DeFi Lead (USA)

About Ankr

Ankr is revolutionizing the Web3 ecosystem by delivering cutting-edge infrastructure solutions for blockchain-based projects. From staking services to enterprise-grade RPC and beyond, we empower developers, enterprises, and ecosystems to build and scale decentralized applications seamlessly.

We are looking for a talented DeFi Lead to join our team and take charge of driving growth within the DeFi space. This role is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise to expand our presence, form strategic partnerships, and contribute to the growth of DeFi on Ankr's platform by growing TVL and onchain metrics through CDP and lending/borrowing products in addition to growing the liquid staking products.

What You’ll Do

• Drive DeFi Growth and Partnerships
  • Identify, pitch, and onboard leading DeFi protocols, projects, and liquidity providers.
  • Cultivate relationships with DEXs, lending & borrowing platforms, and other key players in the DeFi ecosystem.
  • Negotiate and close strategic partnership agreements that expand Ankr's presence in DeFi.
• Creating DeFi strategies with dApps and blockchains, passively growing the TVL pie for Ankr
  • Create unique incentive models.
  • Enhance emissions models with partnering projects.
  • Nurture existing partnerships with periodical review of successful projects.
  • Growing and attracting TVL on-chain with all of our partners.
  • Expand $ANKR's market share by finding and implementing more use cases for $ANKR.
• Expand Ankr’s Reach in DeFi
  • Build and manage a robust pipeline of DeFi projects and stakeholders.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor, showcasing how Ankr’s infrastructure solutions can address challenges and enable growth.
  • Support projects with tailored solutions to integrate seamlessly with Ankr’s infrastructure.
• Be a Thought Leader
  • Stay ahead of trends in blockchain infrastructure and identify emerging opportunities.
  • Represent Ankr at conferences, industry events, and virtual forums to build brand awareness.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally
  • Work closely with marketing, product, and technical teams to ensure client needs are met.
  • Provide feedback from clients and the market to improve Ankr’s offerings.
• Be the Face of the Ecosystem:
  • Oversee the management and optimization of multiple BD channels to activate ecosystem partnerships.

What You’ll Need:

• Must have previous experience running DeFi and staking strategies
• Must have a proven track record of achieving quantifiable growth in total value locked (TVL) and other relevant on-chain metrics through DeFi strategies.
• Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or ecosystem growth within DeFi or Web3.
• A strong understanding of DeFi protocols, tokenomics, and market dynamics.
• An established network within the DeFi and broader blockchain communities.
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and presenting to audiences.
• Solid understanding of the blockchain space, including the challenges and opportunities in building ecosystems.

What Sets You Apart:

• You’re passionate about DeFi and motivated to drive meaningful impact.
• You have the confidence to inspire and the humility to listen.
• You’re passionate about this space and willing to take on ownership and leadership of the role to create high level impact both internally and externally.
• You bring high energy and an authentic presence to every interaction - whether virtual or in-person.
• You have experience working in a fast-paced startup environment, delivering results under tight deadlines.
• You’re a proactive problem solver with a can-do attitude and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Nice to Have🏅

• Familiarity with blockchain developer tools and infrastructure.
• Experience negotiating and closing partnership agreements.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in DeFi, blockchain partnerships, or a similar strategic role.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a team.
• Deep knowledge of blockchain and decentralized technologies is required along with trends in the US-based Web3 space.

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity within our organization, and strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply, even if they don’t match all the above criteria.

Why Join Us?

Our team is made up of entrepreneurs, creators, builders, and industry experts. We’re a collective of passionate individuals with experience at some of the world’s leading organizations, including AWS, Oracle, Google, Yandex, Ethereum, BitGo, Goldman Sachs, and more.

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Work remotely with flexibility and autonomy.
• Opportunities to travel and represent a growing platform.
• Be part of a fast-moving team that’s shaping the future of blockchain.

If you’re ready to bring high energy and real impact to the Web3 space, we’d love to hear from you.