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Global Head of Sanctions

United States (US)

Who We Are

At OKX, we believe that the future will be reshaped by crypto, and ultimately contribute to every individual's freedom. OKX is a leading crypto exchange, and the developer of OKX Wallet, giving millions access to crypto trading and decentralized crypto applications (dApps). OKX is also a trusted brand by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets. We are safe and reliable, backed by our Proof of Reserves. Across our multiple offices globally, we are united by our core principles: We Before Me, Do the Right Thing, and Get Things Done. These shared values drive our culture, shape our processes, and foster a friendly, rewarding, and diverse environment for every OK-er. OKX is part of OKG, a group that brings the value of Blockchain to users around the world, through our leading products OKX, OKX Wallet, OKLink and more.

About the Team

The Compliance function at OKX is responsible for the overall compliance culture at the company. We’re a team of risk-minded problem solvers who advise the business on the company’s regulatory obligations and enterprise risk.

What You'll Be Doing

  • Program Governance & Strategy: Develop, own, and continuously evolve the global sanctions compliance program, ensuring alignment with OFAC, EU, UK OFSI, UN, and other relevant sanctions regimes. Establish the program's risk appetite and strategic direction in coordination with the Chief Compliance Officer.
  • Regulatory Compliance & Advisory: Serve as the firm's subject matter expert on sanctions obligations across all operating jurisdictions. Provide real-time guidance to business, product, and legal teams on sanctions risks associated with new products, geographies, customer segments, and counterparty relationships.
  • Screening Infrastructure & Technology: Oversee the design, implementation, and ongoing calibration of sanctions screening tools (wallet screening, transaction monitoring, name screening, IP/geolocation controls). Partner with engineering and product teams to ensure controls are embedded into the platform at scale.
  • Blockchain Analytics & On-Chain Risk: Direct the use of blockchain analytics platforms to identify exposure to sanctioned addresses, entities, and jurisdictions, including through indirect or layered transaction paths.
  • OFAC Licensing & Disclosures: Manage voluntary self-disclosures and OFAC license applications. Coordinate with external counsel on enforcement matters, subpoenas, and regulatory inquiries from OFAC, FinCEN, and international equivalents.
  • Policy & Procedure Ownership: Draft, maintain, and enforce global sanctions policies, procedures, and controls documentation. Ensure policies are operationalized across all business lines, geographies, and subsidiary entities.
  • Customer & Counterparty Due Diligence: Oversee sanctions-related elements of onboarding and ongoing due diligence for retail customers, institutional clients, liquidity providers, banking partners, and third-party service providers.
  • Training & Culture: Design and deliver sanctions training programs for compliance staff, customer operations, product, and senior leadership. Foster a culture of sanctions awareness across the organization.
  • Cross-Functional & Executive Engagement: Regularly brief the CCO, General Counsel, and Board Risk Committee on the sanctions risk landscape, program maturity, and emerging threats. Collaborate with AML, legal, and government affairs teams on overlapping risk areas.
  • Regulatory Engagement & Industry Participation: Maintain relationships with OFAC, relevant international regulators, and industry bodies (e.g., ACAMS, ACSS). Monitor and respond to regulatory developments, guidance, and enforcement trends.

What We Look For In You

  • 10+ years of experience in leading global compliance, sanctions, or related regulatory functions.
  • Operational Excellence: Running a sanctions compliance program where controls are accurate, scalable, and fast enough to block prohibited activity in real time, without creating unnecessary friction for legitimate customers. It is proven not claimed, demonstrated through consistent decision-making, measurable program health metrics, and the ability to get ahead of risks before they become violations.
  • Deep Technical Expertise in Crypto-Specific Sanctions Risks: The ability to translate traditional sanctions compliance frameworks into the pseudonymous, borderless, and decentralized nature of blockchain, including understanding of DeFi protocols, mixers, cross-chain bridges, and privacy coins.
  • Regulatory Credibility & Relationships: A track record of constructive engagement with OFAC and peer regulators. The ability to represent the firm authoritatively in enforcement and supervisory interactions.
  • Proactive Risk Identification: Success in this role depends heavily on staying ahead of the sanctions landscape, anticipating new designations, emerging evasion typologies, and geopolitical developments (e.g., Russia/Belarus, Iran, North Korea/DPRK nexus risks) before they materialize into violations.
  • Technology Fluency: The ability to critically evaluate and guide sanctions technology decisions, from tuning screening thresholds to assessing the limitations of blockchain analytics, rather than relying solely on vendor outputs.
  • Influence Without Authority: The ability to drive compliance outcomes across engineering, product, legal, and business teams who do not report directly into compliance, essential in a fast-moving crypto environment where speed-to-market pressures are significant.
  • Speed & Precision Under Pressure: Sanctions violations can require immediate asset blocking and reporting. The ability to mobilize the organization quickly, make defensible decisions in ambiguous situations, and escalate appropriately is critical.
  • Global Regulatory Literacy: Comprehensive understanding of multi-jurisdictional sanctions regimes and how they interact, particularly where US secondary sanctions overlap with EU/UK rules, and the ability to manage conflicts of law across operating entities.
  • Program Scalability: Building a controls infrastructure that scales with user growth, geographic expansion, and product complexity without creating excessive friction for legitimate customers.

Nice to Haves

  • Prior experience leading sanctions compliance programs in regulated financial institutions or crypto/fintech firms.
  • Direct engagement history with OFAC enforcement or other government sanctions agencies.
  • Background in government, law enforcement, or intelligence agencies with expertise in sanctions or export controls.
  • Advanced knowledge of geopolitical risk, counterterrorism financing, or anti-money laundering frameworks.
  • Fluency in languages of key operating jurisdictions (e.g., Russian, Arabic, Mandarin) to facilitate direct engagement with regulators and regional teams.

Perks & Benefits

  • Competitive total compensation package
  • Comprehensive healthcare schemes for employees and dependents
  • Wellness programs, team events, and employee engagement initiatives
  • L&D opportunities and professional development support
  • More that we love to tell you along the process!

OKX Statement:

OKX is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
 
The salary range for this position is $240,000 - $360,000 (applies to CA, NY, NJ residents)
 
The salary offered depends on a variety of factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location. In addition to the salary, a performance bonus and long-term incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, as well as a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered.
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