Head of Operations UAE

About the company

BTSE Group operates globally at the intersection of fintech and blockchain, with three main business areas: exchange, payments, and infrastructure development. The company supports more than 100 corporate clients around the world and delivers white-label solutions for exchange and payments. Its product range includes exchange infrastructure hosting and development, custody, wallets, payment solutions, blockchain integration, trading, and related services.

BTSE has introduced several trading technologies that have become widely adopted in the industry and helped set new standards for innovation, speed, and security in digital asset trading. The company is consistently positioned among the world’s top 10 exchanges and is growing quickly across both its consumer and business-facing operations.

Role overview

The organization is looking for a Head of Operations to manage the Dubai entity’s day-to-day operations. This position will be responsible for setting up operational structures, maintaining smooth business execution, and supporting regulatory compliance and licensing activities.

The selected candidate must satisfy VARA’s fit and proper criteria, which include a record of integrity, relevant sector experience, understanding of the virtual asset regulatory environment, and sound financial standing.

Key responsibilities

• Manage daily operational activity across trading, payments, and the client lifecycle.
• Build, implement, and maintain operating procedures, internal controls, and monitoring systems.
• Assist with licensing requirements and serve as a primary liaison for regulators, including VARA.
• Make sure operational activity stays aligned with compliance obligations, risk standards, and internal policies.
• Spot, assess, and manage operational risks, including incident escalation and response.
• Work closely with international teams and prepare routine updates for senior leadership.
• Contribute to hiring and help establish the local operations team.

Requirements

• Demonstrated operations background in financial services, fintech, or a VASP environment.
• Experience working in a regulated setting with responsibility for controls, policies, and procedures.
• Practical understanding of trading operations, payment workflows, or client service operations.
• Strong awareness of the UAE regulatory landscape, with VARA knowledge preferred.
• Must be able to satisfy VARA fit and proper standards.
• Must be a UAE resident or national, or already based in the UAE and able to relocate there.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across internal teams, regulators, and outside partners.

Additional information

The hiring process may include the use of artificial intelligence tools to assist with tasks such as application review, resume analysis, and response assessment. These tools support the recruitment team but do not replace human evaluation. Final hiring decisions are made by people. For more details on how data is handled, candidates may contact the company directly.