Business Development (Strategic) Lead - Agentic Payments

The Algorand Foundation's mission is to power a world where information has integrity & innovative solutions can scale - based on the Algorand blockchain technology. The Algorand blockchain is uniquely capable of delivering on the promise of a borderless global economy. It achieves transaction throughputs at the speed of traditional finance but with immediate finality, near-zero transaction costs, and on a 24/7 basis. Its carbon-neutral platform and unique pure proof-of-stake consensus mechanism offers security and scalability on a decentralized protocol, all without a second of downtime since it went live in 2019. The Algorand Foundation is dedicated to fulfilling the global promise of the Algorand blockchain by taking responsibility for promoting the technology, decentralized governance, and a healthy and prosperous open-source ecosystem. Learn more about Algorand Foundation at www.algorand.co As the Business Development (Strategic) Lead for Agentic Payments, you will own one of the most important emerging frontiers for Algorand: enabling AI agents to transact autonomously, securely, and at scale. Agentic payments — where software agents initiate, authorize, and settle transactions on behalf of people and businesses — demand exactly what Algorand offers: instant finality, near-zero fees, 24/7 availability, and a secure, decentralized settlement layer. You will define and execute the commercial strategy for this space, building the partnerships and go-to-market that establish Algorand as the settlement rail of choice for the agentic economy. You are equally comfortable shaping strategy with leadership, negotiating high-value partnerships with founders and executives, and translating a fast-moving technical landscape into clear commercial opportunity. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Define and own the business development and commercial strategy for agentic payments on Algorand, identifying the highest-value use cases, segments, and partners. Identify, source, negotiate, and close strategic partnerships across the agentic payments value chain — AI and agent platforms, wallets, stablecoin issuers, payment providers, custody providers, exchanges, and enterprises. Build and manage a pipeline of strategic opportunities from first contact through to signed agreement and successful launch. Work closely with engineering, product, and ecosystem teams to translate partner and market needs into platform priorities, and to ensure partners can build and launch successfully on Algorand. Develop compelling commercial narratives, business cases, and proposals tailored to executive and founder audiences. Track the agentic payments and broader AI-x-payments landscape — including emerging standards, protocols, competitors, and regulation — and shape Algorand's positioning accordingly. Represent Algorand at the highest level in partner conversations, industry events, and ecosystem forums. KEY REQUIREMENTS Significant business development, partnerships, or strategic commercial experience. Proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing enterprise deals within the payments, fintech, technology, and AI sectors. Strong understanding of payments and/or fintech — settlement, stablecoins, payment rails, wallets, or money movement. Familiarity with blockchain and digital assets, and the ability to speak credibly with both technical and commercial stakeholders. Genuine interest in and understanding of AI and agentic systems, and how autonomous agents will transact. Excellent negotiation, relationship-building, and executive communication skills. Strategic thinker who can operate in ambiguity, define a market, and build the plan to win it. Comfortable working in a fast-moving, global, cross-functional environment. GOOD TO HAVE Existing network across AI/agent platforms, payments, stablecoins, or digital-asset infrastructure. Experience launching products or partnerships in an emerging or pre-product-market-fit category. Familiarity with agentic payment standards and protocols, and with on-chain stablecoin settlement. Understanding of the regulatory landscape for payments and digital assets. Familiarity with Algorand and its ecosystem. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE In your first few months, you have developed a clear point of view on the agentic payments opportunity for Algorand and a prioritized target list of strategic partners and use cases. Within the first year, you have built a healthy pipeline and closed several strategic partnerships that bring meaningful agentic payment volume and credible partners onto Algorand. Algorand is increasingly recognized as a leading settlement layer for agentic and machine-to-machine payments, supported by reference partners and live use cases. Engineering and product teams have clear, well-prioritized input from the market because of your work, and partners are able to build and launch successfully. You are a trusted, senior commercial voice both internally and externally, and Algorand's positioning in the agentic payments space is sharp and differentiated. PERKS AND BENEFITS You will work with a team of talented and fun-loving rockstars across the world while we are building a n equitable and borderless economy together In addition, you will get: ■ Competitive remuneration ■ Excellent retention program ■ Diverse, open, inclusive and collaborative culture ■ Supportive and flexible work arrangement ■ Monthly wellness budget ■ Computer and tech accessories ■ To own your growth plan NOTE FOR APPLICANTS Algorand Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable laws, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws of the country in which the applicant resides. If you need assistance or to request an accommodation due to a disability, please contact j oin@algorand.foundation Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be notified. All information gathered will be treated in strict confidence and solely used for recruitment purposes. _ ___ To protect the interests of all parties, Algorand Foundation does not accept unsolicited resumes from a third party agency/ search firm recruiters. Any unsolicited resumes sent to any Algorand Foundation employee, regardless of the means of transmission (email, social media, etc.) will become the sole property of Algorand Foundation. Algorand Foundation will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.