Licensing & Regulatory Compliance manager

Role MissionDrive the global licensing and registration roadmap and manage regulatory engagement and remediation, so that the business can enter more markets within a sustainable compliance framework while reducing regulatory penalties and operational risk.Key ResponsibilitiesLicensing strategy and assessment: Evaluate entry requirements, cost, timeline and business fit across target markets (e.g. EU MiCA, Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, Latin America); recommend priorities and a delivery timeline.License applications and registrations: Lead or coordinate application packages (business plan, governance structure, AML and risk policies, IT security, capital requirements); handle regulator queries; coordinate external law firms, auditors and consultants.Licensed entity setup: Support the incorporation of local entities and drive the hiring and regulatory filing of key personnel such as directors, compliance officers and the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO).Regulatory monitoring and impact assessment: Track new rules across jurisdictions (e.g. Travel Rule, derivatives and leverage limits, marketing and advertising rules); produce impact assessments and drive product and operational changes.Regulatory inquiries and remediation: Handle notices, warnings and inquiries from regulators, including AML-related notices; design response and remediation plans and follow them through to closure.Business compliance partnership: Take part in compliance reviews for new contracts (including TradFi/RWA contracts such as gold and crude oil), leverage rules, marketing campaigns, geo-restrictions and tiered KYC; translate regulatory requirements into product and operational rules.Compliance framework support: Work with the MLRO to implement KYC/AML, sanctions screening and Travel Rule controls; organize internal training and support audits.Budget and vendor management: Manage law firms, consultants and auditors; control licensing project budgets and delivery quality.RequirementsEducation: Bachelor's degree or above in law, finance, compliance or a related field.Experience: 5+ years in financial services or crypto compliance or regulatory affairs, with participation in at least one complete licensing or registration project (e.g. VASP, CASP, MSB, VARA, AUSTRAC); experience leading one is preferred.Regulatory knowledge: Familiar with at least one major regulatory regime (e.g. EU MiCA, Dubai VARA, Singapore MAS, Hong Kong SFC, Australia ASIC/AUSTRAC, US FinCEN) and with AML/CFT, sanctions and Travel Rule requirements.Communication: Direct experience engaging with regulators; fluent written and spoken English; Chinese fluency is a plus.Project management: Able to manage cross-functional and cross-organization projects and keep multiple parallel applications on schedule.Nice to have: Background at a regulated exchange, broker, payments firm, Big Four firm or regulator; knowledge of retail derivatives and high-leverage product regulation; professional certifications such as CAMS or ICA; hands-on experience handling regulatory inquiries or remediation.