Head of Risk

We’re looking for a Head of Risk to lead the Risk team and own the risk frameworks that govern one of the most important protocols in DeFi. You’ll coordinate with external risk service providers, set and monitor risk parameters, and serve as the final sign-off on collateral onboarding and liquidation performance. This is a leadership role that requires deep protocol knowledge, strong accountability, and the judgment to make high-stakes decisions. You’ll lead a team of risk analysts, researchers, data scientists, and credit specialists while working across the organization and with external partners to ensure Aave’s risk posture remains best-in-class as the protocol scales into new markets and asset classes. If you understand market structure, portfolio risk management, and the Aave Protocol at a deep level, and you’re ready to take ownership of risk at scale, this role is designed for you.Aave Labs is a software technology company, renowned for building innovative web3 products based on blockchain technologies. Founded by Stani Kulechov, we’ve developed the battle tested Aave Protocol, the Aave-native stablecoin GHO, and Lens, a decentralized social networking protocol. With strategic acquisitions including the metaverse app, Sonar, and Family crypto wallet, Aave Labs is dedicated to realizing a people-powered internet that benefits everyone.You can make an impact by leading and building the Risk team, setting direction, priorities, and standards for the function. You will own and evolve Aave’s risk management frameworks and policies, coordinate with external risk service provider teams to ensure alignment on risk parameters, and set, monitor, and adjust protocol risk parameters across deployments and markets. You will approve and sign off on collateral onboarding decisions and risk assessments, review liquidation performance and recommend improvements to liquidation mechanisms, and lead risk governance processes, presenting risk analyses to the DAO. Monitoring market structure changes and their implications for protocol risk, you will take full accountability for risk outcomes and drive a culture of ownership within the team.

Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in risk management, with a strong preference for DeFi or crypto-native experience, Proven experience leading and managing a risk team, Deep understanding of the Aave Protocol: its markets, governance, parameters, and risk dynamics, Strong grasp of market structure, portfolio risk management, and stress testing methodologies, Experience working with or managing external risk service providers, Strong sense of accountability and ownership, Excellent judgment under uncertainty, Strong communication skills for governance proposals, risk reports, and stakeholder alignment, Previous experience working directly with DeFi governance processes, Background in traditional finance risk management (portfolio, credit, or market risk), Familiarity with risk tooling and simulation platforms used in DeFi