Head of Operations

Role Overview

• Oversee daily operations across trading, payments, and client lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain operational processes, controls, and monitoring frameworks.
• Support licensing and act as a key point of contact for regulators, including VARA.
• Ensure alignment with compliance, risk, and internal policies.
• Identify and manage operational risks, including incident handling and escalation.
• Collaborate with global teams and provide regular reporting to senior management.
• Support hiring and build-out of the local operations function.

Requirements

• Proven track record of operations experience in financial services, fintech, or VASP.
• Experience in a regulated environment with ownership of operational controls, policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of trading operations, payments, or client-facing operations workflows.
• Familiarity with the UAE regulatory landscape, particularly VARA requirements, is strongly preferred.
• Ability to meet VARA fit and proper requirements.
• UAE resident or national,UAE-based or able to relocate.
• Strong interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills across internal teams, regulators and external partners.