Accelerated Career Development Program (ACDP) – Project Management Pathway

Job Description

Accelerated Career Development Program, Project Management Pathway, Senior Associate | Vanguard

The Tone:
This is a full-time, hybrid role at Vanguard, located in Malvern, PA. Vanguard is a mission-driven financial services organization dedicated to the long-term financial wellbeing of its fifty million investors worldwide, leading through products and services that transform clients’ lives. This program aims to create a broad internal pipeline of people leaders, analysts, client-facing professionals, and project management professionals into the organization. The Senior Associate in the Project Management Pathway will gain broad exposure, build foundational leadership skills, and contribute to strategic initiatives that influence the financial futures of our investors.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Malvern, PA

• Team: Accelerated Career Development Program, Project Management Pathway
• Mission: Develop core skills in project management, stakeholder management, and driving results through others to support key strategic initiatives across the enterprise.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

What You’ll Actually Do
• Planning & Delivery: Support the planning and delivery of complex projects and strategic initiatives across unique business areas that will be presented to key leadership.
• Leadership & Influence: Influence and lead across teams without direct authority, fostering alignment, accountability, and progress toward shared outcomes.
• Decision-Making: Enable effective decision-making by leveraging data, identifying trade-offs, and helping teams prioritize work aligned to strategic goals.
• Communication: Communicate effectively across audiences, translating complex information into clear, actionable updates that drive alignment and commitment.
• Problem-Solving: Gain confidence in navigating the ambiguities of the industry while identifying problems, recommending solutions, and improving how the business functions.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree; this is an entry-level program open to all majors, with a strong preference for candidates pursuing degrees in Business, Finance, Marketing, Accounting, or related fields.
• Experience: Foundational understanding of project management concepts; ability to manage multiple priorities and achieve results in a setting that requires prompt action; strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) with the ability to analyze data, create executive-ready reporting, and communicate project progress, risks, and outcomes to stakeholders.
• Skills: Strong organization and time management skills; excellent communication skills and professional demeanor for effective interaction with internal crew, stakeholders, and management; strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence leadership and cross-functional teams; proactive mindset toward problem-solving, risk identification, and process improvement.
• Bonus: Adaptable, intellectually curious, and comfortable navigating ambiguity; commitment to building a career in financial services and helping the client.