Director of Operations

Director of Operations | Wealth Management

Location: Red Bank / Colts Neck, NJ

Employment Type: Full-Time

Leadership Opportunity | Potential Path to COO

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a well-established, growing independent wealth management firm in the Red Bank / Colts Neck, NJ area seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead its day-to-day operations, manage and develop employees, and help position the organization for continued growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on leader who enjoys managing people, improving processes, implementing technology, and helping business owners operate more efficiently.

Working closely with the firm's partners, this individual will play a critical role in overseeing personnel, strengthening operational infrastructure, and driving accountability throughout the organization.

For the right candidate, this position offers the potential to grow into a Chief Operating Officer (COO) role.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Oversee, coach, mentor, and manage the firm's non-advisor employees, with potential involvement in advisor management.
• Serve as a key liaison between ownership and employees, helping ensure effective communication and accountability.
• Lead employee performance reviews, hiring, onboarding, professional development, and personnel decisions.
• Address employee challenges, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive, productive work environment.

Operations & Process Improvement

• Oversee daily operations and ensure the firm runs efficiently across departments.
• Evaluate existing workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement improvements.
• Develop scalable processes and systems to support continued growth.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges and proactively resolve issues.
• Establish performance metrics to measure operational effectiveness.
• Evaluate and implement technology, automation, and AI-driven solutions to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Manage vendor relationships, assess performance, and evaluate return on investment.
• Collaborate with the firm's CFO/finance team on budgeting, expense management, and operational planning.
• Work closely with firm leadership on strategic initiatives and organizational improvements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operations leadership and employee management, preferably within wealth management, an RIA, financial services, or a related professional-services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and develop employees while holding teams accountable.
• Strong understanding of business operations, workflow management, and process improvement.
• Comfortable evaluating technology and implementing solutions that improve efficiency.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Experience managing vendors, budgets, and operational expenses is highly desirable.
• Securities licenses are not required.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Leadership Impact: Take ownership of operations and play a meaningful role in shaping the firm's future.
• Potential COO Advancement: Opportunity to grow into a broader executive leadership position.
• Established, Growing Firm: Join a successful independent wealth management organization with a strong foundation.
• Direct Access to Ownership: Work closely with the firm's partners and influence important business decisions.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Attractive base salary, performance-based bonus opportunity, and benefits