Airwallex - Director, International Expansion — CEO Office
Requirements
• Intellectually curious, resilient, and hungry to win. You thrive on solving difficult problems, challenge conventional thinking, learn quickly, and have the drive and persistence to turn ambitious goals into results. • Significant experience in strategy, international expansion, business operations, or related roles, ideally in fintech, payments, banking, or other high-growth technology businesses. • Strong strategic and commercial judgment, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, evaluate complex trade-offs, and translate big-picture thinking into practical execution. • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and complex cross-functional initiatives, influence senior stakeholders, and drive outcomes in fast-paced environments. • Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity, make sound decisions, and engage effectively with executive leadership. • Entrepreneurial, hands-on mindset with a strong sense of ownership and willingness to get into the details to make things happen. • Proven track record of leading international market entries, including regulatory licensing, market-entry strategy, and operational launches. • Experience in fintech, payments, or financial services, with an understanding of regulatory frameworks, financial infrastructure, and the interplay between licensing, product, and commercial strategy. • Experience building and leading high-performing teams in high-growth, cross-functional environments. • APPLICANT SAFETY POLICY: FRAUD AND THIRD-PARTY RECRUITERS • To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com http://airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com http://careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page. • Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary. • EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Responsibilities
• As Director, International Expansion, you will lead Airwallex's expansion into new markets globally, shaping where and how we grow and building the regulatory, product, and operational foundations to succeed. • You will own a portfolio of market-entry initiatives end to end, from evaluating opportunities and defining entry strategies through licensing, product localisation, operational readiness, and commercial launch. • Reporting to the CEO's Chief of Staff, you will lead a lean team and work directly with senior executives to influence strategic decisions, mobilise cross-functional teams, and overcome the complex challenges of entering new markets. • This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who combines strategic judgment, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to translate ambitious plans into tangible outcomes. You will build and lead the expansion function while remaining directly involved in the most strategically important and complex market-entry initiatives. • Lead global expansion strategy: Own the strategy and execution of Airwallex's expansion into new markets globally. Evaluate and prioritise market opportunities, define entry strategies, and recommend where and how Airwallex should invest to establish and scale its presence. • Own market entry end to end: Lead expansion initiatives from initial market assessment through regulatory authorisation, entity establishment, product readiness, and operational launch. Take accountability for delivering market entries and navigating the strategic and execution challenges along the way. • Define regulatory and operating models: Work closely with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Finance to determine the optimal licensing, legal entity, and operating structures for each market. Translate regulatory requirements into practical, scalable business models that support Airwallex's long-term ambitions. • Influence product and infrastructure strategy: Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to shape local product capabilities, payment infrastructure, and market-specific roadmaps. Identify opportunities to deepen Airwallex's presence through new licences, direct payment-system access, and expanded product offerings. • Lead a high-performing team: Manage and develop a lean team, setting clear priorities, providing strategic guidance, and driving accountability across multiple markets. Personally lead the highest-priority or most complex initiatives while building the team's capabilities. • Drive executive alignment and investment decisions: Work directly with the CEO's Chief of Staff and senior executives to shape expansion priorities, resolve critical trade-offs, secure resources, and drive timely decisions. Present clear recommendations on market opportunities, regulatory strategy, investment requirements, and launch readiness. • Build external relationships: Partner with local regulators, financial institutions, payment networks, advisers, and other strategic stakeholders to support regulatory approvals, establish local capabilities, and unlock new market opportunities. • Build a scalable expansion engine: Develop repeatable frameworks, tools, and operating processes that enable Airwallex to expand faster and more efficiently. Leverage AI and automation to improve regulatory intelligence, market analysis, execution tracking, and cross-functional coordination. • Drive broader CEO Office priorities: Support or lead high-impact strategic initiatives beyond international expansion, working across the business to solve complex problems, shape company-level decisions, and drive execution on critical priorities.
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