Job Description Summary
The Vice President, Innovation is responsible for driving practical, scalable innovation across Raymond James Investment Management, with a focus on technology-enabled capabilities, artificial intelligence, and strategic partnerships. This role serves as a bridge between business and technology, ensuring innovation efforts deliver measurable value. The position emphasizes execution, governance, adoption, and change management - translating emerging capabilities into durable solutions that improve investment processes, operational workflows, sales effectiveness, and client outcomes.
Job Description
Responsibilities:
- Define and execute a firmwide innovation strategy aligned with RJIM’s business priorities, operating model, and regulatory obligations.
- Lead the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence and data-enabled capabilities across investment, operational, and client-facing functions.
- Identify, prioritize, and guide use cases spanning investment research, risk management, operational efficiency, and advisor and client experience.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year strategic implementation roadmap for innovation and technology-enabled capabilities.
- Establish and lead firmwide training and enablement programs that educate associates on how to effectively leverage technology, AI, and data to improve their roles and workflows.
- Track adoption, usage, and progress of innovation initiatives across the firm, using clear metrics and reporting to inform prioritization and investment decisions.
- Lead cross-functional technology and innovation prioritization committees to align demand, capacity, and strategic value.
- Assess blockchain and tokenization use cases in asset management and lead implementation efforts for applicable platform capabilities and transaction processing solutions.
- Serve as a senior internal advisor on emerging capabilities, including AI, automation, and new platforms, balancing innovation with appropriate governance and control.
- Partner with product and investment teams on platform and capability enhancements, including RJIM’s proprietary risk technology platform, tax loss harvesting strategies, and other emerging technologies.
- Identify, evaluate, and manage fintech and technology partnerships, including vendor diligence and pilot governance.
- Coordinate with Raymond James Financial’s AI and technology teams to best leverage enterprise-wide resources, infrastructure, tools, and best practices.
- Drive change management, communication, and executive engagement to ensure adoption and sustained impact.
Knowledge of:
- Investment management products, platforms, and operating workflows.
- Artificial intelligence concepts, capabilities, limitations, and governance considerations.
- Technology-enabled capabilities across investment, operational, and client-facing functions.
- Regulatory expectations, internal controls, and the roles of technology, data, risk, compliance, legal, and information security teams in a regulated environment.
- Managed account platforms or advisor-facing technology tools. (Preferred)
- Tax-aware investment strategies, including tax loss harvesting. (Preferred)
Skills in:
- Executive communication, facilitation, and change management.
- Leading cross-functional prioritization, roadmap development, metrics, and reporting.
- Identifying and prioritizing business use cases and translating them into scalable innovation and technology-enabled capabilities.
- Vendor diligence, pilot governance, and fintech or technology partnership evaluation.
Ability to:
- Drive cross-functional initiatives through influence rather than direct authority.
- Partner effectively with risk, compliance, legal, technology, data, and information security stakeholders.
- Bridge technology and business leadership to ensure innovation efforts deliver measurable value.
- Translate emerging capabilities into durable solutions that improve investment processes, operational workflows, sales effectiveness, and client outcomes.
- Balance innovation with appropriate governance and control.
- Drive adoption and sustained impact through change management, communication, and executive engagement.
Educational/Previous Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 10+ years of experience in financial services, asset management, wealth management, or a related regulated industry.
- Demonstrated senior-level leadership experience driving cross-functional initiatives through influence rather than direct authority.
- Experience leading technology-enabled transformation, innovation, or platform initiatives in a regulated environment.
- Advanced degree preferred.
- Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training approved by Human Resources.
- Advanced degree preferred.
Education
Bachelor’s: Accounting, Bachelor’s: Business Administration, Bachelor’s: Finance
Work Experience
Certifications
Travel
Workstyle
Hybrid
The total compensation for this position includes base salary or wages, and may include components such as additional compensation (cash or equity), discretionary bonuses, or commissions. This position is eligible for a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision; life insurance; critical illness insurance and accident insurance; disability benefits; retirement savings; paid time off (including vacation, holidays, and sick leave); and parental leave. Eligibility for benefits and specific offerings may vary based on position and employment status. To view more details of the benefits offered, visit Myrjbenefits.com.
At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view.
We expect our associates at all levels to:
• Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
• Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
• Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
• Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
• Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm
At Raymond James – as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates. When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.
