Head of Payments, Business Development

Company: Stellar Development Foundation

Location: New York, US (Remote)

Employment Type: Full Time

Salary: $255,000–$385,000 USD per year

About Stellar

Stellar is a blockchain platform powered by a decentralized, fast, scalable, and uniquely sustainable network made for financial products and services. Founded in 2014, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization focused on working with and supporting change-makers to create equitable access to the global financial system through blockchain technology. Developers and companies around the world build on Stellar, and the SDF team is expanding to support the rapidly growing and changing Stellar ecosystem.

About the Role

We are looking for a seasoned Head of Payments BD to drive growth in active accounts and reaffirm Stellar's position as the leading blockchain for payments. The person in this role will serve as a key leader on the business team at Stellar and manage the business development team focused on growing active accounts on the Stellar network. Core areas include building out Stellar's payments and stablecoin ecosystem, growing wallets at a global scale, managing key verticals like international aid, and growing into new verticals. This person will support the broader partnership team and company objectives, and will own primary OKRs focused on account growth and payment volume.

Responsibilities

• Manage the team responsible for driving Monthly Active Account volume on Stellar, including strategizing around payouts and commerce, ramps and wallet growth for the Stellar ecosystem, and vertical-specific strategies on Aid
• Conduct thorough analysis of the merchant payment ecosystem at a global scale and establish a commercial engagement strategy to drive onboarding to the Stellar network
• Develop a priority target list and ensure execution against primary targets
• Manage key strategic relationships with global payment service providers
• Conduct business development work related to core priorities on expanding DeFi, increasing monthly addresses, and driving asset tokenization, in coordination with partnership vertical leads
• Surface opportunities based on Stellar's needs and help close deals brought by other members of BD and SDF
• Assist on regulatory and government relations needs in-region, supporting the Legal, Policy and Government Relations teams
• Assist the Ecosystem team to identify, plan, and run events in-region

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant experience with a proven track record of success in business development, with significant experience in payment processing, fintech, or blockchain/crypto-related roles
• Strong understanding of crypto payment systems, including experience working with cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain technology, and digital asset payments
• Deep understanding of merchant payment systems and the ability for blockchain to enhance these, with focus on global and local payments across different regions
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams to meet and exceed targets
• Experience developing and executing go-to-market strategies, identifying new business opportunities, and managing complex sales cycles
• Experience working with financial institutions, crypto companies, payment providers, or fintech startups
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with senior-level professionals, sound judgment, poise in professional settings, and self-awareness
• Self-starter with entrepreneurial drive
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to build strong relationships and negotiate high-stakes deals
• Ability to travel as needed, with frequent representation of Stellar at regional and global meetings and conferences

Bonus

• Existing relationships within the crypto ecosystem, particularly with a focus on payments and decentralized finance
• Existing relationships with payment companies and/or payment service providers

Benefits (USA)

• Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage with most plans covered at 100% for the employee and any dependents
• Flexible time off plus 15 company holidays including a company-wide holiday break
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for both non-birthing and birthing parents, and up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave for birthing parents
• Gym reimbursement ($80 per month)
• Life and ADD insurance (up to $50K)
• Short and long-term disability
• 401K with 4% match
• Health and Dependent Care FSA Accounts
• Commuter benefits with $250/month employer contribution
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with monthly employer contribution
• Family building benefits through Kindbody
• Wellbeing benefits (One Medical, Rightway, Headspace)
• L&D budget of $1,500/year
• Daily lunch and snacks in office
• Company retreats
• Lumen-denominated grants