Director of Operations

About Tensec

Established in 2023, Tensec is an international fintech firm dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to participate and succeed in global commerce. We offer accessible, effective, and secure global transaction banking solutions. Our founding members bring experience from leading startups to large organizations like PayPal, Goldman Sachs, and Visa, with a mission to innovate within the $50 trillion B2B cross-border financial services sector by strengthening SMBs financially.

We believe a company's success is deeply linked to its cultural values. We cultivate an environment that promotes both individual and organizational potential, emphasizing mission alignment, high performance, and passion for work.

Tensec operates globally with team members across San Francisco, New York, Miami, Monterrey, and Sao Paulo, and is backed by prominent venture capital firms and angel investors.

Work Environment

Our work style prioritizes agility and ownership. We act swiftly and expect team members to take full responsibility for their deliverables within a fast-paced, dynamic setting.

Role Overview

As Tensec expands from a few markets to many, we need a Director of Operations to construct the essential operational framework that supports scalable growth. You will oversee critical systems such as treasury backend infrastructure, AI-enhanced compliance and onboarding processes, and the US market expansion, ensuring seamless interdepartmental coordination.

This role transcends routine process or project supervision — you will be the key contact for operational, legal, and cross-team inquiries, partnering closely with senior leadership and managing the core operational competencies directly.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operational functions and act as the primary liaison for COO, CPO, and senior leaders, managing the overarching operational workflow.
• Collaborate with product teams to align client onboarding with operational and legal standards; oversee legal vetting and ensure backend capabilities meet frontend commitments.
• Support the Project Management Office by providing operational resources essential for executing multifaceted initiatives.
• Steer responsible deployment and application of AI tools in operational and client-facing activities as our AI usage increases.
• Develop and maintain a proprietary orchestration layer for treasury services that enhances flexibility across various transaction rails and markets.
• Source, assess, and manage partnerships with infrastructure vendors, including those in Asia and Europe, and handle new vendor integrations as market presence grows.
• Work with engineering and product teams to refine treasury automation and ensure scalability and intelligence across all transaction corridors.
• Guide the risk framework for treasury operations, crafting infrastructure that supports risk program ownership.
• Lead operational and legal preparations for US market entry, managing regulatory and banking dependencies for a robust and compliant launch targeted for the second half of 2026.
• Oversee AI governance compliance related to the US operations to meet evolving transparency and accountability standards.
• Create and maintain operational reports, playbooks, and escalation processes that offer leadership a real-time view of operational health across markets.
• Act as an internal resource for People & HR-related issues in coordination with the COO across all jurisdictions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 8 years in operations, treasury, or financial infrastructure roles within fintech, payments, or regulated global financial services environments.
• Visionary approach with the ability to design systems poised for substantial complexity and growth.
• Demonstrate intellectual honesty, curiosity, and swift expertise acquisition coupled with effective knowledge sharing.
• Strong ownership mentality, proactive problem-solving, and clarity-seeking behavior.
• Experience managing operations spanning multiple jurisdictions, familiar with trade finance, AI-driven treasury systems, and cross-border regulatory frameworks.
• Fluency in English required; Spanish or Portuguese proficiency beneficial due to South American operations.
• Based in New York City or Miami with availability for travel.
• Background in cross-border payment firms, foreign exchange platforms, or trade finance entities operating in Latin America.
• Knowledge of AI compliance tools, treasury automation technologies, or orchestration frameworks in financial services.
• Familiarity with US financial regulation, including MSB registrations and state money transmitter rules.

Essential Traits

• Deep practical understanding of cross-border trade, treasury functions, and FX infrastructure beyond theoretical knowledge.
• High ownership and initiative to resolve operational issues independently.
• Systems thinking aptitude focused on scalability and future complexity.

Learning Opportunities

• Gain insight into building complex cross-border FX and treasury infrastructures across jurisdictions.
• Experience firsthand the transformative impact of AI on treasury compliance and operational decision-making.
• Lead the creation of a robust operational foundation across multiple countries with significant responsibility.

Compensation & Benefits

• Equity participation.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Fifteen days of paid vacation annually.
• Allocated budget for professional growth and training.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

Tensec is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal treatment regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected categories. We welcome applicants from varied backgrounds and encourage sharing preferred pronouns. We also provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities during hiring processes.