Sr. Director of Risk

What you’ll do:

NinjaTrader is seeking an experienced Sr. Director of Risk to lead the firm’s risk management program and ensure effective governance across all business and operational functions. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive Risk Management Program in alignment with CFTC Regulation 1.11, NFA requirements, and exchange risk standards. 

The successful candidate will identify, measure, monitor, and mitigate key risks across the firm while ensuring strong risk governance and regulatory compliance. The Sr. Director of Risk will report to our Chief Compliance Officer and will partner closely with Compliance, Technology, Operations, and Product teams to maintain a resilient and proactive risk framework that supports sound decision-making and sustainable growth.

In this role you will:

• Develop, implement, and oversee NinjaTrader’s Risk Management Program (RMP) in compliance with CFTC, NFA, and exchange requirements, covering market, credit, liquidity, capital, operational, legal, and technology risks
• Establish and maintain risk policies, procedures, limits, and escalation protocols to ensure effective governance and oversight
• Maintain and report on key risk indicators (KRIs) and risk appetite metrics; use insights to inform program priorities
• Monitor daily risk exposures, including margin adequacy, concentration, liquidity, and counterparty credit, and escalate breaches or emerging risks promptly
• Conduct stress testing, back-testing, and scenario analysis to evaluate resilience to market volatility, liquidity stress, and client concentration risks
• Lead or support risk reporting and governance, providing timely updates to senior management, the CCO, and regulators
• Conduct and document compliance risk assessments to evaluate risk exposure and identify areas for enhanced monitoring, testing, or training
• Collaborate with Compliance, Operations, Treasury, and Technology to align risk monitoring with supervisory, financial, and operational controls
• Engage with CFTC, NFA, DCOs, and exchanges on risk-related matters; assist in regulatory filings, attestations, and audits in coordination with Compliance and Legal
• Drive automation and system enhancements for risk analytics, dashboards, and real-time exposure monitoring
• Partner with Finance and Treasury on capital and liquidity risk management; ensure alignment between the Risk and Compliance programs
• Contribute to a risk-aware culture by promoting transparency, accountability, and proactive risk management across the organization

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of risk management and clearing operations experience in financial services, preferably within an FCM, derivatives broker, or clearing firm
• Strong knowledge of CFTC and NFA regulations, including CFTC Regulation 1.11 and risk management standards in futures and derivatives markets
• Proven experience implementing or overseeing risk frameworks, limits, margin methodologies (SPAN, VaR, stress testing), and escalation procedures
• Demonstrated ability to lead risk governance, regulatory interactions, and cross-functional collaboration
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, and communication skills; able to explain complex risk concepts to executives and regulators
• Effective interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, fostering cooperation across technical and business teams

Bonus points for:

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS Risk, or Financial Engineering) or certification such as FRM or CFA
• Knowledge of capital adequacy, liquidity management, and DCO risk frameworks
• Familiarity with cyber, operational, and third-party risk management

Compensation:

The salary range for this role will be $200,000 - $225,000 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of X%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).

Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual paid time off allowance accrues at a rate of 18 days per year (some positions may qualify for more) plus seven paid holidays.

Location:

This role is based in Chicago, IL. *There may be remote flexibility for exceptional candidates in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin.

Hybrid:

For Chicago-based employees, we follow a hybrid work schedule: In-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays. In addition to these weekly remote days, we offer:

• 20 additional flex remote days annually
• 5 Company Wide Office-Optional weeks tied to major holidays