Director of Business Development, Avara

• 5+ years of professional experience in business development, sales, partnerships, or strategy roles within fintech, exchanges, and relevant crypto-native startups
• Experience managing competitive partnership processes with a proven track record in driving complex integrations
• Exceptional ability to convey ideas clearly, engage audiences, and influence decision-making
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyze trends to craft narratives and materials
• Ability to grasp complex technical concepts and communicate them effectively to prospective partners amd distill into clear next steps
• Extensive network within the fintech and crypto native space
• Curiosity and motivation to deeply understand DeFi protocols, stablecoins, and the broader crypto ecosystem
• Strong organisational and communication skills, comfortable managing multiple workstreams and executing swiftly
• Self-starter mentality, with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and grow into new responsibilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Must have a positive, team-oriented attitude

Desirable

• We are seeking an experienced professional to drive Aave’s relationships with Fintechs, stablecoin providers, and exchanges. This role is part of the Business Development team at Aave Labs and collaborates cross-functionally with engineering, product, and leadership teams
• Your main focus will be building partnerships with fintechs, exchanges, and stablecoin providers to grow adoption of Aave’s lending infrastructure, while reinforcing Aave’s position as the core layer for DeFi integrations and yield
• You will combine business development, product strategy, and fintech expertise to unlock large-scale distribution partnerships, using Aave as the infrastructure layer
• Collaborate with the Head of Business Development to lead and execute strategic partnerships with fintechs, exchange platforms (CeFi), and stablecoin providers, driving the growth and adoption of Aave’s lending infrastructure. Serve as the primary point of contact for these verticals
• Position Aave as the premier lending backend for the next generation of financial platforms
• Maintain and drive forward integrations with existing strategic partners. Identify, manage, and negotiate new high-impact partnerships and opportunities to unlock new use cases and expand Aave’s presence within the fintech and CeFi ecosystems
• Strengthen Aave’s leadership as the top platform for stablecoin yields, positioning its infrastructure as the preferred solution for stablecoin integration and widespread industry adoption
• Drive end-to-end commercial and product discussions for partners, identifying prospects, understanding product requirements, structuring partnerships, and negotiating terms
• Collaborate closely with internal and external cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, legal, and leadership to drive integrations
• Work with partner internal and external product teams to design tailored, innovative solutions using Aave V4
• Ensure the successful execution and implementation of integrations, managing smooth rollouts and go-to-market with partners, including post-launch partner management
• Monitor market trends, regulatory shifts, and competitive movements within the fintech, stablecoin, and CeFi sectors to uncover new growth opportunities for Aave’s ecosystem
• Represent Aave at major industry events, showcasing its capabilities and driving new business development opportunities
• Provide valuable strategic insights and feedback from partners to influence Aave’s product roadmap and enhance the platform’s appeal within the broader ecosystem