Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Lead

The Internet lacks a protocol for money. Lightspark is building the tools and services to make it happen. Lightspark builds enterprise-ready infrastructure for open payments for the Internet at scale using the Lightning Network. An always-on, low-cost, universal payment network will completely transform how money is moved, enabling businesses and developers to transform existing solutions and build new financial systems, services, and processes accessible to everyone, transcending geographical restraints. Lightspark is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, but serves the world.

As the Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Lead at Lightspark, you will drive growth and market expansion by identifying, securing, and managing strategic partnerships while developing new business opportunities. You will work at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and execution to accelerate Lightspark's adoption in the lightning payments ecosystem. The ideal candidate brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, technical understanding, attention to detail, and relationship-building skills with a proven track record of delivering meaningful partnerships and business outcomes in fintech, payments, or blockchain technology.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Partnership Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement a comprehensive partnership strategy aligned with Lightspark's business objectives; identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential partners across financial institutions, payment providers, and technology platforms

• Business Development: Identify new market opportunities, develop go-to-market strategies, and create innovative business models to drive revenue growth and market expansion

• Relationship Management: Build and nurture strategic relationships with key industry players, partners, and stakeholders across the payments and blockchain ecosystem

• Deal Structuring & Negotiation: Lead complex partnership and commercial negotiations from initial discussions through contract execution; structure deals that deliver mutual value while protecting Lightspark's interests

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate closely with product, engineering, marketing, and executive teams to ensure successful partnership implementations and integrations

• Market Intelligence: Monitor industry trends, competitor movements, and emerging technologies to inform partnership strategy and identify new opportunities

• Revenue Generation: Drive measurable business outcomes through partnerships, including revenue growth, user acquisition, and product adoption

• Thought Leadership: Represent Lightspark at industry events, conferences, and in strategic discussions with potential partners and clients

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Experience: 7+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or similar roles, with significant experience in fintech, payments, or blockchain/crypto industries

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred but not mandatory with equivalent experience

• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of payment systems, financial services infrastructure, and blockchain/cryptocurrency technology; technical aptitude to understand Lightspark's platform capabilities and articulate value propositions

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to identify strategic opportunities, develop comprehensive partnership strategies, and align them with business objectives

• Relationship Building: Exceptional interpersonal skills and proven ability to build and maintain relationships with executives and decision-makers

• Deal Making: Demonstrated success in structuring, negotiating, and closing strategic partnership deals with measurable business impact

• Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to various audiences

• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical capabilities to evaluate partnership opportunities, conduct market analysis, and measure partnership performance

• Entrepreneurial Drive: Self-starter mentality with comfort navigating ambiguity and driving initiatives with minimal direction

• International Experience: Experience working with global partners and understanding of international markets preferred

• Network: Established relationships within the fintech, payments, or blockchain ecosystem is highly valued

Lightspark is on a mission to build an open payment protocol for the Internet at scale and therefore we’re committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace to reflect the customers we serve. We welcome interest from individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience who share our mission. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the State of California Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.