Managing Director, Referral Programs

The Managing Director of Referral Programs will design, launch, and scale a firm‑wide referral and lead‑generation strategy - creating the operating model, incentives, governance, and technology enablement that drive measurable growth. This senior leader will deepen collaboration across business lines, streamline referral intake and routing, and ensure a consistent, compliant client experience.  This role will be based in Dallas, TX | San Diego, CA. 

Key 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.

Qualifications
•    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.

Compensation Range: 
The base annual salary range for this role is $225,000 to $265,000, plus a competitive performance-based bonus.  Base annual salary depends on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and location. Base annual salary may also differ significantly due to geography and cost of labor considerations.

#LI-Hybrid
 

About Us

What we give you in return:

Not many teams can say that they support people’s dreams coming to life… We happen to do that every day. And as important as we know your career is, we recognize that there’s a whole lot more to life. To ensure that our Employees can make the most of their time outside of working hours, we offer a competitive salary and for full-time roles, a benefits package including:

• 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.

About Cetera Financial Group:

Cetera Financial Group® ("Cetera") is a leading network of independent retail broker-dealers empowering the delivery of objective financial advice to individuals, families and company retirement plans across the country through trusted financial advisors and financial institutions. Cetera is one of the largest independent financial advisor networks in the nation by number of advisors, as well as a leading provider of retail services to the investment programs of banks and credit unions.

Through its multiple distinct firms, Cetera offers independent and institutions-based advisors the benefits of a large, established broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, while serving advisors and institutions in a way that is customized to their needs and aspirations. Advisor support resources offered through Cetera include award-winning wealth management and advisory platforms, comprehensive broker-dealer and registered investment adviser services, practice management support, and innovative technology.

"Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Wealth Services LLC (f/k/a Cetera Advisor Networks), Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions, or Cetera Investors. All firms are members FINRA/SIPC.

Cetera Financial Group is committed to providing an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. For us, this is the only acceptable way to do business. Accordingly, all employment decisions at Cetera Financial Group, including those relating to hiring, promotion, transfers, benefits, compensation, and placement, will be made without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, religion, religious dress and/or grooming, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, U.S. military status, political affiliation, or any other class protected by state and/or federal law.

Agencies please note: this recruitment assignment is being managed directly by Cetera’s Talent Acquisition team. We will reach out to our preferred agency partners in the rare instance we require additional talent options. Your respect for this process is appreciated.

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