At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead institutional strategy and drive adoption of Jito Network products in traditional finance.
- Company: Join the innovative Jito Foundation, a leader in decentralised finance on Solana.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a flat culture that empowers self-starters to pursue their strategic vision.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance by bridging DeFi with traditional investment institutions.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in institutional business development and deep knowledge of the crypto ecosystem.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
About Jito Foundation
The Jito Foundation is an organization with the broad mandate to promote the adoption of Jito Network products, including JitoSOL, the largest DeFi protocol on Solana, and BAM, a platform for neutral block building on Solana. We are both extremely lean and relentlessly effective, and pride ourselves on having built a flat culture that prioritises empowering multi-talented self-starters to develop and pursue their own strategic vision.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly networked Head of Institutional Strategy & Development to lead the institutional adoption and strategic deployment of the Jito Network and the critical assets therein, including JitoSOL, across traditional financial applications and institutions. This critical role is responsible for driving new use cases, maintaining existing and cultivating new relationships with key industry players, institutional asset managers and allocators globally.
You will act as a key liaison between the decentralised Jito ecosystem and the traditional investment world, coordinating across a global team and working closely with various players across the Solana ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Institutional Business Development & Ecosystem Growth
- ETF/ETP Deployment: Build and maintain strategic relationships with ETF ecosystem providers and issuers (qualified custodians, index providers, authorised participants) to support the successful deployment of JitoSOL in traditional investment products (e.g., ETFs, ETPs).
- Adoption & Distribution: Increase the adoption of JitoSOL for both onchain (DeFi) and off-chain (TradFi) users by developing and executing targeted adoption strategies.
- Partner Engagement: Work proactively with key distribution partners, including Prime Brokers (PBs), exchanges, banks, and other financial institutions to broaden access to Jito products.
- End Customer Engagement: Develop a structured approach to engaging high-value stakers—including DAOs, treasuries, funds, onchain asset managers, and whales—ensuring their needs are incorporated into product, liquidity, and performance roadmaps.
- Product Strategy & Use Case Development
- Use Case Innovation: Develop, champion, and launch additional high-value use cases for institutional asset managers, financial advisors, and allocators leveraging Jito Network technology.
- Staker & Trader Feedback Integration: Work directly with sophisticated onchain stakers and trading firms to identify pain points, inform product enhancements, and shape institutional-grade use cases across the Jito Network.
- Liquidity Integration: Connect and integrate Jito Network assets with critical price discovery pools, including centralized exchanges, DEXes, and Automated Market Makers (AMMs), to significantly improve market depth and trading efficiency.
- Regulatory & Stakeholder Management
- Stakeholder Relations: Support and lead high-level discussions with regulators, tax authorities, accounting boards, and other critical financial stakeholders to facilitate the compliant integration and adoption of Jito's decentralised products into traditional finance.
- Thought Leadership & Institutional Education
- Content Development: Prepare high-quality institutional-facing materials—including presentations, whitepapers, market commentary, and educational articles—that clearly articulate the benefits, mechanics, and strategic value of Jito Network products.
- Narrative Building: Develop a coherent and compelling narrative around JitoSOL, BAM, and emerging Jito technologies tailored to asset managers, advisors, and other financial institutions.
- Ecosystem Education: Drive broader industry understanding of Solana-based block building and liquid staking by producing content that demystifies technical concepts and highlights real-world institutional applications.
- Global & Cultural Leadership
- Team Coordination: Coordinate effectively across a globally distributed team, ensuring alignment on strategic institutional goals and product roadmaps.
- Culture Carrier: Act as a strong culture carrier for the Jito ecosystem, representing its values, technical excellence, and commitment to decentralisation in all external engagements.
Qualifications & Skills
- Required
- Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in institutional business development, capital markets, or product strategy within the traditional finance sector (e.g., ETF/ETP issuer, Prime Brokerage, Asset Management).
- Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of the exchange-traded product (ETF/ETP) lifecycle, including issuance, custody, distribution, and regulatory frameworks.
- Ecosystem Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of the cryptocurrency/DeFi ecosystem, particularly staking, liquid staking tokens (LST), and decentralised exchanges.
- Communication & Network: Exceptional relationship-building skills and a proven network among market makers, custodians, prime brokers, and institutional asset managers.
- Regulatory Acumen: Familiarity with the regulatory and tax considerations surrounding digital assets and staking in major financial jurisdictions.
- Preferred
- Direct experience working with or within the Solana ecosystem.
- Prior experience in a high-growth startup or decentralised autonomous organization (DAO) environment.
- A background in product management or technical sales, bridging complex engineering with market needs.
Head of Institutional Strategy & Development employer: Jito
At Jito Foundation, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and empowering work environment that encourages self-starters to pursue their strategic visions. Our flat organisational structure promotes collaboration and innovation, while our commitment to professional growth ensures that employees have access to unique opportunities in the rapidly evolving DeFi landscape. Located at the forefront of blockchain technology, we offer a chance to be part of a transformative journey in finance, making us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Institutional Strategy & Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry players, attend events, and engage in online communities. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create content that highlights your knowledge of the Jito Network and its products. Whether it's a blog post or a LinkedIn article, let your voice be heard in the community.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Reach out to potential employers directly, even if they haven't posted a job. Express your interest in their work and how you can contribute to their goals—this could set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to apply directly. It shows you're genuinely interested in being part of our team and the Jito ecosystem.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Institutional Strategy & Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in institutional business development and capital markets. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Head of Institutional Strategy & Development at Jito Foundation.
Showcase Your Network:Don’t forget to mention your connections within the financial sector! Highlight any relationships you have with market makers, custodians, or institutional asset managers. This is key for us as we value strong networking skills.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge:We’re looking for someone who understands the ETF/ETP lifecycle and the DeFi ecosystem. Use your application to showcase your expertise in these areas, and don’t shy away from discussing your familiarity with Solana!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Jito Foundation!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jito
✨Know Your Jito Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Jito Foundation and its products like JitoSOL and BAM. Understand their role in the DeFi space and how they integrate with traditional finance. This knowledge will help you articulate your vision for institutional strategy and development.
✨Network Like a Pro
Given the importance of relationships in this role, leverage your existing network. Reach out to industry contacts who might have insights about the Jito ecosystem or the broader Solana landscape. Mentioning these connections during your interview can demonstrate your proactive approach and industry engagement.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in previous roles that align with the responsibilities of this position. Think about how you've driven adoption or developed use cases in the past, and be ready to share concrete examples that highlight your strategic thinking and results.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Talk
Since regulatory considerations are crucial in this role, brush up on the current landscape surrounding digital assets and staking. Be prepared to discuss how you would navigate these challenges while promoting Jito's products in traditional finance, showcasing your understanding of compliance and stakeholder management.
