FP Canada - Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations

THE COMPANY

About FP Canada™
Established in 1995, FP Canada is a national not-for-profit education, certification, and professional oversight organization working in the public interest. FP Canada is dedicated to championing better financial wellness for all Canadians by leading the advancement of professional financial planning across the country. There are about 17,600 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals and about 1,200 QUALIFIED ASSOCIATE FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals as at April 1, 2026, who are held to FP Canada’s rigorous professional and ethical standards. 

At a time when society is facing unprecedented technological disruption in all walks of life, Canadians have a greater need than ever for personalized financial planning advice with a human touch. Our vision – IMAGINE2030 – of the future is one where all Canadians have access to professional financial planning and financial planning is unified, recognized in statute and deemed essential by society. Our Strategic Plan outlines the work we’ll do over the next five  years toward achieving that vision. 

At a high level, FP Canada sets the strategic direction for professional financial planning in Canada. FP Canada also achieves its mandate through two distinct divisions. The FP Canada Standards Council™ establishes and enforces financial planning standards, sets the certification requirements for professional financial planners and develops and delivers certification exams. The FP Canada Institute™ is dedicated to elevating the practice of financial planning through education and  practice support.  As a Canadian leader in competency-based education, the Institute offers complete learning paths that integrate technical and professional skills education in support of QAFP® certification and CFP® certification. Through programs the Institute also helps those starting their financial services journey and continuing education offerings for practicing professionals, the Institute helps individuals build the knowledge and skills to thrive at every stage of their career.

FP Canada operates in all provinces except Québec; however, through a strategic partnership with the Institute for Financial Planning, the only body in Québec authorized to confer financial planning diplomas, FP Canada’s standards are adopted nationally. 

In Ontario, FP Canada has been approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) as a credentialing body to grant and oversee Financial Planner title use under the Financial Professionals Title Protection Act, 2019. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification and QUALIFIED ASSOCIATE FINANCIAL PLANNER certification have been approved by FSRA for use of the Financial Planner title in Ontario.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations is responsible for developing and implementing business development strategies to support the growth and sustainability of FP Canada. This position is critical to ensuring continued success and growth of FP Canada and helping to achieve FP Canada’s mandate of advancing professional financial planning.  

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations will be responsible for developing and executing FP Canada’s business development strategy to grow FP Canada’s education, sponsorship and certification revenues, while also leading external engagement with key industry stakeholders to strengthen FP Canada’s market position, influence and partnerships. As a member on the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations exhibits strong leadership skills to build and strengthen relationships to showcase FP Canada’s value proposition to existing and prospective customers, partners and industry leaders. This executive is expected to demonstrate leadership internally by fostering a customer-centric tone and externally by serving as a visible and credible ambassador for FP Canada’s education and certification initiatives.

The Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations will also be responsible for leading FP Canada’s external market engagement in support of future growth, including cultivating and managing relationships with industry firms, sponsors, regulators, and other strategic stakeholders whose perspectives can inform market opportunities and strengthen FP Canada’s position in the profession. The role includes the continued growth of existing markets and customer relationships, responsibility for customer and student support services, the identification of new markets for current products, identifying opportunities for new and innovative offerings to meet the evolving educational requirements of prospective and existing CFP professionals and QAFP professionals, and the expansion into new partnerships and market opportunities.

THE CANDIDATE

• The ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, experience, skills and attributes:
• Progressively more responsible and accountable strategic executive leadership experience in business development, preferably in the banking, financial and insurance sectors.
• Well-developed strategic planning skills and ability to execute effectively on complex strategy(ies).
• Ability to operate at the strategic level yet be close enough to the details to be hands on in supporting business development and broader organizational initiatives. 
• Exceptional leadership/management and interpersonal skills.
• Superb oral and written communication, with seasoned presentation skills.
• Superior negotiating skills with the ability to establish and nurture productive, win-win relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong relationship building and vendor management skills combined with a proven ability to close deals to successful completion.
• Ability to work collaboratively across all areas within an organization.
• Leads by example and builds high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of the regulatory and political environment of the financial services industry is an asset.
• Ability to communicate in both official languages (English and French) is preferred.

The Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations role is a current existing vacancy.  LHH Knightsbridge does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please forward a confidential expression of interest (cover letter and current resume) to: Darlene Parnell, Executive Search Consultant at darlene.parnell@lhhknightsbridge.com.