At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead demand generation and marketing strategies for an innovative AI compliance platform.
- Company: Join a pioneering startup transforming AI compliance for tier one banks.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, potential equity, and the chance to shape your own marketing function.
- Other info: Work directly with founders and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes environment while building your career.
- Qualifications: 4-12 years in B2B SaaS marketing, ideally in early-stage companies.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 90000 € per year.
About Our Client
Our client is building AI compliance infrastructure for the world's most regulated institutions. Tier one banks are deploying AI at scale, but regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act are creating existential risk for institutions that can't demonstrate governance, explainability, and control. This compliance platform bridges that gap, helping banks deploy AI with confidence and turning regulatory complexity into competitive advantage. They're early stage, moving fast, and selling into one of the most sophisticated buyer environments in the world.
What's next? In 2025, they're proving their platform works with tier one institutions, building the category of AI compliance tooling, and establishing themselves as the trusted partner for banks navigating the EU AI Act and beyond. They're building the foundational infrastructure for safe AI deployment in financial services. This will be highly challenging and very rewarding, working at the intersection of cutting‑edge technology and high‑stakes regulation. If that gets you excited, let's talk.
About the Role
You'll be their first marketing hire and a founding team member. Your job is to build the demand generation engine, own their positioning, and create the air cover that helps them win pilots and close deals with the world's most risk‑averse buyers. This isn't traditional growth marketing. You won't be optimising conversion funnels or running Facebook ads. You'll be orchestrating account‑based campaigns, translating AI governance concepts into business outcomes, and establishing the company as a credible voice in financial services compliance. This is a high‑impact, high‑ownership role. You'll work directly with founders, shape how their brand shows up, and build the marketing function from scratch.
What You'll Do
- Build and scale demand generation by testing and executing targeted campaigns (LinkedIn, email sequences, webinars) aimed at getting meetings with CROs, Heads of Compliance, and CTOs at tier one banks.
- Own top‑of‑funnel performance by tracking pipeline contribution, conversion rates, and what's actually working, reporting with clarity and rigor.
- Orchestrate account‑based marketing by coordinating multi‑touch campaigns across buying committees for 20‑50 named target accounts.
- Own positioning and messaging, turning "automated model risk assessment" into "reduce audit prep time by 60% and avoid regulatory penalties."
- Create sales enablement materials including pitch decks, battle cards, ROI calculators, and case studies that shorten deal cycles.
- Manage thought leadership and the founder's voice through white papers, LinkedIn posts, and articles that establish credibility with compliance and technology buyers.
- Activate the right channels by identifying executive dinners, private roundtables, and FSI‑specific events (RiskMinds, FinTech Connect) where buyers actually spend time.
- Enable the sales team by providing messaging, competitive intelligence, and materials that help close deals.
About You
- You bring 4‑12 years marketing B2B SaaS to enterprise customers, ideally in early‑stage environments where you built the function from scratch.
- You've been an early marketing hire (first 5‑10 employees) and know what it takes to build with limited resources.
- You can run campaigns across LinkedIn, email, events, and ABM without needing a team to support you.
- You've tracked and owned top‑of‑funnel metrics, measuring success by SQLs and revenue, not impressions.
- You have experience in trust‑heavy verticals like RegTech, FinTech, cybersecurity, or other regulated industries where credibility matters as much as performance (nice to have).
- You understand how technology works, can learn complex technical concepts quickly, and speak credibly about AI/ML with technical buyers.
- You're genuinely excited about AI and automation, using modern tools proactively and seeing tech as an enabler in how you work.
Behaviours & Attitudes
- You test and iterate relentlessly, running experiments, killing what doesn't work, and doubling down on what does.
- You write exceptionally well, simplifying complex regulatory and technical concepts into clear business outcomes that convert.
- You're operationally self‑sufficient, comfortable with tools like HubSpot, Webflow, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and automation platforms like Zapier or N8N.
- You think strategically but move tactically, prioritising ruthlessly when resources are limited and knowing what to build now versus later.
- You understand the gravitas of compliance, appreciating that regulatory risk is existential for banks and marketing with appropriate seriousness and credibility.
- You act like an owner, taking full responsibility for results and holding yourself to a high standard even when no one's watching.
- You thrive in ambiguity, energised by building from scratch rather than paralysed by incomplete information.
- Bonus points if you've worked in healthcare, financial services, or other high‑consideration, regulated, or trust‑based markets.
Why This Role Is Exciting
- Build the growth engine of a category‑defining company where your work will directly shape how fast and far they scale.
- See your impact in real time on deals closed, brand momentum, and the credibility they build with the world's most demanding buyers.
- Join a founding team with serious ambition, moving at startup speed while solving enterprise problems in a way that accelerates your career.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base: £60,000 - £90,000
- Bonus: TBC
- Equity: TBC
- Your own stake in building the future of AI compliance
- Work directly with founders
- Autonomy to build the marketing function your way
How to Apply
This role is being managed by meritt. Apply on LinkedIn or on meritt. Complete the 2‑minute video introduction. Screening call with meritt.
Founding Growth Lead employer: meritt.
Join a pioneering team at the forefront of AI compliance, where you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the marketing function from the ground up. With a culture that values autonomy and innovation, you'll work closely with founders in a fast-paced environment, driving impactful campaigns that resonate with tier one banks. Enjoy competitive compensation, equity options, and the chance to make a significant mark in a high-stakes industry while advancing your career in a supportive and ambitious setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Growth Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get on LinkedIn and connect with folks in the industry. Join relevant groups, engage in discussions, and don’t be shy to reach out for informational chats. You never know who might have a lead or insight that could land you that Founding Growth Lead role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create content that showcases your knowledge of AI compliance and marketing strategies. Write articles or share insights on LinkedIn. This not only builds your personal brand but also positions you as a thought leader in the space, making you more attractive to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in your job search! Instead of waiting for job postings, reach out directly to companies you admire. Express your interest in their mission and how you can contribute. A tailored approach can set you apart from the crowd and show your genuine enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s challenges and how your skills can solve them. Research their competitors and the regulatory landscape they operate in. This will help you articulate how you can build their demand generation engine and make a real impact from day one.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Growth Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for AI and compliance. Make it clear why this role excites you and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your Message:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Founding Growth Lead role. Highlight your experience in B2B SaaS marketing and how you've built functions from scratch. We love seeing how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Showcase Your Writing Skills:Since this role involves a lot of communication, it's crucial to demonstrate your writing prowess. Keep your application clear and concise, and make sure to simplify complex concepts into relatable business outcomes. This will show us you can communicate effectively with our target audience.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and genuinely interested in joining our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at meritt.
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the AI compliance landscape, especially how it relates to tier one banks. Brush up on the EU AI Act and be ready to discuss how your marketing strategies can help navigate these regulations.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've built demand generation engines or executed successful account-based marketing campaigns. Highlight your ability to work independently and how you've thrived in early-stage environments.
✨Speak Their Language
When discussing your ideas, translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes. Use relatable metrics like SQLs and revenue to demonstrate your understanding of what matters to risk-averse buyers.
✨Be Ready to Iterate
Demonstrate your testing mindset by sharing how you've run experiments in previous roles. Talk about what worked, what didn’t, and how you adapted your strategies based on data-driven insights.
