Director of Compliance

ElectronX•Chicago, IL

1d•$170,000 - $200,000

About The Position

ElectronX is seeking a Director of Compliance, a hands-on compliance leader who personally executes core day-to-day work while managing and developing the Compliance team at a CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse. ElectronX operates as both a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), launched live trading in December 2025, and runs on a fully collateralized, self-clearing model. Reporting directly to the CRO/CCO and sitting between the Compliance Associate/Senior Investigator level and the CRO/CCO, you will own the trade surveillance program, serve as a primary point of contact for CFTC inquiries, and partner closely with Operations and Engineering to embed compliance requirements into the business.

Requirements

8–12 years of compliance, regulatory, or legal experience at or with CFTC- or SEC-regulated entities or SROs, including DCMs, DCOs, FCMs, broker-dealers, exchanges, clearinghouses, or similar regulated markets or registrants.
Substantive knowledge of CFTC regulations, including Parts 1, 16, 17, 38, 39, and 40 and familiarity with Core Principle obligations for exchanges and clearinghouses.
Demonstrated experience with CFTC regulatory reporting, specifically Parts 16 and 17; comparable SEC or FINRA reporting experience is considered highly transferable.
Experience in trade surveillance, including alert review, investigation management, and surveillance platform administration.
Demonstrated experience drafting regulatory correspondence, responding to examinations, or managing relationships with government regulators or SROs.
Strong writing and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable internal and external communications.
Experience supervising or mentoring junior compliance or surveillance staff.
Ability to work cross-functionally with technical teams (Engineering, Operations) and translate regulatory requirements into operational specifications.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
Ownership mentality: You take full responsibility for your work from conception to production
Regulatory acumen: Deep and current knowledge of CFTC rules applicable to exchange and clearinghouse operations
Judgment & independence: You make sound compliance determinations in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment, with appropriate escalation when warranted
Operational discipline: Organized and detail-oriented, with strong workflow management and documentation habits
Clear communication: A credible communicator with regulators, senior management, and cross-functional colleagues
Leadership: Effective at managing and developing junior staff while maintaining individual contribution at a high level
Collaboration: A strong partner to non-compliance functions, able to explain regulatory constraints constructively without impeding business progress

Nice To Haves

Direct experience at a DCM or DCO, or within the energy or electricity derivatives markets.
Familiarity with automated surveillance platforms (e.g., Eventus/Validus, Nasdaq Surveillance, or similar tools).
Experience with CFTC examination processes.
Working knowledge of FIX protocol, trading system architecture, or financial technology infrastructure.
J.D. or advanced degree in a relevant discipline.

Responsibilities

Own day-to-day compliance monitoring and program execution across EXI’s DCM and DCO regulatory obligations under CFTC Parts 38 and 39.
Maintain and administer EXI’s compliance procedures, policies, and internal controls frameworks, including the Compliance Manual and Compliance Desk Manual.
Track and manage EXI’s regulatory calendar, including filing deadlines, self-certification obligations under Part 40, and periodic reporting requirements.
Assist in the preparation and review of annual compliance reports, Core Principle assessments, and other periodic regulatory deliverables.
Support the CRO/CCO in managing all aspects of CFTC examinations, including document production, coordinating responses, and scheduling with Division staff.
Manage EXI’s trade surveillance program, including oversight of the Eventus/Validus platform configuration, alert review workflows, and investigation procedures.
Mentor the Compliance team, helping set performance expectations and developing their capacity to operate independently.
Review and disposition surveillance alerts across EXI’s automated detection scenarios, including layering, spoofing, wash trading, and other manipulative or disruptive trading practices.
Oversee the escalation, documentation, and resolution of surveillance investigations, including maintaining investigation files to regulatory standards.
Evaluate and enhance detection logic, scenario coverage, and alert thresholds in coordination with Eventus and outside counsel.
Ensure the surveillance program satisfies applicable DCM Core Principles (Core Principle 2) and applicable CFTC regulations.
Serve as the primary internal point of contact for inbound inquiries from CFTC Divisions (DMO, DCR, MPD, DOD), coordinating internally and with the Legal department.
Draft initial responses to CFTC inquiries, information requests, and examination questions, with review by the CRO/CCO and/or Legal prior to submission.
Assist in maintaining the Jira log of all regulatory correspondence and open items, ensuring timely resolution and appropriate recordkeeping under CFTC Rule 1.31.
Assist in the preparation of responses to no-action requests, rule interpretations, and other matters requiring CFTC engagement.
Act as the primary compliance liaison to the Operations and Engineering teams, ensuring regulatory requirements are understood and incorporated into system design, product development, and operational workflows.
Collaborate with Engineering on compliance-related system requirements, including trade surveillance data feeds, regulatory reporting, kill switch functionality, drop copy services, FIX protocol configurations, and recordkeeping infrastructure.
Partner with Operations on participant onboarding (AML/CIP/KYC), user authorization workflows, and operational compliance matters.
Participate in cross-functional reviews of new product initiatives, rule changes, and system modifications to identify and address compliance implications.
Advise Engineering on regulatory reporting requirements related to Part 16 and 17 obligations.
Contribute a regulatory compliance perspective to incident response and operational exception processes.
Assist the CRO/CCO with regulatory strategy, petition preparation, and engagement with CFTC staff on EXI’s business initiatives.
Maintain awareness of evolving CFTC rules, guidance, no-action letters, and enforcement actions relevant to EXI’s business.
Contribute to the development and delivery of compliance training for EXI staff.
Perform other compliance and regulatory duties as assigned by the CRO/CCO.