Director, Ecosystem Growth (San Francisco)

At Ripple, we’re building a world where value moves like information does today. It’s big, it’s bold, and we’re already doing it. Through our crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, we are improving the global financial system and creating greater economic fairness and opportunity for more people, in more places around the world. And we get to do the best work of our career and grow our skills surrounded by colleagues who have our backs. If you’re ready to see your impact and unlock incredible career growth opportunities, join us, and build real world value.THE WORK:RippleX is building a global, multi-entity ecosystem to drive XRPL adoption at scale. This role leads strategic partnerships with independent ecosystem operators, validator networks, and regional hubs across the US, Europe, APAC, and emerging markets, while guiding DeFi strategy through dedicated external partners.This is a senior, strategic, and hands-on position requiring strong partnership management, DeFi fluency, and the ability to set milestones, drive accountability, and align partner outputs across regions while driving measurable ecosystem growth globally.WHAT YOU’LL DO:External Entity Partnership LeadershipManages strategic relationships with independent ecosystem operators, regional hubs, and partner organizationsDesigns governance frameworks, milestone structures, and accountability models for external partnersSets strategic direction while enabling operational autonomy for each entityCoordinates cross-entity initiatives to prevent duplication and maximize impactEnsures external partner outputs align with RippleX ecosystem prioritiesDeFi Ecosystem Development & PartnershipsGuides DeFi ecosystem strategy across external partners with focus on AMMs, DEXs, lending, and liquidity protocolsOversees DeFi initiatives requiring market making, liquidity depth, and OTC trading expertiseEvaluates and prioritizes DeFi partnership opportunities based on strategic impactCommunity Growth & EngagementEnables independent operators to build and activate vibrant developer, startup, retail communities across regionsGuides community engagement strategies, including meetups, hackathons, educational content, and grassroots initiativesEnsures external partners maintain quality community standards while allowing cultural and regional adaptationTracks community health metrics, including engagement, sentiment, and conversion to active participantsMulti-Regional Ecosystem StrategyOrchestrates ecosystem growth across the US, Europe, APAC, and emerging marketsAligns regional strategies with global priorities while respecting local market dynamicsIdentifies white space opportunities and strategic expansion areasStrategic Partner Governance & Performance ManagementEstablishes KPIs, dashboards, and scorecards for external entity performanceConducts strategic reviews with ecosystem operator leadership teamsIdentifies performance gaps and implements course correctionsEnsures milestone achievement and budget accountability across entitiesCross-Functional Leadership & Strategic PlanningPartners with Product, DevRel, Engineering, Legal, and Executive teams on ecosystem strategyTranslates ecosystem insights into product and company strategy recommendationsProduces executive-level reports, opportunity assessments, and long-term roadmapsSynthesizes partner, community, and market feedback into actionable insightsWHAT YOU'LL BRING: Experience10+ years in ecosystem development, strategic partnerships, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, or venture building5+ years managing external partnerships, independent organizations, or decentralized networksProven track record leading complex partnership governance and external entity managementExperience enabling developer programs, accelerators, startup support, and community building at scaleDirector-level experience with strategic decision-making authorityDeep crypto/blockchain ecosystem experience with strong DeFi fluencySkillsStrategic partnership management with ability to influence without direct authorityDeep DeFi knowledge: AMMs, money markets, DEXs, liquidity dynamics, incentive designExperience designing developer programs, grants operations, startup frameworks, and community engagement strategiesExceptional governance and framework design capabilitiesData-driven decision making with strong analytical skillsCross-cultural competency and experience managing across geographiesOutstanding communication and comfort navigating ambiguityBonusVenture capital, accelerator, or venture studio backgroundFoundation governance, nonprofit management, or DAO operations experienceDirect community management experience (meetups, hackathons, grassroots campaigns)Regulatory or policy experience in crypto/blockchainTechnical background or strong developer ecosystem understandingComplex deal structuring experienceFor positions that will be based in CA, the annual salary range for this position is below. Actual salaries may vary based on numerous factors including, among other things, an individual applicant’s experience and qualifications for the position. This range does not include equity or additional compensation, such as bonuses or commissions. CA Annual Base Salary Range$225,000—$270,000 USDWHO WE ARE:Do Your Best WorkThe opportunity to build in a fast-paced start-up environment with experienced industry leadersA learning environment where you can dive deep into the latest technologies and make an impact. A professional development budget to support other modes of learning.Thrive in an environment where no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, origin, or culture they identify with, every employee is a respected, valued, and empowered part of the team.In-office collaboration for moments that matter is important to our culture, and we give managers and teams the flexibility to decide which 10+ days a month they come in. Bi-weekly all-company meeting - business updates and ask me anything style discussion with our Leadership TeamWe come together for moments that matter which include team offsites, team bonding activities, happy hours and more!Take Control of Your FinancesCompetitive salary, bonuses, and equityCompetitive benefits that cover physical and mental healthcare, retirement, family forming, and family supportEmployee giving matchMobile phone stipendTake Care of YourselfR&R days so you can rest and rechargeGenerous wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite & virtual programmingGenerous vacation policy - work with your manager to take time off when you need itIndustry-leading parental leave policies. Family planning benefits.Catered lunches, fully-stocked kitchens with premium snacks/beverages, and plenty of fun eventsBenefits listed above are for full-time employees. Ripple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by local law or ordinance.Please find our UK/EU Applicant Privacy Notice and our California Applicant Privacy Notice for reference.