Head of Corporate Development

Mesh is hiring its first dedicated Corporate Development lead — a foundational role with a direct impact on the company’s trajectory.

This is an opportunity to build and own our M&A and strategic partnerships function from the ground up. You’ll define how we identify, evaluate, and execute high-impact opportunities, working closely with leadership to shape where Mesh goes next.

From setting strategy to building a pipeline to closing deals, you’ll operate across the full lifecycle — expanding our capabilities, licensing footprint, and distribution through thoughtful, well-executed partnerships and acquisitions.

We're looking for someone who thrives in early, unstructured environments, takes initiative, and is excited to turn ambition into action. This role is hybrid, based in either San Francisco, CA or New York City, NY, with two days per week in-office.

What You'll Do

• Build and own a high-quality pipeline of M&A opportunities and strategic partnerships across the crypto payments ecosystem
• Lead deals end-to-end: from first outreach through diligence, negotiation, and close
• Run rigorous diligence across financials, product/technical integrations, and commercial viability — and translate findings into clear recommendations
• Develop investment theses, deal frameworks, and scoring models; present insights directly to the CEO, SVP, and board
• Partner closely with Legal and Finance to structure and negotiate deals that actually get done
• Stay on top of the competitive landscape — tracking key players, emerging trends, and whitespace opportunities
• Build and manage relationships with investment banks, advisors, and potential targets — becoming a go-to player in the ecosystem

Who You Are

• 5+ years of experience in investment banking, growth, venture capital, product, or strategy roles, or in-house corporate development at a fintech or crypto company
• You actually run deals — leading M&A or strategic partnerships from first conversation through close
• Strong grasp of crypto payments infrastructure (stablecoins, on/off-ramps, exchange integrations, custody, compliance) — you know how the pieces fit together in the real world
• Comfortable getting into the weeds with crypto APIs and exchange integrations (or quick to ramp if you haven’t yet)
• Sharp financial instincts with the ability to build models from scratch and pressure-test assumptions like a skeptic
• Technical enough to ask the right questions, spot red flags, and hold your own with engineering teams
• Working knowledge of EMI / MSB / money transmitter licensing (or genuine interest in learning the regulatory side of the stack)
• Clear, concise communicator who can turn complexity into compelling, board-ready narratives
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Finance or related field
• Bonus: you bring a network across the crypto infrastructure ecosystem — or you’re the kind of person who builds one quickly

The annual base salary range for this role is $200,000-$225,000 in San Francisco and New York. The compensation range provided may span multiple career levels and will be narrowed during the interview process based on factors including a candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. For candidates outside of San Francisco and New York, compensation will be adjusted to reflect the applicable market and location-based pay band. The base salary range listed excludes commission (if applicable), equity, and benefits. The pay range represents the minimum and maximum target for new-hire compensation. Actual compensation may vary and may be higher or lower depending on individual circumstances.