VP Business Development and Adoption

Your opportunity:

Make a real difference in the blockchain industry! Build the change you want to see.

The VP Adoption & Business Development is a critical leadership role responsible for driving the adoption, growth, and commercial success of the Cardano ecosystem. The role will develop and execute the foundation's commercial strategy, build strategic partnerships, foster developer and enterprise adoption, and cultivate a thriving community around the blockchain. This role requires a deep understanding of blockchain technology and Web3 landscape, a strong business acumen, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for the decentralized future.

In this role you will be having the following responsibilities:

Commercial Strategy Development and Execution:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive commercial strategy aligned with the foundation's mission and technical roadmap.
• Identify key market opportunities, target audiences (developers, enterprises, users), and potential revenue streams (where applicable and aligned with the foundation's model).
• Monitor the execution of the commercial goals, GKRs, and metrics to track progress and measure success.
• Support the development and execution of go-to-market plans for key initiatives and features.
• Direct responsibility for the commercial P&L cycle, including budget planning, financial forecasting, and the delivery of cost-effective growth strategies.

Partnership Development and Management:

• Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with businesses, other Layer 1/Layer 2 protocols, infrastructure providers, exchanges, and other relevant organizations to drive adoption and expand the Cardano Web3 ecosystem and foster interoperability.
• Negotiate and finalize partnership agreements, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key partners, fostering long-term collaboration.
• Identify and target enterprise use cases for the Cardano Blockchain technology.
• Develop strategies and materials to educate and onboard enterprises.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers within target enterprises.
• Work with the technical team to address enterprise-specific requirements and concerns regarding blockchain integrations and Web3 adoption.

Community Building and Engagement:

• Participate in industry events, conferences, and meetups to promote the platform and engage with the global Web3 community.
• Foster a positive and collaborative community culture.

Marketing and Communications Oversight:

• Collaborate with the marketing and communications teams to develop and execute effective marketing campaigns, content strategies, and public relations initiatives.
• Ensure consistent and impactful messaging across all communication channels.
• Build brand awareness and enhance the reputation of the Cardano Foundation within the broader Web3 landscape.

Legal and Compliance:

• Work closely with legal counsel to ensure all commercial activities comply with relevant regulations and legal frameworks.

Lead and directly manage two high-performing, global teams by setting clear performance goals, KPIs, and standards for excellence.

Actively mentor and coach team members, cultivating a high-resilience, performance-driven sales culture and supporting the professional development of strong salespeople and adoption specialists.

Ensure seamless collaboration and knowledge transfer between the internal teams, maximizing pipeline velocity and strategic alignment across all commercial activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field. An advanced degree (MBA or Master's) is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in commercial roles, preferably within the technology, SaaS, or blockchain/cryptocurrency industries.
• Exceptional leadership experience in managing, mentoring, and coaching high-performing, revenue-focused sales or business development teams globally.
• Deep understanding of blockchain technology, particularly Layer 1 protocols, their architecture, and their potential applications.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful commercial strategies that drive adoption and growth.
• Extensive experience in building and managing strategic partnerships with diverse organizations.
• Strong understanding of developer ecosystems and experience in fostering developer adoption.
• Experience in engaging with enterprise clients and understanding their needs.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Exceptional leadership, team management, and motivational skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving environment.
• Passion for the decentralized web and the potential of blockchain technology.
• Fluency in English is essential. Additional language skills…