Market Operations Associate - Belfast / NI - Exciting New FDI * Salary: Competitive bonus benefits About the Company Our client is building a world-changing institutional prediction market in partnership with leading global trading institutions. Operating at the frontier of capital markets and data, the business is launching a regulated trading and clearing platform designed to deliver meaningful, market-driven information discovery at scale. By combining market structure, financial discipline, and advanced technology, the platform empowers institutional participants to trade on the events shaping our world. As part of a global follow-the-sun operating model, Belfast is being established as a key European operations hub. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage and help build a high-impact, institutional-grade trading operation from the ground up. The Role The Market Operations Associate is a real-time, hands-on role focused on maintaining a fair and orderly market while providing operational and technical support to institutional trading clients and internal stakeholders. You will engage directly with: Institutional traders Futures commission merchants (FCMs) Clearing banks Engineers Product managers Senior leadership This is a fast-paced, high-visibility position where sound judgement, composure under pressure, and disciplined attention to detail are essential. You don't need decades of experience - but you do need the confidence and adaptability to operate in an institutional trading environment and handle mission-critical issues professionally. The role is hybrid but strongly in-office leaning, reflecting the pace, collaboration, and early-stage build of the Belfast team. Key Responsibilities * Develop deep expertise in trading systems, order types, market structure, and external interfaces * Provide real-time technical and non-technical support to market participants regarding trading, clearing, and data services * Monitor system integrity and maintain control of the trading environment * Escalate and coordinate incident response with engineering and technology teams * Maintain listed event contracts, ensuring accurate product specifications, trading parameters, and settlement terms * Execute and refine operational procedures * Design, build, and maintain automation scripts to improve operational efficiency * Synthesize user feedback and contribute to product and operational improvements * Collaborate with internal teams across Technology Operations, Product, Compliance, QA, Sales, and Regulation Essential Criteria * Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience * 2 years' experience in trade support, middle-office operations, quantitative trade consulting, compliance, or systems operations within an institutional trading, broker-dealer, exchange, or clearing environment * Clear understanding of electronic trading systems and market structure * Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to operate in time-sensitive, high-pressure environments * Excellent verbal and written communication skills * High attention to detail and disciplined operational mindset * Basic programming exposure (Python, SQL, or similar) with the ability to automate simple processes * Willingness to work an event-driven schedule, including rotational coverage Desirable (Not Essential) * Exposure to exchanges, electronic trading platforms, or institutional brokerage * Understanding of US futures market structure * Python scripting experience for automating operational tasks * SQL or query language experience * Familiarity with automation scheduling tools (e.g. Rundeck) * Experience analysing logs, trading data, or operational datasets Why Join * Be part of an early-stage team building a global regulated trading venue from the ground up * Join a well-capitalised, institutional-grade platform with experienced leadership and long-term backing * Play a key role in establishing and shaping the Belfast operations function * Gain exposure across trading, clearing, technology, and regulatory functions * Competitive compensation, bonus structure, and long-term career development * A professional, collaborative culture focused on sustainable performance and market integrity How to Apply If you're a Market Operations professional with experience in institutional trading environments and are excited about building something meaningful in Belfast, we'd love to speak with you. Apply via this link or reach out directly to Phil Gamble at Ocho for a confidential discussion via LinkedIn or WhatsApp.