Operations Manager, ADGM

About the role

In this role, you will support the Senior Executive Officer in managing operational functions within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Your focus will be on ensuring compliance with local regulations and enhancing operational efficiency across various business areas, including trading and custody operations.

You will be responsible for implementing policies, managing risk frameworks, and coordinating responses to operational incidents. Building strong relationships with banks, regulators, and internal teams is essential for success in this position, as is the ability to produce high-quality materials for external audiences.

Skills that matter here

• Operational efficiency: This role requires a demonstrated ability to improve workflows and develop new processes.
• Communication skills: Excellent communication and presentation skills are essential for engaging with senior management and external stakeholders.
• Crypto knowledge: Familiarity with the crypto and Web3 landscape is important for understanding the operational context.

Who this role suits

• Someone with over 8 years of experience in Middle Eastern financial services or operations strategy.
• A candidate who thrives in fast-paced environments and can manage multiple projects effectively.
• An individual who excels in collaboration and communication across various business functions.

From the employer

What You'll Do

• Support the Senior Executive Officer in overseeing and managing operational functions within ADGM, including intragroup and third-party service providers, ensuring delivery aligns with local regulations and contractual obligations.
• Own the implementation of operational policies, procedures, SLA frameworks, and risk management processes across key business workstreams.
• Establish and maintain supervision frameworks across critical business areas — including trading, staking, and custody operations — in line with regulatory and best-practice requirements.
• Build and maintain robust operational resilience frameworks, including risk identification, contingency planning, and vulnerability mitigation to ensure continuity of critical business functions.
• Coordinate responses to operational incidents, facilitating timely communication with internal stakeholders, regulators, and third-party service providers.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with banks, regulators, and internal stakeholders to effectively communicate operational and risk strategies.
• Project manage critical operations and risk-related initiatives across cross-functional teams including Legal, Compliance, Security, Finance, Product, and Customer Service.
• Support first-line-of-defense operations across key areas including launch assessments, approvals, staffing, and audit activities.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years of experience in Middle East financial services, management or strategy consulting, or operations strategy.
• Experience within a regulated investment dealer environment, with focus on trade supervision across crypto, equities, or derivatives.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new processes and improve existing workflows to drive operational efficiency.
• Strong ability to collaborate across a broad range of business functions, with an emphasis on senior management engagement.
• Ability to produce high-quality content and materials suitable for external audiences with minimal review.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with the crypto/Web3 landscape, including digital asset markets and tokenization.
• Utilizes AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.