DeFi Manager remote

About the job

Tether is seeking a DeFi Manager to scale the deployment of Tether assets—USDT, XAUT, and USAT—across the decentralized finance ecosystem. This role sits within the Blockchain Expansion function and reports directly to the Head of Blockchain Expansion.

The DeFi Manager is responsible for defining and executing Tether’s global DeFi strategy with a strong emphasis on financial inclusion, monetary freedom, and real‑world utility. The role has end‑to‑end accountability for protocol strategy, liquidity and incentive design, risk management, team leadership, and budget ownership.

Success is measured primarily against DeFi North Star metrics: active users and total net circulation.

• Work with the Head of Blockchain Expansion and the DeFi team to define and execute Tether’s global DeFi strategy across USDT, XAUT, and USAT, prioritising use cases that drive active users and net circulation.
• Own the strategy for expanding XAUT adoption and utility in DeFi, including its use as collateral, a store of value, and a real‑world asset primitive.
• Lead senior‑level relationships with DeFi protocols, foundations, and ecosystem partners; negotiate integrations, incentives, and long‑term strategic partnerships.
• Design, deploy, and manage liquidity and incentive programmes focused on capital efficiency, sustainability, and measurable outcomes.
• Own and manage a significant DeFi budget, including:
  • Budget creation and forecasting
  • Spend approval and tracking
  • ROI and performance reporting
• Contribute to and develop a high‑performing DeFi team, setting clear objectives, accountability, and execution standards.
• Establish robust frameworks for risk assessment, monitoring, escalation, and exit across supported DeFi protocols.
• Produce regular senior‑management‑ready reporting on:
  • Active users
  • Net circulation
  • Budget utilisation
  • Protocol concentration and risk
• Work cross‑functionally with Economics, Legal, Compliance, Treasury, Business Development, and Communications to ensure alignment with Tether’s broader objectives and risk posture.
• Act as Tether’s internal authority on DeFi market structure, trends, and emerging risks.

• 3+ years of experience in crypto or digital assets with deep hands‑on DeFi expertise (crypto native).
• Proven experience leading and managing teams in a DeFi, crypto, or adjacent financial environment.
• Demonstrated ability to own and manage material budgets, including building reporting and accountability frameworks.
• Strong understanding of DeFi primitives, including:
  • Lending and borrowing markets
  • AMMs and liquidity provisioning
  • RWAs and tokenised assets
  • Incentive and yield mechanisms
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to balance growth, risk, and capital efficiency.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Comfortable operating in a high‑autonomy, high‑responsibility global role.

• Prior leadership role at a major DeFi protocol, foundation, or liquidity provider.
• Experience managing stablecoin or commodity‑backed asset strategies.
• Familiarity with on‑chain analytics, performance attribution, and risk monitoring tools.