Regulatory Affairs and Licensing - Southern Africa Lead (100% remote)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Workplace: remote Join Tether and Shape the Future of Digital Finance At Tether, we’re not just building products, we’re pioneering a global financial revolution. Our cutting-edge solutions empower businesses—from exchanges and wallets to payment processors and ATMs—to seamlessly integrate reserve-backed tokens across blockchains. By harnessing the power of blockchain technology, Tether enables you to store, send, and receive digital tokens instantly, securely, and globally, all at a fraction of the cost. Transparency is the bedrock of everything we do, ensuring trust in every transaction. Innovate with Tether Tether Finance: Our innovative product suite features the world’s most trusted stablecoin, USDT , relied upon by hundreds of millions worldwide, alongside pioneering digital asset tokenization services. But that’s just the beginning: Tether Power: Driving sustainable growth, our energy solutions optimize excess power for Bitcoin mining using eco-friendly practices in state-of-the-art, geo-diverse facilities. Tether Data: Fueling breakthroughs in AI and peer-to-peer technology, we reduce infrastructure costs and enhance global communications with cutting-edge solutions like KEET , our flagship app that redefines secure and private data sharing. Tether Education : Democratizing access to top-tier digital learning, we empower individuals to thrive in the digital and gig economies, driving global growth and opportunity. Tether Evolution : At the intersection of technology and human potential, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, crafting a future where innovation and human capabilities merge in powerful, unprecedented ways. Why Join Us? Our team is a global talent powerhouse, working remotely from every corner of the world. If you’re passionate about making a mark in the fintech space, this is your opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds, pushing boundaries and setting new standards. We’ve grown fast, stayed lean, and secured our place as a leader in the industry. If you have excellent English communication skills and are ready to contribute to the most innovative platform on the planet, Tether is the place for you. Are you ready to be part of the future? About the job Tether and its affiliated entities (e.g. Bitfinex) are searching for an organized self-starter to join our Regulatory and Licensing team, to lead efforts in the Southern Africa Region. The successful candidate is someone with an understanding of the regulatory environment pertaining to the crypto-asset industry / stablecoin industry in the country, and who is excited by the opportunity to apply their existing legal and / or regulatory experience in an exciting and dynamic business environment. To succeed in this role, the incumbent will continuously strive to self-develop and enhance their skill sets including understanding the Company’s products and services, blockchain technology, and regulatory requirements. You will have a focus around working with regulators to translate policy objectives of the companies into favourable regulatory requirements in the applicable countries, as part of enabling the broader business strategy. From time to time, this may also include working on obtaining regulatory authorisations / approvals. The successful candidate should be comfortable managing relationships and communications between various stakeholders both internal and external to the business, including regulators and policy setters, as well as working with cross-functional teams such as Operations, Finance, Technology, Business Development. You will report to the Head of Regulatory and Licensing Affairs-Africa, and work alongside project managers and members of the wider business to execute on regulatory and licensing initiatives. Responsibilities Regulatory Affairs Monitor regulatory developments impacting Tether and affiliates companies in the Southern Africa Region. Maintain active relationships with policymakers, regulators, central banks, and financial intelligence units. Represent the company in consultations, workshops, industry roundtables, and regulatory dialogues. Prepare briefing papers, comment letters, and policy submissions aligned with broader global regulatory strategy. Identify opportunities to shape emerging frameworks in a risk-sensitive, innovation-oriented manner. Licensing & Authorisations Conduct structured assessments on whether licensing/registration is required for operations in the country. Lead or support licensing applications end-to-end - where needed - including preparation of supplementary documentation, legal opinion coordination, regulator communications, and post-submission follow-up. Strategy & Cross-Functional Collaboration Provide actionable risk and regulatory insights to internal stakeholders (legal, product, compliance, risk, commercial). Support enterprise-level planning for new products or expansions into the countries, advising on regulatory constraints and enablers. Help coordinate responses to supervisory reviews, information requests, and regulatory audits. Contribute to internal reporting and executive briefings on policy risks and regulatory trajectory within the region. Minimum of 5 years governmental affairs and regulatory affairs experience ideally within the financial services or crypto-asset industry in South Africa. Experience engaging with regulators or government bodies advocating and advising in a regulatory capacity, with demonstrated achievements securing favourable policy positions on behalf of another organisation. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex regulatory topics for non-technical audiences. Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders across borders and time zones. Communication: Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in public speaking and representing companies in regulatory discussions. Must be a strong team player, and willing to be fully engaged with key stakeholders both in our company but also with our partners. Must be a hands-on professional capable of working collaboratively and independently. Important information for candidates Recruitment scams have become increasingly common. To protect yourself, please keep the following in mind when applying for roles: Apply only through our official channels. We do not use third-party platforms or agencies for recruitment unless clearly stated. All open roles are listed on our official careers page: https://tether.recruitee.com/ Verify the recruiter’s identity. All our recruiters have verified LinkedIn profiles. If you’re unsure, you can confirm their identity by checking their profile or contacting us through our website. Be cautious of unusual communication methods. We do not conduct interviews over WhatsApp, Telegram, or SMS. All communication is done through official company emails and platforms. Double-check email addresses. All communication from us will come from emails ending in @ tether.to or @ tether.io We will never request payment or financial details. If someone asks for personal financial information or payment at any point during the hiring process, it is a scam. Please report it immediately. When in doubt, feel free to reach out through our official website.