Business Development Lead, Payments at MLabs

Business Development Lead - Payments Partnerships (Layer 1 Blockchain)

Location: New York City (Hybrid)

Compensation: $150K - $200K

Join the team behind the first parallelized Layer 1 blockchain, which has re-written the most widely adopted execution environment in Web3 to set a new standard in performance and scalability. Our platform allows applications to benefit from the speed of Web2 combined with the decentralization and sovereignty of Web3.

We are seeking an experienced Business Development Lead to drive strategic payments partnerships. This is a high-impact role requiring deep expertise in the global payments landscape. You will work directly with leadership, ecosystem teams, and strategic partners to position our blockchain as the premier chain for payments and settlement.

The Business Development Lead will be responsible for originating, negotiating, and executing strategic partnerships to expand the platform's presence in the global payments infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Development: Drive high-impact partnerships with Payment Service Providers (PSPs), enterprises with payments use cases, banks, middleware providers, and card issuers.
Negotiation Leadership: Lead high-impact negotiations from initial outreach through diligence, term sheets, and final launch, ensuring alignment on technical and commercial terms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Legal, Growth, and Ecosystem teams to ensure smooth partnership execution and product integration.
Market Analysis: Track payments trends across various regions, verticals, and use cases to inform the platform's broader growth priorities and strategic direction.
External Representation: Represent the blockchain externally at major industry events, with the press, and in strategic conversations to position the platform as a global settlement layer.

Requirements

Payment Ecosystem Knowledge: Deep familiarity with the global payments landscape and infrastructure (PSPs, card networks, acquiring banks, etc.).
Deal Track Record: A proven track record of successfully closing complex deals and driving partnerships from concept to full execution.
Investment/Fintech Background: Experience as a VC investor at a fintech or crypto-focused firm, demonstrating analytical rigor and strategic foresight.
Communication & Negotiation: Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical value propositions to non-technical business stakeholders.
Decision Making: Strong analytical instincts and the ability to make data-driven decisions based on metrics that drive ecosystem health.
Work Ethic: High agency, proactive, solutions-oriented, and comfortable working effectively with ambiguity in a rapidly evolving industry.

Nice to Haves

Direct experience working with major payments providers or payments startups (e.g., PayPal, Visa, Ramp).
Prior experience in business development or strategic partnerships within the technology space.
Experience launching or scaling payment-related products.

Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation structure that includes strong performance incentives and direct token alignment with the platform's long-term success.

Base Salary: $150,000 - $200,000 maximum
Performance Bonus: 10% - 15% of base salary
Token Grant: 10% - 15% of base salary per year (4-year total grant vesting schedule)

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing human-resources@mlabs.city.

MLabs Ltd collects and processes the personal information you provide such as your contact details, work history, resume, and other relevant data for recruitment purposes only. This information is managed securely in accordance with MLabs Ltd's Privacy Policy and Information Security Policy, and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Your data may be shared only with clients and trusted partners where necessary for recruitment purposes. You may request the deletion of your data or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting legal@mlabs.city.

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