Project Manager - Futures

Marcus Donald People; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Marcus Donald People is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead a high-profile Futures transformation programme for a global financial institution. The role involves cross-border regulatory, settlement, and technology workstreams with executive visibility.

Fully remote across North America, with monthly office attendance. The ideal candidate will have deep Futures/FCM experience, delivery of large-scale regulatory or operational changes, and proven ability to manage complex,

Qualifications

• Proven PM experience in capital markets or derivatives environments.
• Deep understanding of futures lifecycle and FCM operations.
• Experience with cross-border regulatory and settlement models.
• Delivery of large-scale regulatory or technology change programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives for FCM capabilities.
• Manage programme workstreams across clearing, operations, technology, risk, compliance, finance and onboarding.
• Build and maintain detailed project plans, governance, milestones and executive reporting.
• Coordinate business readiness, testing, implementation and operational transition activities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Front Office, Operations, Technology, Legal, Compliance and Risk.
• Drive issue resolution and manage programme risks, dependencies and regulatory obligations.
• Support settlement and post-trade operating model design for a European entity with Italy settlement activity.

Skills

Project management

Capital markets

FCM

Regulatory change

Stakeholder management

Job description

Location: Fully Remote (North America)

Employment Type: Contract

The Opportunity

A leading global financial institution is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead a strategic Futures transformation programme as it builds and enhances its Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) capabilities.

This high-profile role will be responsible for driving a complex, multi-year programme involving regulatory, operational, clearing, settlement, and technology workstreams. The organisation is targeting a significant operating model transition, making this a critical appointment with substantial executive visibility.

The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of the Futures industry and have direct experience working within, or delivering change for, an FCM environment. Experience navigating cross-border regulatory and settlement models is highly desirable, including support for European legal entities and settlement processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives supporting the establishment and enhancement of FCM capabilities.
• Manage programme workstreams across clearing, operations, technology, risk, compliance, finance, and client onboarding.
• Build and maintain detailed project plans, governance frameworks, milestones, and executive reporting.
• Coordinate business readiness, testing, implementation, and operational transition activities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Front Office, Operations, Technology, Legal, Compliance, and Risk functions.
• Drive issue resolution and manage programme risks, dependencies, and regulatory obligations.
• Support settlement and post-trade operating model design involving a European legal entity with settlement activity in Italy.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned to the target transition date.

Required Experience

• Proven Project Management experience within Capital Markets, Investment Banking, Clearing, or Exchange-Traded Derivatives environments.
• Strong understanding of Futures products and the end-to-end trade lifecycle.
• Direct experience with Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) businesses, including a solid understanding of:

Clearing and settlement processes

Margin and collateral management

Client onboarding

Exchange and clearing house connectivity

Regulatory reporting

Operational controls and governance

• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale regulatory, operational, or technology change programmes.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional programmes with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Excellent governance, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Preferred Experience
• Experience working with major exchanges and clearing houses.
• Understanding of US and European regulatory requirements relating to Futures and Clearing.
• Experience supporting FCM launches, business expansions, operating model transformations, or clearing migrations.
• Knowledge of European legal entity structures and settlement frameworks.
• Familiarity with front-to-back Futures processing and clearing platforms.
• Candidate Profile
• The ideal candidate will be a delivery-focused Project Manager who combines strong programme leadership skills with deep subject matter expertise in Futures and FCM operations. You will have experience navigating highly regulated environments, managing senior stakeholders, and delivering complex business transformations against fixed strategic deadlines.
• Fully remote working across North America; you will have to attend the office once per month.
• Opportunity to lead a business-critical transformation programme.
• Significant exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-makers.
• Long-term programme running through a major operating model transition.

Keywords:

Project Manager, Futures, Listed Derivatives, FCM, Futures Commission Merchant, Clearing, Settlement, Capital Markets, Regulatory Change, Trading Operations, Transformation Programme, Target Operating Model, Remote North America.