Head of Trading Operations, Algorithmic Trading Group

Key Responsibilities

• Manage traders and trading schedules to ensure redundancy, reliability, and business continuity of trading operations (including on-call coverage and disaster recovery).
• Lead and own all aspects of trading operations with an ongoing emphasis on maximizing trading desk performance, automation and process improvement.
• Develop and refine operational protocols with researchers, developers, and traders to optimize the operation and communication of the trading desk.
• Manage and drive the UX/UI team to improve trading UIs and processes that improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance trader workflows.
• Maintain and improve systems and processes related to position management, back office, clearing, and exchange relationships; ensure accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory/compliance alignment.
• Define and track KPIs for desk operations (uptime, incident response times, error rates, etc.) and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead data-driven decision making; partner with researchers and developers to develop dashboards, automations, and alerting.
• Enhance communication and training among traders to standardize processes, ensure reliable operation of trading systems, and foster a culture of ownership and excellence.

Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years experience in financial markets, desk operations, or equivalent leadership roles within a trading environment; experience overseeing trading systems and operations.
• Experience on a trading desk managing automated trading systems and tools, strategies, orders, positions, and risk, with demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Strong understanding of position management, trade capture, settlement, clearing, and exchange processes; familiarity with multiple asset classes preferred.
• Demonstrated track record in automation, process optimization, and driving measurable improvements in trading operations.
• Proven ability to design and implement operational controls, incident-management frameworks, and disaster-recovery plans for trading environments.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams (traders, researchers, software developers, UX/UI designers, risk/compliance).
• Technical aptitude: comfort with data tooling, scripting and AI tools is a plus.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related quantitative field. MBA is a plus.

What success looks like

• Improved desk uptime and reliability with reduced incident response times.
• Higher efficiency and reduced human error through automation and streamlined workflows.
• Clear procedures for all core desk operations.
• Strong, collaborative relationships across researchers, developers, traders, and risk/compliance teams.
• A scalable, resilient operating model with robust redundancy.

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

Benefits

DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.