Director, Advisor Technology Integrations

Lead with Purpose. Partner with Impact. 

Kestra Holdings is seeking a Director of Technology Integration to lead technology strategy, due diligence, and post-acquisition integration across our growing network of acquired firms.

This leader will be responsible for defining and executing the technology integration playbook that enables operational scale, advisor success, and long-term enterprise value creation. The role requires a combination of strategic thinking, technology leadership, M&A experience, vendor management, and execution discipline.

As the technology leader for M&A integrations, you will partner closely with Executive Leadership, Corporate Development, Operations, Compliance, Security, Product, and Engineering teams to evaluate acquisition opportunities, assess technology risk, and drive firms onto a common technology ecosystem. This individual will play a critical role in reducing complexity, improving advisor experience, and accelerating the realization of acquisition synergies.

The ideal candidate has deep experience leading technology transformations, integrating acquired businesses, and influencing senior stakeholders while balancing business objectives, operational realities, and technical requirements.

What you’ll Do:

M&A Technology Strategy & Due Diligence

• Lead all technology due diligence activities for prospective acquisitions.
• Assess target firms' technology ecosystems, infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, data architecture, vendor relationships, and operational maturity.
• Identify integration risks, technical debt, contractual obligations, and scalability concerns that may impact transaction value or execution.
• Partner with Corporate Development and Executive Leadership to provide recommendations on technology-related acquisition risks and opportunities.
• Develop integration cost estimates, synergy models, and technology transformation roadmaps to support investment decisions.

Technology Integration Leadership

• Own the technology integration strategy for acquired firms from deal close through full operational integration.
• Develop and continuously improve the M&A technology integration framework, governance model, and playbooks.
• Establish integration priorities that balance advisor experience, operational efficiency, security, and business outcomes.
• Lead complex migration initiatives involving CRM, portfolio management, financial planning, reporting, security, infrastructure, data platforms, and advisor-facing applications.
• Ensure acquisitions are successfully transitioned to Bluespring and Kestra preferred technology standards while minimizing disruption to advisors and end clients.

Enterprise Architecture & Platform Consolidation

• Define future-state technology architectures that support scale, growth, and advisor productivity.
• Drive platform rationalization and vendor consolidation efforts to reduce technology complexity and operating costs.
• Establish standards for data integration, API frameworks, cybersecurity controls, and platform interoperability.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to modernize the advisor technology experience.

Vendor & Strategic Partner Management

• Lead technology vendor evaluations, selection processes, contract negotiations, and ongoing governance.
• Build executive relationships with strategic technology partners.
• Hold vendors accountable to roadmap commitments, service levels, implementation quality, and business outcomes.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives while ensuring advisor needs and business requirements are met.

Program Leadership & Governance

• Serve as executive sponsor for technology integration programs and cross-functional initiatives.
• Establish executive-level reporting, integration scorecards, milestones, and risk management processes.
• Lead steering committee discussions and provide regular updates to senior leadership.
• Create visibility into integration progress, dependencies, risks, and mitigation plans.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of integration leads, architects, consultants, project managers, and technology specialists.
• Foster a culture of accountability, execution, partnership, and continuous improvement.
• Influence leaders across Product, Technology, Operations, Compliance, and Advisor Technology organizations.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executives and business stakeholders on technology strategy and integration decisions.

What You Bring: 

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• MBA, advanced technical degree, or relevant industry certifications preferred.
• 8-10+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including experience leading large-scale enterprise technology initiatives.
• 5+ years of technology integration, transformation, or mergers and acquisitions experience.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams through complex organizational and technology change.
• Experience evaluating, implementing, and optimizing advisor technology platforms, including CRM, portfolio accounting, financial planning, custodial integrations, and data platforms.
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic vendor relationships and negotiating enterprise technology agreements.
• Experience presenting recommendations and business cases to executive leadership teams.
• Wealth Management, RIA, FinTech, or Financial Services experience strongly preferred.

Leadership Characteristics

• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect technology decisions to business outcomes.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into business language.
• Bias for action and proven ability to drive initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and navigate complex organizational environments.
• Strong relationship builder who creates alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Decisive leader who balances speed, risk, and long-term value creation.
• High degree of accountability, ownership, and personal integrity.
• Continuous learner with a passion for innovation and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

Technical & Business Skills

• Deep understanding of enterprise architecture, integrations, APIs, data migration, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies.
• Strong program and portfolio management experience.
• Expertise in technology due diligence, integration planning, and post-merger execution.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, and modern project delivery frameworks.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate technology investments, business cases, and total cost of ownership.
• Proven ability to balance advisor experience, business priorities, and technical requirements.