Role in brief
Btse, a fintech and blockchain company, is seeking a Head of Operations in Dubai. This role involves leading daily operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing operational risks across trading, payments, and client lifecycles. Candidates with a background in financial services, fintech, or VASP operations, especially with UAE regulatory experience, should apply.
About the role
This Head of Operations role at Btse involves overseeing the daily functions of the company's trading, payments, and client lifecycle operations. The position requires establishing and maintaining robust operational processes, controls, and monitoring frameworks to ensure smooth and efficient execution. A key aspect of the role is managing operational risks, including incident handling and escalation, to safeguard the company's activities.
A significant part of this role focuses on regulatory compliance and engagement. The Head of Operations will support licensing efforts and serve as a primary contact for regulators, specifically VARA. This includes ensuring all operations align with compliance, risk management, and internal policies, requiring a strong understanding of the UAE regulatory landscape. The individual will also provide regular reports to senior management.
The role also includes a component of team building and collaboration. The Head of Operations will support the hiring and development of the local operations function in Dubai. Success in this position means effectively collaborating with global teams, maintaining strong relationships with regulators, and ensuring all operational activities contribute to the company's growth and compliance within the fintech and blockchain space.
The annual salary for this role ranges from $98,000 to $162,000.
Skills that matter here
- operations experience in financial services, fintech, or VASP: This role requires a proven history of managing operations within these specific industry sectors.
- regulated environment with ownership of operational controls, policies and procedures: The candidate must have experience in a regulated setting, having been responsible for operational governance.
- trading operations, payments, or client-facing operations workflows: Familiarity with the processes and systems used in these specific operational areas is necessary.
- UAE regulatory landscape, particularly VARA requirements: Knowledge of the specific regulations in the UAE, especially those from VARA, is highly preferred for this position.
- VARA fit and proper requirements: The ability to meet the suitability standards set by VARA is a mandatory requirement for this role.
- interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills: This role requires strong abilities to communicate and manage relationships with internal teams, regulators, and external partners.
Who this role suits
- A candidate who thrives in a highly regulated environment and is comfortable being a primary point of contact for authorities.
- Someone with a meticulous approach to process establishment and control, ensuring operational integrity.
- An individual who is proactive in identifying and mitigating risks, capable of handling incidents and escalations effectively.
- A person who enjoys building and developing local teams while collaborating with global counterparts.
From the employer
- 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.
- 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.
Questions about this role
What is the seniority level for this position?
This role is designated as a 'head' level position.
What is the remote work policy for this role?
This is a remote position, but candidates must be a UAE resident or national, UAE-based, or able to relocate to the UAE.
What kind of experience is required for this role?
Candidates need a proven track record in operations within financial services, fintech, or VASP, with experience in regulated environments and familiarity with UAE regulatory landscape, especially VARA.