Location: Malta
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Senior Leadership
Reporting to: Board of Directors

Our client, a Malta-based digital asset payments company regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), is seeking an experienced Deputy Managing Director to join its senior leadership team.

Operating within the fintech and digital payments sector, the company provides cryptocurrency and fiat payment infrastructure to businesses across regulated and high-growth industries.

As a growing, founder-led organisation, our client is looking for a commercially minded and operationally strong leader who can take ownership of key business functions, drive strategic initiatives, and support the company's continued expansion.

The successful candidate will act as a key second-in-command to the Managing Director, assuming responsibility for operational performance, team leadership, commercial development, and the end-to-end delivery of the company's Electronic Money Institution (EMI) launch.

This position requires a hands-on leader with experience building and managing teams, navigating complex regulatory environments, and independently driving business initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and manage cross-functional teams, ensuring operational efficiency and strong performance.

• Establish clear objectives, accountability structures, and performance management processes.

• Identify organisational capability gaps and support recruitment, development, and restructuring initiatives where necessary.

• Act as a senior escalation point for operational, commercial, and people-related matters.

• Represent the company in senior-level internal and external discussions when required.

• Develop scalable operational structures and processes to support continued business growth.

EMI Launch & Business Operations

• Take full ownership of the company's EMI launch, coordinating activities across compliance, technology, operations, and external advisers.

• Oversee project milestones, regulatory timelines, dependencies, and risk management throughout the licensing and launch process.

• Establish and manage the operational framework for the EMI business following authorisation.

• Develop payment processing workflows, client onboarding procedures, and relevant operational controls.

• Collaborate with compliance and MLRO functions to ensure adherence to MFSA requirements, safeguarding obligations, and AML/KYC regulations.

• Establish and maintain relationships with banking partners, payment schemes, and technology providers.

• Contribute to the commercial strategy of the EMI offering, including pricing, target markets, and go-to-market initiatives.

Commercial Development & Strategic Partnerships

• Lead and support complex B2B commercial discussions with prospective clients and strategic partners.

• Identify, evaluate, and convert new business opportunities, independently managing negotiations where appropriate.

• Develop strategic partnerships, referral networks, and market expansion opportunities.

• Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders, clients, and industry partners.

• Structure commercial proposals and agreements, balancing commercial opportunities with operational and regulatory considerations.

• Support the development of new revenue streams and business growth initiatives.

Business Strategy & Market Positioning

• Collaborate with the Managing Director and Board of Directors on the company's strategic direction and long-term objectives.

• Identify priority markets, target customer segments, and opportunities for competitive differentiation.

• Monitor developments across cryptocurrency payments, digital assets, fintech, and related regulated industries.

• Translate strategic objectives into actionable business plans and operational priorities.

• Support the company's market positioning, ensuring a clear and consistent value proposition.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Evaluate commercial opportunities through financial analysis, pricing models, and profitability assessments.

• Support budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation.

• Assess financial and commercial risks associated with new partnerships and business arrangements.

• Contribute to the structuring of complex commercial agreements.

• Ensure commercial decisions align with the company's financial and strategic objectives.

Digital Marketing & Brand Development

• Oversee the company's digital presence, including its website, social media channels, content strategy, and marketing campaigns.

• Develop and implement marketing initiatives aimed at increasing brand awareness and generating qualified business opportunities.

• Coordinate external marketing agencies, content providers, and creative partners where required.

• Ensure consistency in brand messaging and market positioning across all communication channels.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Maintain a strong understanding of relevant regulatory frameworks, including CASP, EMI, AML/KYC, and MFSA requirements.

• Work closely with compliance teams to ensure operational and commercial activities remain aligned with regulatory obligations.

• Identify potential regulatory risks associated with commercial agreements, partnerships, and business processes.

• Represent the business credibly in regulatory-related discussions with clients and external stakeholders.

Product & Technology Collaboration

• Work closely with technology teams to align product capabilities with operational and commercial requirements.

• Participate in client discussions involving technical integrations, product functionality, and implementation considerations.

• Translate client requirements and market feedback into actionable product development priorities.

• Support collaboration between commercial, operational, and technology functions.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Proven senior operational leadership experience, ideally as a Head of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Managing Director, or similar position within fintech, payments, or digital assets.

• Demonstrated experience building, scaling, and managing cross-functional teams.

• Previous experience within a scale-up, growth-stage business, or similarly entrepreneurial environment.

• Strong people management capabilities, including performance management, organisational development, and leadership of senior team members.

• Solid commercial experience, with the ability to independently manage B2B sales discussions, strategic partnerships, and complex negotiations.

• Good technical and regulatory understanding of cryptocurrency, electronic money institutions, or payment services.

• Strong financial acumen, including experience with pricing structures, budgeting, commercial modelling, and profitability analysis.

• Understanding of digital marketing, brand positioning, and B2B lead generation strategies.

• Excellent organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple business priorities simultaneously.

• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of business-critical initiatives.

• Based in Malta or willing to relocate.

Highly Desirable

• Experience within regulated financial services, particularly EMI licensing, crypto asset service providers, payment institutions, FX platforms, or iGaming.

• Previous experience working directly with founders, Managing Directors, or Boards of Directors.

• Established professional network within the European fintech, cryptocurrency, or payments industry.

• Familiarity with the Maltese financial services and regulatory environment.

• Working knowledge of legal and contractual considerations relevant to commercial partnerships.

• Previous involvement in launching new regulated financial services products or business operations.

The Ideal Candidate

Our client is seeking a versatile and commercially aware leader who combines strong operational expertise with strategic thinking and business development capabilities.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of taking ownership of business functions, developing high-performing teams, and delivering complex projects in dynamic environments.

This is not a purely commercial or specialist position. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating across multiple disciplines, from operations and people management to commercial strategy, regulatory considerations, and financial planning.

Experience in entrepreneurial or scaling businesses will be particularly valuable, as the role requires someone who can build structures and processes rather than simply maintain established ones.

Above all, the company is looking for a proactive, adaptable, and accountable professional who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and make a meaningful contribution to its next stage of growth.