Head of Licensing Digital Assets & Global Payments in Oxford

London | Full-Time | On-Site with International Travel

The Opportunity

A new financial system is emerging, one built on digital assets, stablecoins, programmable settlement, and globally connected financial infrastructure. At the centre of this transformation is regulation. This is a rare opportunity to lead the global licensing strategy for a rapidly scaling digital assets and payments business operating across institutional crypto markets, stablecoin infrastructure, and cross-border financial services. The organisation is building the foundations for the future of institutional settlement and international money movement. With ambitious global expansion plans already underway, licensing is viewed not simply as a compliance requirement but as a strategic advantage and long-term enterprise value driver. We are seeking a commercially minded and execution-focused Head of Licensing to build and lead a world-class regulatory licensing function from the ground up.

The Role

As Head of Licensing, you will own the global licensing roadmap end-to-end, identifying priority jurisdictions, driving multi-market application processes, and helping shape the regulatory perimeter of a next-generation financial infrastructure business. You will work directly alongside founders and senior leadership, engaging with regulators, managing external advisers, and coordinating internal stakeholders across legal, compliance, finance, treasury, and product. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in high-growth environments, understands how to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and wants to play a defining role in scaling a globally recognised digital assets platform. You will begin as the lead owner of the licensing function, with the opportunity to build and scale a team as the company expands internationally.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own and execute the global licensing and regulatory expansion strategy.
• Prioritise jurisdictions based on commercial opportunity, strategic value, and regulatory feasibility.
• Run multiple licence applications simultaneously across key international markets.
• Adapt and tailor policy frameworks to meet jurisdiction-specific regulatory requirements.
• Lead direct engagement with regulators, supervisory bodies, and government stakeholders.
• Manage external legal counsel and local advisers to ensure efficient, high-quality execution.
• Coordinate internally across compliance, finance, legal, treasury, and product teams to support applications.
• Monitor regulatory developments across digital assets, payments, stablecoins, and financial infrastructure.
• Oversee ongoing obligations for granted licences including reporting, renewals, audits, and regulatory engagement.
• Support investor, fundraising, and strategic partnership discussions by articulating the strength of the company’s regulatory strategy.
• Build scalable licensing operations and contribute to the long-term regulatory architecture of the business.

What We’re Looking For

• 6-10 years of experience within licensing, regulatory affairs, compliance, or financial services regulation.
• Proven track record successfully obtaining licences across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience working within digital assets, payments, fintech, EMIs, or regulated financial services.
• Strong understanding of international regulatory frameworks relating to crypto, stablecoins, payments, and institutional finance.
• Confident engaging directly with regulators and senior external stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational and project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Commercially minded with strong strategic judgement and execution discipline.
• Strong communication skills across regulatory, technical, operational, and executive-level discussions.
• Motivated by high-growth environments and excited by the future of digital financial infrastructure.

Nice to Have

• Experience building or scaling a licensing function within a fast-growth fintech or digital asset business.
• Existing relationships with regulators or advisers across key global jurisdictions.
• Exposure to institutional settlement, treasury infrastructure, embedded finance, or stablecoin ecosystems.
• Experience supporting fundraising, due diligence, or M&A processes from a regulatory perspective.
• Prior leadership or team-building experience within regulatory or licensing functions.

Why Join?

• Play a defining role in building the regulatory foundation of a globally ambitious digital assets business.
• Work directly with founders and senior leadership on strategic international expansion.
• Operate at the forefront of stablecoins, institutional crypto adoption, and next-generation financial infrastructure.
• Opportunity to build and lead a high-impact global licensing team.
• Exposure to regulators, institutional partners, and international financial markets.
• Competitive salary, performance incentives, and international travel opportunities.
• Join a business positioned at the centre of the evolution of global finance.