Sr. Screening Program Manager

Building the Future of Crypto. Our Krakenites are a world-class team with crypto conviction, united by our desire to discover and unlock the potential of crypto and blockchain technology. Kraken is a mission-focused company rooted in crypto values. As a Krakenite, you’ll join us on our mission to accelerate the global adoption of crypto, so that everyone can achieve financial freedom and inclusion.

The team: This fully remote role reports to the Kraken’s Chief Sanctions Officer (CSO). As the Sanctions Screening Program Manager, you will play a critical role within Kraken’s Global Sanctions Compliance function and report to senior sanctions leadership. This role is responsible for the design, execution, and continuous enhancement of Kraken’s sanctions screening program, including name screening, transaction screening, geo-controls, evasion detection, and related technical controls across Kraken and its global subsidiaries.

This is an individual contributor role, but requires extensive leadership experience as communications, documentation, partnership, and strategy are key to success, as well as time management. You will lead sanctions screening strategy, controls, program optimization, and regulatory readiness while partnering closely with Compliance Technology, Engineering, Product, Legal, and Operations. This role requires deep expertise in global sanctions regulations, screening technologies, data-driven risk management, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly regulated, and evolving crypto environment.

The opportunity:

• Own and manage Kraken’s global sanctions screening program, including name screening, transaction monitoring, geo-blocking, sanctions evasion detection, and related technical controls; maintain and enhance screening frameworks to meet global regulatory expectations while supporting scalability and efficiency.
• Design and execute screening strategy to support regulatory compliance, business growth, product launches, and global expansion.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, and Engineering to lead and execute tuning efforts for sanctions screening tooling and related controls; partner with Engineering to develop, prioritize, and execute the sanctions screening roadmap, including vendor management and system/control enhancements.
• Participate in annual and ad-hoc enterprise, product, and sanctions risk assessments with a focus on screening-related risks; identify emerging sanctions risks, control gaps, and data quality issues, perform root cause analyses, and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Legal, Client Engagement, and Finance to embed sanctions screening requirements into new and existing products; assist Sanctions peers in the completion of Product Risk Assessments, specific to sanctions controls and risk mitigants.
• Lead business requirements documentation (BRDs) for sanctions screening initiatives and effectively translate compliance needs to technical teams.
• Support regulatory exams, audits, testing, and inquiries related to sanctions screening controls and systems; provide sanctions screening advisory and guidance to leadership, regional compliance partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Drive process improvements, documentation quality, and program maturity across all sanctions screening verticals.

Skills you should have:

• 5+ years of experience in sanctions compliance, with a strong focus on screening systems and controls (or equivalent experience as a data scientist); knowledgeable on string search algorithms, compliance data, and/or controls.
• Knowledge of global sanctions regimes (OFAC, EU, UK, UN, and other jurisdictions) and expert knowledge of sanctions screening technologies and controls, including name screening, transaction screening, IP/geo controls, evasion detection, and blockchain analytics.
• Proven experience owning or managing sanctions screening programs (or similar) for a global organization.
• Demonstrated ability to author detailed business requirements and partner effectively with engineering and technology teams; strong analytical skills, including experience with SQL, Python, or similar tools for ad-hoc analysis and investigations.
• Experience supporting regulatory exams, audits, and enforcement-related inquiries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate horizontally and vertically; strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information; comfortable navigating ambiguity, context switching, and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to haves:

• Experience reviewing sanctions enforcement actions and translating regulatory expectations into short- and long-term controls; experience monitoring regulatory sanctions updates and driving screening enhancements.
• Experience managing sanctions screening vendors and platforms.
• Working knowledge of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency ecosystems.
• Background in statistics, data science, or quantitative risk analysis.
• Experience supporting global operations across multiple jurisdictions.

Unless a specific application deadline is stated in the job posting, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Please note, applicants are permitted to redact or remove information on their resume that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, assessing candidates in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Kraken is powered by people from around the world and we celebrate all Krakenites for their diverse talents, backgrounds, contributions and unique perspectives. We hire strictly based on merit, meaning we seek out the candidates with the right abilities, knowledge, and skills considered the most suitable for the job. We encourage you to apply for roles where you don't fully meet the listed requirements, especially if you're passionate or knowledgeable about crypto! As an equal opportunity employer, we don’t tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.