Managing Director, Head of Strategic Growth

San Diego, CA (On-site)

$225K/yr – $265K/yrSenior Level15+ years expFull time

Posted 5 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive Cetera's referral growth from a senior, cross‑functional leader overseeing strategy, incentives, governance, and scalable programs.

  • Own the referral strategy and full operating model
  • Must-have: 15+ years leading wealth/financial services with multi-channel programs
  • Standout: Senior stakeholder influence, cross‑business collaboration, and regulatory awareness

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Define and own the Referral Utility vision and strategy, including objectives, scope, and success metrics.
  • Build and implement the referral framework, integrating with existing channels and programs.
  • Partner with Growth, Marketing, and business leaders to align lead generation, referral velocity, and campaigns.
  • Develop strategies to increase referrals from CPA affiliates, professional networks, and bank partnerships.
  • Activate referral opportunities within Cetera’s retirement plan participant base.
  • Coordinate with Operations, Compliance, and Service teams to ensure smooth execution and regulatory adherence.
  • Design incentive structures and goal-setting frameworks to drive adoption and performance.
  • Track and report referral metrics through Quarterly Business Reviews; analyze performance and optimize.
  • Serve as subject matter expert on referral best practices, compliance, and scalability.
  • Drive measurable growth in qualified leads, conversion rates, and AUA/AUM inflows.
  • Oversee CRM reporting and ensure data integrity, transparency, and timely dashboards.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team; coach advisors on referral best practices.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and client impact consistent with One Cetera values.
  • Champion inclusion, challenge processes, and leverage data-driven decision-making to improve efficiency.
  • Ensure risk controls, governance, and compliance throughout the referral lifecycle.
  • Allocate resources effectively and mobilize organizational capabilities to deliver the full range of Cetera solutions.

Requirements

  • 15+ years of leadership in wealth management, private banking, or broader financial services.
  • Proven success building and scaling referral or client acquisition programs in complex, multi‑channel environments.
  • Experience leveraging large networks, strategic partnerships, and cross‑business synergies to drive growth.
  • Strong executive presence; ability to influence senior stakeholders across diverse business lines.
  • Deep understanding of client segments, advisor platforms (broker‑dealer and RIA), and applicable regulatory frameworks.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

    Benefits

    • Inclusive health, dental, vision and life insurance plans built to support diverse lifestyles, offer preventative care, and protect against hardship.
    • Easy access to mental health benefits to meet our team members and their families where they are.
    • 20 plus days of paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and 2 paid wellness days to give our employees the time they need to stay close with their loved ones, recharge, and give back to their communities.
    • 401(k) Savings plan with a generous company contribution (up to 5%), and access to a financial professional to offer our employees the opportunity to plan-ahead for a strong financial future well beyond their working years.
    • Paid parental leave to support all team members with birth, adoption, and foster.
    • Health Savings and Flexible Spending Account options to help you save money on healthcare, daycare, commuting, and more.
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP), LifeLock, Pet Insurance and more.
    Cetera Financial Group logo

    Cetera Financial Group

    We’re enablers. Mentors. Dream builders. Our purpose is to turn financial aspirations into reality. Within our community lies a vibrant wellspring of growth and opportunity for financial professionals, financial institutions, and individual investors alike.As a premier financial services firm, we don’t just deliver financial technology, bespoke guidance, research and market intelligence, and collaborative client-service platforms. We build environments where ideas thrive, connections flourish, and ambitions become remarkable achievements. Driven to deliver unwavering support and innovative solutions to help people live their purpose, we empower each other and the communities around us to bring a stronger tomorrow to life.___________________________“Cetera Financial Group” refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms are members FINRA/SIPC. Cetera Financial Group is located at 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101. Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

    Founded in 2010
    San Diego, California, USA
    2.5K employees (118 in marketing)

    Traffic Signals

    Monthly Visitors
    63.5K
    Monthly Google Ads Budget
    $6.4K
    Traffic Source Mix
    Search
    44.2%
    Direct
    51%
    Referral
    4%
    Social
    0.3%
    Paid
    0.4%

    Headcount Trend

    Current headcount: ~2.5K

    Marketing Team

    Marketing Team Size
    105 (4% of company)
    Median Career Experience
    13.5 years
    Median Tenure
    3 years
    Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
    2

    Funding

    Last Raise
    Private Equity, 2 years ago

    Funding History

    • Oct 2023
      Private Equity

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