Chief Operating Officer - Bitcoin Trust Company

The Company

Swan is a leading Bitcoin-only financial services company supporting individuals and companies throughout their Bitcoin journey. We hire passionate Bitcoiners who want to work with a self-motivated and fully distributed startup team.

The Role

Last year, Swan announced the intent to launch a Bitcoin-only trust company. Now, we are working toward building a pipeline of highly qualified individuals to help us lead this company. The trust company will embark on the mission of onboarding the world’s Bitcoin-only clients ranging from wealth managers, family offices, institutions, and beyond while innovating in Bitcoin-only custody initiatives such as multi-institutional custody and other new forms of collaborative and conditional custody enabled by Bitcoin native technology. The company will maintain complete legal separation from Swan, and have its own management structure separate from Swan, while having the benefit of access to Swan’s broader resources (with more than 150 employees overall).

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) (or Director of Operations, depending on experience) to lead the operational aspects of the trust company. This early hire will play a pivotal role in building, developing, overseeing, and optimizing the operations of the trust company. This leadership position requires a seasoned operations professional with a deep understanding of fiduciary services, regulatory compliance, and a proven track record of driving operational excellence.

This is a startup-phase tech company role that must balance the fast paced needs of a startup with the regulatory and risk needs of a trust company managing billions of dollars in AUM. The ideal candidate will have experience in rapidly changing high growth environments, be comfortable with wearing many hats, and be able to rapidly jump levels from hands-on review of new initiatives, to vendor selection, to conversations with management and regulators.

Your responsibilities

Operational Strategy

• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the company's mission, vision, and business objectives.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements and scalability within the digital asset space.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to set operational goals, objectives, and performance metrics.

Trust Administration

• Manage all aspects of trust administration, including account openings, funding, distributions, and account maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with trust agreements, legal requirements, and industry standards.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements, fiduciary standards, and internal policies.
• Establish robust risk management frameworks to safeguard client assets and maintain operational resilience.

Custody and Security

• Oversee the development and maintenance of secure Bitcoin custody solutions, including cold storage and multi-signature wallets.
• Partner with Security team to implement best practices for security protocols, encryption techniques, and anti-fraud measures.

Technology and Infrastructure

• Collaborate with the Engineering team to enhance and optimize digital infrastructure, trading platforms, and protocols.
• Stay abreast of technological advancements in the Bitcoin space and assess their potential impact on the company's operations.

Client Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, addressing their needs, concerns, and feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure a seamless onboarding process for new clients and provide ongoing support and communication.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a high-performing operations team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and growth opportunities to team members.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with the finance team to develop budgets, forecasts, and financial plans aligned with operational goals and objectives.
• Monitor financial performance metrics and implement cost-effective strategies to optimize operational efficiency.

Skills and experience that will help you succeed

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field; professional certification (e.g., CTFA) preferred.
• Extensive experience (10+ years) in operational leadership roles within the financial services and/or bitcoin industry. 
• Must have prior experience working at a Trust company.
• In-depth knowledge of Bitcoin and its underlying technology, as well as custody and security best practices.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance requirements and risk management principles.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Prior experience working in a trust company will be highly valued.
• Remote role based in United States, US work authorization required.

Here's a bit about our culture

• We’re a growing team: Fully distributed across the world, Slack and Huddles are huge here.
• We’re very flat: Leadership is desired and encouraged; we hire people who care about and use the product they are working on.
• We’re Bitcoiners: We find solutions that encourage Bitcoin principles. We are often involved in the Bitcoin community through writing, podcasts, conferences, open source projects, and time spent on Twitter to help educate the masses. We love Bitcoin, and it comes through in our daily chats, meetings, and actions.

Join us, become a Swan!