[Hiring] Business Development, APAC @Stellar Development Foundation

Role Description

Interested in working on cutting-edge blockchain technology and creating equitable access to the global financial system? Since 2014, the mission-driven team at the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has helped fuel the tremendous growth of the Stellar blockchain network, an open-source platform that operates at high-scale today.

In this role, you will:

• Own SDF's APAC business development effort — defining priorities, allocating effort across five hub markets (Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Australia), and adapting the playbook by market needs and regulatory expectations.
• Lead in-market execution across all markets, including structured annual visits to each hub that deliver across a full engagement program: conference presence, ecosystem meetups, strategic institutional meetings, owned roundtables and thought leadership opportunities, and policy and regulatory introductions.
• Work hand-in-hand with SDF's APAC Market Development Director to jointly define how SDF shows up across the region — aligning business development priorities with broader market development strategy.
• Build and close high-value partnerships with fintech companies, payment platforms, wallets, exchanges, and developer teams building on Stellar.
• Operate effectively as a remote, in-market leader while working in close coordination with SDF's centralized teams — marketing, legal, integrations, and product.
• Develop and manage SDF's institutional relationships across the region — including tier-1 banks and licensed digital asset platforms.
• Serve as an internal champion and voice of the APAC market within SDF — translating on-the-ground intelligence into strategic recommendations.
• Build and maintain rigorous pipeline discipline across HubSpot and Airtable.
• Represent SDF at flagship regional conferences and events, and own the design and execution of SDF's owned events in the region.
• Partner with the marketing team to drive ongoing content and communications that build SDF's presence and narrative across APAC markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (required), Master's Degree or MBA (preferred).
• 7+ years of business development, partnerships, or ecosystem experience, with substantial time spent working at senior levels in or closely with APAC markets.
• Deep, senior-level relationships across the APAC fintech, payments, blockchain, and institutional landscape.
• Experience in blockchain, digital assets, stablecoins, or tokenization.
• Understanding of cross-border payments, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and financial inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder partnership negotiations and closing deals.
• Experience navigating regulatory environments in APAC markets.
• Exceptional communication skills across diverse audiences.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in Mandarin or Japanese is a plus.
• Based in APAC, with the ability and willingness to travel extensively across the region and occasionally internationally.

Company Description

Stellar is more than a blockchain. Powered by a decentralized, fast, scalable, and uniquely sustainable network made for financial products and services, Stellar is paving the path to unlock the world’s economic potential through blockchain technology.

Founded in 2014, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) supports the continued development and growth of the Stellar network and serves the ecosystem of NGOs, corporations, universities, small businesses, governments, and solo entrepreneurs building on the Stellar network.