Partnerships Lead

Castleisland; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Startup environment

Global impact

Collaborative culture

Job summary

OpenFX is seeking a Strategic Partnerships Lead to drive growth through global partnerships with banks, liquidity providers, and crypto institutions. You will expand our partner network, ensure robust liquidity for cross-border payments, and enable global expansion.

We value a track record of closing large deals, deep FX market knowledge, and leadership across international teams. Join a fast-growing fintech at the forefront of global financial infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in business development or partnerships in financial services.
• Strong network within banks, financial institutions, and crypto.
• Proven track record closing complex deals (≥ $10M).
• Deep understanding of FX, banking infrastructure, and cross-border payments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global partnership strategy across traditional banking and crypto sectors.
• Identify, pursue and secure high-value partnerships with banks and liquidity providers.
• Lead revenue growth through partner channels and institutional clients.
• Structure complex commercial agreements and terms.
• Manage partner relationships and build partner success programs.
• Collaborate with legal and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Lead and mentor the partnerships team as the company scales.

Skills

Banking network

FX market knowledge

Deal closing

Negotiation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

About Us

OpenFX is on a mission to move money as freely as data, unrestricted by time zones, banking hours, or legacy systems. We are building the infrastructure that will power the next generation of cross-border payment systems for institutions. The team's execution has been exceptional, and we're scaling at a remarkable pace. Our stellar early team comes with experience in companies like J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, FalconX, Paypal, Aff... etc. We’re backed by Accel, Lightspeed, NfX and other top-tier investors.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Strategic Partnerships Lead to drive our growth through strategic relationships with banks, liquidity providers, and crypto institutions. This role is crucial for expanding our network of partners and clients while ensuring the robust liquidity necessary for our cross-border payment infrastructure and enabling our global expansion.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partnership Development & Strategy
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive global partnership strategy across traditional banking and crypto sectors.
  • Identify, pursue, and secure high-value partnerships with banks, financial institutions, crypto exchanges, and liquidity providers globally.
• Business Development & Revenue Growth
  • Drive revenue growth through partner channels and develop strategies to increase transaction volumes.
  • Lead business development initiatives to acquire new institutional clients and partners across traditional finance and crypto sectors.
  • Structure complex commercial agreements and establish mutually beneficial business terms.
• Relationship Management & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at partner institutions, serving as their primary point of contact.
  • Create and implement partner success programs to ensure long-term relationship value and retention.
• Market Intelligence & Strategic Analysis
  • Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and identify new partnership opportunities in the FX and crypto space.
  • Conduct strategic analysis to inform partnership priorities and market entry strategies.
• Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with technical teams to ensure smooth integration of new partners into our infrastructure.
  • Work closely with legal and compliance teams to ensure partnerships meet regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.
• Team Leadership
  • Build, manage, and mentor the partnerships team as the company scales its operations into new markets.

What we are looking for

Must-haves:

• Bachelor's degree required, MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in business development or partnerships roles within financial services or fintech.
• Strong network within banking, financial institutions, and crypto companies.
• Proven track record of closing complex, high-value partnership deals (minimum $10M+ in aggregate deal value).
• Deep understanding of FX markets, banking infrastructure, and cross-border payment systems.

What helps you stand out:

• Significant experience in crypto/blockchain industry and DeFi ecosystems.
• International business development experience across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience in navigating regulatory requirements in financial services partnerships.
• Outstanding negotiation and relationship-building skills with C-level executives.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities with proven results.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Equity in a rapidly growing company.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced startup at the forefront of fintech innovation.
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on global financial infrastructure
• Collaborative work culture with emphasis on personal and professional growth.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.