Lead Blockchain Director

Job title: Lead Blockchain Architect/Director

Location: London

Contract length: 12 months

Join a global leader in financial services and help to shape the future of finance. Randstad Sourceright, a leading provider of RPO & MSP Recruitment Services is currently seeking an exceptionally skilled and visionary Lead Blockchain Architect/Director to spearhead strategic initiatives in distributed ledger technology, tokenization, and digital assets on behalf of a well established global financial services organisation. The Blockchain Centre of Excellence is at the forefront of exploring and validating the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ecosystem, identifying opportunities relevant to our business and the broader financial industry. The agile team is driven by a shared passion for leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges.

This senior leadership role demands profound technical expertise in blockchain architectures, a comprehensive understanding of tokenization use cases—especially within mutual funds and money market funds—and a proven ability to influence enterprise direction through thought leadership and the implementation of best practices. You will balance hands-on technical contribution with strategic advisory, leading the charge on critical projects and collaborating with senior stakeholders across the organization.

Some of the duties will include but are not limited to

• Strategic Blockchain Vision & Roadmapping: Define and drive the long-term blockchain strategy for the organization, identifying transformative opportunities and developing a clear roadmap for DLT adoption and integration.
• Enterprise Architecture & Standards Leadership: Architect and govern scalable, secure, and interoperable blockchain solutions. Establish and enforce best practices for blockchain architecture patterns, security models, and integration standards across the enterprise.
• Advanced Tokenization Frameworks: Lead the assessment, design, and implementation of sophisticated blockchain-based tokenization frameworks for regulated financial products, including mutual funds, money market funds, and other financial assets. Deep familiarity with token standards (e.g., ERC protocols) is essential.
• Technical Due Diligence & Vendor Management: Provide expert technical oversight and risk assessment for DLT implementations by vendors and partners. Lead the evaluation of blockchain platforms and protocols, focusing on performance, security, scalability, and interoperability.
• Hands-on Development & Integration (when needed): While a strategic leadership role, you will perform hands-on coding and implementation of complex blockchain solutions, including smart contracts, APIs, and oracles, acting as an individual contributor as required. Lead the integration of blockchain platforms with existing enterprise systems, ensuring optimal performance and robust security.
• Influential Thought Leadership: Serve as a pre-eminent internal and external thought leader on blockchain, digital assets, and emerging DLT trends. Publish white papers, present at industry forums, and actively engage with innovation networks, including familiarity with initiatives like Project Guardian and Project Jura.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Partner strategically with business, compliance, operations, and IT teams at all levels, including senior executives, to align blockchain initiatives with overarching strategic objectives and navigate complex regulatory landscapes. Exceptional communication and influencing skills are paramount.
• Emerging Technology Scouting & Research: Continuously monitor and evaluate nascent trends in the DLT space, including developments in smart contracts, zero-knowledge proofs, decentralized custody solutions, CBDCs, stablecoins, and DeFi constructs as applied to traditional finance.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Develop and implement KYC and compliance strategies for blockchain-based solutions, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
• CI/CD Approach: Champion a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) approach for blockchain development and deployment.

Required experience:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Extensive progressive experience in enterprise IT or software engineering, with a significant amount of experience in a leadership role focused on blockchain or distributed ledger technologies
• Demonstrable deep understanding and hands-on experience with major blockchain platforms such as Ethereum and Hyperledger and familiarity with their underlying architectures
• Extensive experience with smart contract development (e.g., Solidity, Rust) and advanced blockchain system integration
• Profound familiarity with asset management, custody, fund distribution, and the regulatory environment
• Proven track record in designing, evaluating and delivering tokenization use cases, including financial asset tokenization projects
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to influence senior management and drive strategic change
• A "Solutions Architect" mindset with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant experience engaging directly with financial regulators or working extensively within a highly regulated institution
• Active involvement in industry initiatives such as the Tokenized Funds Working Group or similar consortia
• Experience with advanced DLT concepts like Oracles, zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized identity
• Familiarity with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and their potential applications in institutional finance
• Demonstrated experience balancing technical depth with strategic leadership, including influencing senior stakeholders