About us:
Avara builds innovative products leveraging blockchain technologies. Avara's suite includes the Aave Protocol, along with the native stablecoin GHO, Lens, an open social network, and Family, a design-first mobile crypto wallet. Avara's vision is to build a people-powered internet that benefits all.
About the role:
We’re looking for a Protocol Growth Lead to drive strategic integrations and partnerships for Aave Protocol and GHO (Aave’s native stablecoin). This role will focus on Aave V4 integrations, supporting builders and partners as they launch, scale, and innovate with DeFi products powered by Aave’s modular infrastructure.
You’ll work at the intersection of business development, product, and engineering to ensure Aave is embedded in the tools and infrastructure powering the next generation of onchain finance.
This role sits within the Business Development team at Aave Labs and works cross-functionally across engineering, product, growth marketing and leadership.
How you can make an impact:
- Position Aave as the premier lending infrastructure powering the next generation of DeFi and established onchain finance platforms.
- Drive the execution of Aave V4’s growth strategy through research, partner development, and coordination of integrations across the ecosystem.
- Knowledge transfer existing developers and integrators from Aave V3 to Aave V4.
- Support on incentive programs and deals for integrators.
- Identify and lead high-impact integrations that expand Aave V4’s usage across core verticals, including DeFi-native protocols/products, wallet providers and SDKs, custodians and multisig platforms, staking infra APIs, middleware layers, and digital asset custody solutions.
- Collaborate with Aave’s chain partners to seamlessly integrate Aave V4 into their product stacks, driving growth opportunities and supporting the expansion of their ecosystems.
- Work alongside priority partners and product to architect bespoke and innovative products aligned with their needs using Aave v4.
- Enable seamless partner integrations by collaborating with product and engineering to streamline how developers build with Aave V4. Improve API/SDK integration flows, reduce friction in building, and translate ecosystem feedback into actionable product enhancements.
- Guarantee the successful implementation of integrations, ensuring that all partners experience smooth execution and sustained success.
- Drive strategic adoption by working closely with internal teams and external DAO-aligned service providers to grow Aave’s presence and unlock new product and distribution opportunities.
- Support the leadership team with business development operations streamlining partner pipelines, coordination, materials, research and project management.
- Monitor DeFi governance forums, market activity, and competitor developments to surface trends and opportunities.
- Represent Aave Labs at major industry events when requested, fostering new opportunities and strengthening existing relationships.
Let’s connect if you have:
- 3–4 years of professional experience in DeFi, fintech, startups, venture, crypto-native projects, or other strategic/operational roles.
- Proven track record managing and closing competitive partnership processes. Including driving revenue and DeFi TVL.
- Curiosity and motivation to deeply understand DeFi protocols and the broader onchain crypto ecosystem.
- Ability to grasp complex technical concepts and effectively communicate them to both crypto-native and prospective partners.
- Strong organizational and communication skills; comfortable managing multiple workstreams.
- Analytical mindset and the ability to distill technical or strategic complexity into clear next steps.
- Self-starter mentality, with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and grow into new responsibilities.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must have a positive, team-oriented attitude.
Nice to haves:
- Exposure to smart contract ecosystems and developer tools.
- Technical background or experience in developer relations roles.
- Demonstrated product thinking or experience contributing to product strategy, solution design etc.
