Head of the Rathbones Institute

At Rathbones, we help people invest their money well, so they can live well. That means more than financial returns – it’s about helping people feel confident in their decisions and supported in their future. We don’t just manage money, we guide people through life’s big moments, helping them stay on track and focus on what matters most.

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading wealth managers, with over £109bn* in assets under management and 20+ offices across the UK and Channel Islands. We’re a FTSE 250 company with national reach and a local feel – and we’re growing.
*As of June 2025

Role Title: Head of the Rathbones Institute

Division: Wealth Management

Location: London

Contract: Permanent

About the Role

The Head of the Rathbones Institute has a key role in the strategic ambitions of the company.  The Institute is being developed to equip our people with world‑class skills, knowledge, confidence and insight - enhancing client experience, accelerating revenue growth, and strengthening the commercial capability of the firm in its ambition to be the best wealth manager, by far.

The Institute will be a driver for delivering client facing talent into the business.  It will operate as a commercial unit within Rathbones Wealth, with a shadow P&L with growth and people performance metrics. The role will build and lead a market‑relevant accelerated development institute that directly strengthens Rathbones’ revenue performance, talent pipeline, and long‑term competitiveness.

We are seeking a highly commercial, progressive and entrepreneurial leader with an established track record who can both build and steward the Institute, building it  from the ground up, shaping its identity working across the business to create the programmes, attract the talent, and create growth in the wider business, acting as its most compelling advocate internally and externally. The role requires a leader who can shape the intellectual and cultural identity of the Institute, one who attracts exceptional talent while upholding and advancing the firm’s standards, legacy, and reputation.

What you’ll be responsible for

Commercial & Strategic Leadership

• Define and deliver a commercially driven vision and strategy.
• Manage the Institute’s P&L with disciplined ROI and measurable impact on revenue, productivity and client outcomes
• Build and track metrics that link capability uplift directly to commercial outcomes.
• Position the Institute as a differentiator in attracting and developing talent.
• Act as an ambassador for the Institute and for the Rathbones brand with internal and external stakeholders

Programme & Curriculum Design

• Create modern development pathways that rapidly builds commercial confidence and client facing readiness across the core adviser roles in Wealth Management.
• Develop an accelerated route for career‑changers.
• Integrate real‑world commercial scenarios.
• Ensure qualifications support client engagement and revenue.

Faculty & Delivery Model

• Ensure all delivery is commercially relevant and aligned with our Wealth strategy
• Build a blended faculty of internal leaders and external experts.
• Equip internal contributors for coaching and development delivery.
• Maintain high‑quality delivery standards.

Institute Operations

• Lead programme design, delivery, operations, reporting, and learner experience.
• Establish governance and MI systems that tracks commercial readiness and ROI.
• Manage external providers and digital platforms.
• Ensure the Institute’s structure enables future scaling

Talent Acquisition & Pipeline Development

• Partner with Talent Acquisition to attract diverse, high‑potential talent from diverse industries and background.
• Oversee assessment, onboarding, qualification progress, and deployment.

Internal Talent Development

• Enable all Rathbones colleagues to access the Institute to accelerate their commercial capability, market confidence, and client‑engagement skills.
• Deliver targeted interventions that uplift commercial performance.

About you

If you meet some of these criteria and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply

• Senior leadership experience in Wealth Management or related sectors.
• Ability to run or build a commercial learning function.
• Strong knowledge of financial markets and advisory models.
• Experience with external partners and digital learning tools.
• Track record of attracting diverse talent.
• High credibility as an ambassador for a leading FS brand.

Our offer to you

We want everyone at Rathbones to fulfil their potential, in an environment where you are proud to work and feel like you belong.

We offer a comprehensive remuneration package, which we review regularly, and benefits include:

• A company pension - 9% non-contributory or 10% if you contribute 5%
• Private medical insurance – Individual on joining, family after 1 year’s service
• Life assurance  - 8 x salary
• Income protection – 75 % salary
• Company share scheme
• Discretionary bonus
• Flexible holidays – purchase up to 5 additional days
• Green Car Scheme
• Family friendly policies – enhanced family leave for parents & carers
• Study support – study days and funding for courses and qualifications
• Season travel ticket loans
• Volunteering days
• Gym discounts
• Other voluntary benefits you can choose to suit you 

Our employees can choose to take part in various social groups and communities to support their wellbeing, growth, development and sense of community. These include:

• Sports & Social Committees, such as cricket, football, netball, running, yoga, quiz nights, charity bake sales and much more.
• Inclusion Networks that help us drive change within the organisation such as Gender Balance, Multicultural, Abilities Count, Pride, Social Mobility, Generations, Menopause Matters@Rathbones’ and Armed Forces. 
• The NextGen IM Network, which brings together a community of trainees from across the UK, who are all at the early stages of their careers and offers development opportunities, exposure across the business as well as peer support and connection.

Life at Rathbones

We aim to become an employer of choice for the wealth management sector, to achieve this we are working hard to build a diverse, equal, and inclusive workplace that motivates, develops and embraces the strengths of all our colleagues. Being part of Rathbones means you will join a team of passionate professionals in a successful culture that cares for its people. At Rathbones, we provide meaningful work, opportunities, and a voice to all.

We are committed to building a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities and encourage applications from all backgrounds. We welcome individuals who share our values.

We’re a Disability Confident Employer (level 2) under the UK Government scheme. This means we’ve signed up to a set of commitments around how we recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities. Find out more about the Government Scheme online, click here. If you require adjustments to apply for a role at Rathbones, please contact us via recruit@rathbones.com to let us know what adjustments you may need.

Mission

We believe in playing the long game. That means building consistent results, earning trust and doing the right thing — for our clients, our colleagues and the communities we’re part of.

Our values shape how we work:
- We aim high
- We get it done
- We show we care
- We do the right thing

These aren’t just words on a wall. They guide how we treat each other, how we make decisions and how we build relationships that last.

We will close this advert once we have received enough applications for the next stage. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.