About the job
Velotrade is a multi asset proprietary funded trading firm. We fund retail traders: a trader pays a fee, proves discipline in a simulated challenge, then trades a funded account and keeps the majority of what they make. We earn challenge fees, and our edge is risk management.
We are live, built AI native from day one, and growing fast. Where most operators in this space carry legacy, human heavy structures, we do not: our content, data intelligence, and a large share of our operations already run on systems we built ourselves. That is why a small team can run a firm most competitors would staff with departments.
We are founder led, with founders coming from an institutional trading background and multiple decades of experience. The Director of Operations would be one of the first five people in the room.
THE ROLE
Full ownership of how Velotrade runs day to day. Not a support role, one of the most important seats in the company. It reports directly to the CEO and frees him to focus on strategy and new markets.
At this stage you own the function and you also do the work. There is no team under you yet. You build the team you eventually run, and you have a seat in the decisions that shape where the firm goes next: which markets we enter, which products we launch, how we scale.
Treat this as an entrepreneurial role, not a payroll job. You will be expected to work hard, including outside standard hours when something needs it. In exchange you get real ownership and full flexibility on where and when you work.
What you would own
Settlement and reconciliation: reconciling every flow end to end, what came in, what processors held, what settled, what is still outstanding.
Trader verification: verifying and approving traders, keeping the trader base compliant and moving without bottlenecks.
Client support: first point of contact for our trader base, answering questions, resolving disputes, running client operations day to day.
Cross department liaison: the connective layer across marketing, partnerships and engineering, plus filings, compliance and supplier relationships.
Process and automation: every process you inherit is a first draft. You are expected to review what exists, propose better, and build it. We are AI native and we expect heavy AI implementation across the board, operations above all. If you are running a manual process six months in that could have been automated, that is on you.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Entrepreneurial mindset, non negotiable. Total compensation is weighted towards equity, not salary. The salary covers your costs; the equity is where you make your money. Take this role only if you believe in what we are building, because that is what you are being paid in.
Meticulous with detail. This role reconciles real money end to end. Small errors compound, so care and precision matter more than speed.
Direct or indirect trading experience preferred: time on a trading desk, in middle office or back office, or a comparable role. You do not need to have traded yourself, but you need to be fluent in how a trading business talks about itself.
Genuine interest in this sector. Prop trading is moving fast and you should already find it interesting. We expect you to know our product, our competitors and where this industry is going before you speak to us.
A fast learner who picks things up immediately and does not need to be told twice.
Excellent written and spoken English and excellent communication skills. The team is small, so we communicate fast and clearly, with no room for ambiguity.
Full flexibility on where and when you work, but able to provide reliable coverage. This is not a fixed 9 to 5.
Based in Europe or the Americas. Part of the team is already in Hong Kong and we need this role to cover the other side of the clock.
WHAT YOU GET
Equity. A meaningful stake, sized to experience, in a young business growing quickly. Salary alongside it, set to cover your costs rather than to compete with a bank.
Real ownership of a function, not a task list, and input into the direction of the company.
Direct daily contact with the founders and a small, high leverage team.
Full flexibility on where and when you work.
HOW TO APPLY
Email with your CV and a short note covering two things: your relevant experience, and one thing you would change or improve at Velotrade after looking at our website and the sector. We read the second part first. You can also send a DM on LinkedIn.
Director of Operations in Cheltenham employer: Velotrade
Velotrade is an exceptional employer for the Director of Operations role, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of a rapidly growing trading firm. With a strong focus on equity compensation and a culture that values entrepreneurial spirit, employees enjoy real ownership and flexibility in their work environment. The small, dynamic team fosters direct communication with founders, ensuring that every voice is heard and every contribution is valued, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial sector.
