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Airwallex is an AI-native financial operating system serving over 675,000 businesses globally, including McLaren Racing, Qantas, SHEIN, and TikTok. The company provides regulated financial infrastructure for global payments and commerce, operating across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific with 2,300+ employees across 27 offices.
As Head of Startups, ANZ, you will lead Airwallex's strategy and execution across the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem. You'll integrate ecosystem partnerships, founder programmes, and segment sales into a cohesive, high-performing commercial motion that drives pipeline, activation, conversion, adoption, and revenue.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning the ANZ startup strategy and operating model across sales, partnerships, community, events, and startup-focused programmes (including Latitude 37)
- Building repeatable acquisition and engagement motions across founder, portfolio, and ecosystem channels with effective lead-routing and handoff processes
- Establishing clear operating rhythms across sales, partnerships, marketing, and community teams to improve coordination
- Expanding and deepening relationships with leading VCs, accelerators, incubators, and founder networks across ANZ; representing Airwallex at events and founder-facing activities
- Tracking segment performance, programme effectiveness, and ROI; using data to refine strategy and report to leadership
You'll work from the Sydney or Melbourne office three days per week.
The Startups team partners with venture-backed companies across Asia as they scale internationally. The role sits at the intersection of fintech, venture networks, and founder communities, helping startups implement the right financial infrastructure early and navigate operational complexity as they scale across markets.
REQUIREMENTS:
Essentials:
- Experience in venture capital, venture platform teams, startup partnerships, or commercial leadership roles focused on the startup ecosystem
- Track record of building and scaling programmes, functions, or go-to-market motions with clear structure, process, and performance metrics
- Experience working closely with sales teams and contributing to pipeline and revenue outcomes
- Strong understanding of the ANZ startup landscape with an established network or credibility to build one quickly
- Commercially minded and data-driven, with experience owning or influencing growth KPIs
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills; ability to align multiple stakeholders around shared strategy and operating model
Preferred:
- Experience in fintech, payments, SaaS infrastructure, or developer platforms
- Background as a founder, investor, or operator within a startup or accelerator
- Track record of scaling an existing ecosystem, programme, or segment motion
- Comfort operating in both external and internal leadership settings, from founder engagement through process and operating cadence design
- Experience supporting startups with international expansion
