Licence Expansion Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Canada.

📋 Description

• The Role

• We are in search of a dedicated Licence Expansion Manager – North America to spearhead Nium's regulatory licensing strategy throughout the United States and Canada. In this role, you will take charge of Nium's initiatives to secure, activate, and operationalize its US Money Transmission Licence (MTL) programme, pursue crypto-specific licenses, and manage variations on a state-by-state basis, while also supporting Nium's integration with Canada's real-time payment infrastructure.

• This position is high-impact and execution-oriented, situated at the crossroads of regulatory strategy, licensing operations, and cross-functional delivery. You will work closely with Legal, Compliance, Product, Treasury, Tech, Ops, and Commercial teams to facilitate successful market launches in North America. We seek individuals with a regulatory background (whether in legal or compliance) who possess a hands-on operator/product mindset.

• What You'll Own

• Collaborating with the Head of Global Expansion, you will implement Nium's North America licence roadmap across four primary workstreams:

• 1. US Money Transmission Licences (MTLs)

• Oversee the complete strategy and application process to secure outstanding US MTLs, particularly focusing on obtaining licenses in California and New York.

• Manage relationships with regulators, address examiner inquiries, and propel applications to completion with minimal delays.

• Monitor and manage all MTL applications across states, keeping a live overview of status, timelines, risks, and costs.

• Collaborate with external counsel and internal stakeholders to ensure the quality and completeness of applications.

• 2. MTL Activation and Operationalisation

• Transition states currently operating under a bank partner programme to Nium's own MTL as licenses are acquired, working cross-functionally to guarantee operational readiness.

• Define and implement the activation playbook for each state, addressing compliance obligations, product configuration, treasury requirements, and go-live processes.

• Identify and resolve obstacles to operationalisation, including bond requirements, net worth obligations, reporting cadences, and agent registration.

• Maintain a clear activation tracker for each state and report progress to the Head of Global Expansion and senior leadership.

• 3. Crypto-Specific Licences and Variations

• Identify states where Nium's product suite necessitates a crypto-specific licence or a variation to an existing MTL (e.g., BitLicence in New York, virtual currency transmitter endorsements).

• Lead applications and regulatory engagement for crypto licence variations on a state-by-state basis, closely collaborating with Legal and Product.

• Stay abreast of evolving US state-level crypto licensing requirements and proactively evaluate their impact on Nium's licensing posture.

• Engage with regulators regarding the regulatory treatment of stablecoins and digital asset transmission where relevant to Nium's roadmap.

• 4. Canada – Real-Time Rails and Interac Integration

• Assist Nium's integration with Payments Canada's Real-Time Rail (RTR) and the Interac network, working closely with Product and Tech to navigate regulatory and membership requirements.

• Collaborate with Payments Canada, Interac, and relevant Canadian regulators to comprehend access models, participation requirements, and compliance obligations.

• Ensure internal readiness for Canadian real-time payment capabilities, aligning efforts across Legal, Compliance, Treasury, and Product.

• Identify and manage any licensing or registration requirements arising from enhanced Canadian payment capabilities.

• Across all workstreams:

• Monitor budgets, risks, and timelines, providing periodic reports to the Head of Global Expansion and senior leadership.

• Cultivate strong relationships with state and federal regulators across the US and Canada.

• Contribute to Nium's broader global licensing strategy and share North America market insights with the wider expansion team.

⛳️ Requirements

• What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in the legal, compliance, or consulting sectors, with direct exposure to US financial services regulation.

• Demonstrated experience managing US state money transmission licence applications — from preparation and submission to approval.

• In-depth understanding of US MTL frameworks, including state-specific requirements, surety bonds, net worth obligations, and examination processes.

• Experience with crypto or virtual currency licensing at the state level (e.g., New York BitLicence, or equivalent) is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with Canadian payment systems, including Payments Canada, Interac, and the Real-Time Rail, is a significant advantage.

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-workstream licensing programmes in a dynamic environment.

• Experience working directly with regulators, including managing examiners and addressing regulatory inquiries.

• Strong commercial and project management skills, with the capability to drive execution across cross-functional teams.

• Experience in fintech, payments, e-money, cards, or stablecoins is strongly preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• What we offer at Nium

• We Value Performance: Through competitive salaries, performance bonuses, sales commissions, equity for specific roles, and recognition programs, we ensure that all our employees are well rewarded and incentivized for their hard work.

• We Care: The wellness of Nium’ers is our top priority. We provide medical coverage along with a 24/7 employee assistance program, generous vacation policies including our year-end shutdown. We also offer a flexible hybrid working environment (3 days per week in the office).

• We Upskill Ourselves: We are curious and always eager to learn more, focusing on enhancing our skills. We provide role-specific training, internal workshops, and a learning stipend.

• We Constantly Innovate: Since our inception, Nium has received ongoing recognition and awards for our approach to both business and talent opportunities. Check out CNBC World’s Top Fintech Companies 2024.

• We Celebrate Together: We recognize that work is also about building great relationships with one another. We celebrate together with company-wide social events, team bonding activities, happy hours, team offsites, and much more!

• We Thrive With Diversity: Nium is genuinely a global company, with over 33 nationalities, based in more than 18 countries and 10 office locations. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

• For more detailed region-specific benefits: https://www.nium.com/careers#careers-perks

• For more information, visit www.nium.com.