Director, Exchange US Operations

Position: Director, Bullish Exchange US Operations

About Bullish

Bullish is an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides market infrastructure and information services. These include:
Bullish
Exchange - a regulated and institutionally focused digital assets spot and derivatives exchange, integrating a high-performance central limit order book matching engine with automated market making to provide deep and predictable liquidity. Bullish Exchange is regulated in Germany, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar.
Coin Desk
Indices - a collection of tradable proprietary and single-asset benchmarks and indices that track the performance of digital assets for global institutions in the digital assets and traditional finance industries.
Coin Desk
Data - a broad suite of digital assets market data and analytics, providing real-time insights into prices, trends, and market dynamics.
Coin Desk
Insights - a digital asset media and events provider and operator of , a digital media platform that covers news and insights about digital assets, the underlying markets, policy, and blockchain technology.

Reports to:
Head of Operational Change & Continuity

Position Overview

We're looking for a Director of Operations to join our team and drive the future of digital asset trading. This is a senior leadership role where you'll be at the forefront of our U.S. operations, ensuring the seamless and secure functioning of our NYSE-listed exchange. In this role, you'll have direct oversight of the entire trading and client lifecycle, from onboarding to trade settlement.

You'll lead our operational functions, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of governance and excellence.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with deep technical expertise in electronic trading and market infrastructure. You'll have a proven track record of managing complex trading operations and a strong understanding of the U.S. regulatory landscape. If you're ready to take on a key leadership position at the intersection of capital markets and cutting-edge financial technology, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities:

• Trading & Exchange Operations:Lead day-to-day operations of our cryptocurrency exchange. This includes ensuring the integrity of the entire trading lifecycle, from order routing and matching to settlement, reconciliation and regulatory reporting. You will be responsible for exchange platform configuration, technology change management, order latency monitoring, and providing operational support for trading clients.
• Stakeholder
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with front-office teams (Trading, Sales), institutional clients and technology teams (Product, Engineering) to launch new products and ensure the seamless operation of the trading platform. Collaborate with Finance, Legal and Compliance on regulatory matters.
• Process Optimization & Automation:Drive the continuous improvement and automation of client workflows and operational processes to enhance platform efficiency, reduce risk, and scale our capabilities.
• Governance &
  
  Risk Management:
  
  Develop and enforce operational procedures and reporting to comply with SEC, FinCEN, DFS, and other US regulations. Understand key regulatory requirements regarding trading operations (i.e. kill switch, self-crossing prevention, pre-trading checks, cyber-security, resiliency)
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a high-performing team of technology and operations specialists, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Operational Oversight:Provide advisory, support and oversight to the teams managing customer onboarding (KYC/AML) and digital asset custody, ensuring operational efficiency in providing end to end customer support.
• Regulatory Representation and Liaison: Serve as the primary local regulated individual for operations and technology in the US, acting as a key liaison with US regulatory bodies (e.g., SEC, FinCEN, DFS ) to support examinations, provide operational insights, and ensure full compliance.

Experience &

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Technology or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in a trading operations, or trade support management role within digital assets, Fin Tech, or electronic trading.
• Deep knowledge of the cryptocurrency industry, market structure, and associated operational challenges.
• Proven track record of managing shared operations in a regulated financial environment and interacting directly with regulators (e.g., SEC, CFTC, DFS, FinCEN).
• Technical proficiency and understanding of electronic trading systems, FIX protocol, APIs, and market data infrastructure is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with digital asset custody solutions, KYC/AML and cyber-security best practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Bullish US LLC & Coin Desk Inc. are committed to offering competitive compensation and benefits. The anticipated base salary for this position is $200,000 - $270,000 +…