dYdX Foundation - Grants Lead

Role Overview

We’re looking for a Grants Lead to drive the dYdX Grants Program. This person will be responsible for leading the end-to-end lifecycle of the grantmaking activities—ranging from defining strategic priorities, RFP drafting,  evaluating applications, to budget planning, milestone tracking, and post-grant impact assessments. The ideal candidate will have a strong mix of venture funding or grant program experience, operational execution skills, and a deep understanding of crypto and DeFi.

What you’ll be doing

Program Strategy & Operations

• Design, manage, and iterate on the overall grants program structure, including objectives, KPIs, RFPs, budget allocation, and application processes.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, community contributors, and technical advisors to align grants strategy with ecosystem priorities.

RFP Drafting, Application Review & Due Diligence

• RFP Drafting and contributor sourcing, where appropriate
• Review incoming grant applications for strategic fit, feasibility, technical merit, and value to the dYdX ecosystem.
• Conduct interviews and diligence calls with applicants, including founders, developers, and community organizers.
• Preparing and closing legal agreements with grant recipients.

Grants Monitoring & Impact Assessment

• Develop frameworks for milestone setting, transparency with the dYdX community, reporting, and accountability.
• Monitor active grants to ensure deliverables and timelines are being met.
• Evaluate the outcomes and broader impact of completed grants and incorporate learnings into future decision-making.
• Enable and unblock grantees, when needed. 

Ecosystem Engagement

• Serve as a visible point of contact and champion for dYdX builders and grantees.
• Proactively source high-potential projects and foster relationships across DeFi, Web3, and DAO communities.
• Elevate grantees and feature grants inside and outside of the dYdX ecosystem. 

Process Optimization

• Implement and improve internal workflows and tools to streamline grant administration and transparency.
• Maintain clear documentation and reporting on program activities.

What we’re looking for

• European time zone based (+/- 3 hours).
• 4+ years of experience in venture capital, grantmaking, ecosystem development, or strategic operations.
• Experience in Web3/crypto, particularly within a DAO or protocol ecosystem, is strongly preferred. Strong knowledge about the Perp DEXes and/or dYdX Protocol is a huge plus.
• Understanding of token incentives, protocol development cycles, and governance mechanisms is a plus.
• Familiarity with project evaluation, budgeting, and post-investment tracking.
• Comfortable evaluating both technical and non-technical proposals.
• Dynamic, creative thinker who can adapt to the fast-paced, evolving landscape of DeFi.
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail and operational excellence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication—able to interface with founders, developers, community members, and governance forums.
• Structured, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple relationships and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Proficient in task management systems, specifically Notion.

Why You Should Apply

• Impactful Role: Lead the dYdX Grants Program that will directly shape the future of the dYdX ecosystem and decentralized finance.
• Growth Opportunities: Join a dynamic team at the forefront of the DeFi revolution, with ample opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a fully remote, collaborative and inclusive environment where your ideas and contributions are valued.
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy competitive compensation, token allocation, full remote work, health and additional benefits.
• Additional perks: Yearly company retreat, Annual PTO + local holidays and Home Office set-up reimbursement.

About the dYdX Foundation

The dYdX Foundation is an independent foundation, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. Our mission is to grow the dYdX protocol ecosystem by enabling communities, developers, and decentralized governance. 

At the dYdX Foundation, you are invited to champion the growth of a community-centric ecosystem, leveraging decentralized technologies to revolutionize global financial markets. Your contributions at this critical juncture will lay the groundwork for dYdX's trajectory. 

Working Culture at dYdX Foundation

We are a dynamic, fully remote team with a passion for decentralization and innovation. Our team members spread across the globe within 8 hours of UTC bring a wealth of knowledge and insight from various corners of the dYdX and blockchain ecosystems. The dYdX Foundation supports your remote working needs and contributes to health insurance, professional development, and more. Despite our virtual environment, we value human connection, organizing in-person meetups 1-2 times a year.