and platform capabilities. This hands‑on, high‑impact role drives new product launches, coordinates cross‑functional projects, and champions agile, Scrum‑like cadences and robust portfolio governance to achieve measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end governance and planning for priority investment product launches and strategic platform implementation initiatives from concept through post‑launch optimization and benefits realization.
• Lead coordination and execution of comprehensive launch campaigns, aligning go‑to‑market activities such as sales enablement, marketing communications, advisor training, distribution strategy, and adoption tracking.
• Establish and maintain a prioritized portfolio of strategic initiatives, driving rigorous sequencing, capacity alignment, funding discipline, and proactive trade‑off decisions.
• Partner with Product Management to translate product strategy and roadmap into executable implementation plans with clear milestones, dependencies, and success criteria.
• Facilitate high‑performing cross‑functional project teams across Technology, Compliance & Legal, Business, and Operations & Finance workstreams.
• Map and manage complex dependencies, risks, and interdependencies; proactively identify and remove blockers while fostering alignment in a matrixed environment.
• Ensure every initiative incorporates appropriate compliance guardrails, risk controls, audit readiness, and change‑management processes.
• Design, implement, and continuously mature agile delivery operating models (Scrum cadences, Kanban workflow transparency, scaled frameworks for larger efforts).
• Stand up consistent governance rhythms and forums, including steering committees, launch‑readiness reviews, risk reviews, and clear escalation paths to executive leadership.
• Drive adoption of modern agile/project tools (Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps, or equivalent) to improve delivery velocity, predictability, collaboration, and quality.
• Champion an iterative, outcome‑focused delivery approach that balances structure and compliance with speed and adaptability.
• Build and operate a portfolio “control tower” capability, delivering timely, decision‑oriented reporting and dashboards on status, milestones, risks, financial performance, and business impact.
• Define, track, and report on key business outcome metrics (e.g., new product net flows/AUM/revenue, advisor adoption rates, client satisfaction/NPS, time‑to‑market, compliance adherence, platform utilization).
• Proactively surface execution risks and capacity constraints; lead structured issue resolution, corrective‑action planning, and recovery efforts.
• Prepare and present high‑quality materials for executive leadership, steering committees, and governance forums.
• Instill a culture of genuine accountability where teams are measured on delivery of agreed business outcomes and value realization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or Software Engineering.
• 2+ years experience in technical product management within an Agile environment.
• 5+ years experience in wealth management, investment operations, or trading.
• 3–5+ years progressive leadership experience in strategic program/portfolio management, product implementation, launch execution, or enterprise transformation within wealth‑management, RIA platforms, investment product development, fintech, or similarly complex regulated financial‑services environments.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple end‑to‑end launches of investment products or major platform capabilities, including coordination across technology builds, compliance/regulatory approvals, and go‑to‑market execution.
• Direct experience with alternatives/private‑markets access, model portfolios, structured solutions, or advisor‑facing technology platforms within a broker‑dealer organization (strongly preferred).
• Track record of implementing or significantly maturing agile delivery practices (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, hybrid, or tailored approaches) with quantifiable improvements in predictability, velocity, and time‑to‑value.

Certifications and Licenses

• Series 7, 63, or 66 required within 2 years.
• Series 65 preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits with a large employer (over 1,600 employees nationwide).
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Comprehensive health‑insurance coverage.
• Supportive, collaborative environment committed to professional excellence.
• Opportunities to help clients navigate meaningful financial decisions with confidence.
• Training, development, and long‑term growth opportunities within the firm.
• Tuition reimbursement for qualified expenses.

Kestra Values

Our mission is powering financial independence, enabling the growth and success of investing clients and the advisors who serve them. We live our values every day: Serve, Make it Happen, and One Team.