Vice President of Operations - EMEA

About dLocal

dLocal empowers leading global companies to collect payments in 40 emerging market countries. Acting as both a payment processor and merchant of record, we enable merchants to expand effortlessly into some of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. Joining dLocal means becoming part of a diverse international team of over 1000 professionals from 30+ nationalities, committed to innovation, customer focus, and overcoming challenges.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Vice President of Operations for the EMEA region to lead strategy and operations aimed at enabling local payment processing for international merchants. The ideal candidate is preferably based in Cape Town, Lagos, or Nairobi and will play a pivotal role overseeing partnerships, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across multiple markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior leadership to craft and implement country-specific strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Identify new merchant opportunities, optimize pricing strategies, integrate local payment methods, and secure strategic partnerships.
• Represent dLocal in public affairs, regulatory forums, industry associations, and networking events to elevate market presence.
• Negotiate and finalize commercial agreements to enhance operational capabilities related to payment options.
• Coordinate with Operations, Product, and Technology teams to develop partnership roadmaps and analyze performance for continuous improvement.
• Maintain awareness of local regulations, advise internal teams on compliance, and engage with regulatory bodies to ensure adherence to legal requirements including AML/KYC policies.
• Manage daily operations across all product lines, ensuring alignment with corporate targets such as revenue, volume, costs, and compliance.
• Lead and mentor the operations team to achieve operational excellence and improve processes related to payment methods.
• Take ownership of the country's profit and loss statement, driving impactful initiatives and accurate forecasting.
• Develop contingency plans to address system outages, compliance issues, or banking interruptions.
• Build and sustain robust relationships with key stakeholders including banks, acquirers, processors, and regulatory authorities.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing cross-border payments and financial platforms across the EMEA region.
• Expertise in partnering across functions to achieve business goals.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of executing contracts and agreements.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment while working across multiple time zones.
• Established network within relevant business ecosystems.
• Strategic thinker capable of taking calculated risks based on deep partnership knowledge.
• Experienced people manager with team development skills.
• Highly adaptable with a growth-oriented mindset and positive attitude.
• Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape across EMEA, with a commitment to compliance.
• Technical expertise is advantageous but not mandatory.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours driven by performance outcomes rather than fixed schedules.
• Opportunity to work in the dynamic fintech industry with substantial scope for creativity and innovation.
• Employee referral bonuses rewarding recruitment efforts.
• Monthly social budget to encourage team bonding both virtually and in-person.
• Access to dLocal Houses, allowing team members to cowork from various global locations.

Additional Information

Our recruitment process is enhanced by AI tools to assist in application review and assessment, although final hiring decisions are made by human professionals. Candidates will be kept informed via email throughout the hiring stages. We are committed to an excellent candidate experience and encourage those interested to prepare for an engaging selection process.