A Note from Shane, our CEO

The greatest mistake I ever made in my career was trying to convince people to join a startup. I'm not here to convince you.

In my early days, I oversold. I tried to make the journey look easier than it was. I tried to convince people that going smaller could feel as stable as Microsoft. I tried to make ownership sound exciting without fully preparing people for the weight of it. The kind of ownership that changes how you show up every single day.

On one hand, it's the most empowering thing you will ever feel. On the other hand, it's hard. Really hard.

As I sit here almost five years in, thinking about the next twenty, I'm more excited than I have ever been about what we're building and why. And the only thing that matters to me now is finding people who deeply and genuinely believe in this mission too.

I don't want you to work here because you want to work with me.

I don't want you to work here because you want to try a startup.

I don't want you to work here because small sounds refreshing after years at a big company.

You should only want to work here if you truly believe in our mission.

Securing the world's freedom to communicate.

That is the work.

We need a new foundation.

We need new rules.

We need open source and decentralized systems to bring trust back to the single most important thing in the digital world. Communication.

If that belief isn't already in your bones, nothing I write here should convince you. And that's okay.

But if it is, and if you're the best in the world at what you do, and if you are obsessed with becoming more effective, more leveraged, and more impactful, then maybe it's worth applying. Because there is one word that drives everything we do here. Leverage. Leverage is our operating system. It shapes every cultural norm, every system, every tool, every decision.

Our goal is simple. Help every person here become one of the most highly leveraged individuals on earth. Better tools. Better systems. Better teammates. Clearer priorities. Less noise. More output.

We measure ourselves with one ratio. Total messages sent on XMTP divided by total employees.

It forces us to build things that scale beyond headcount.

It forces focus.

It forces great systems.

It forces us to hire only when hiring increases the total leverage of the organization.

That is why we hire slowly and rarely.

That is why getting a job here is hard.

And it is intentional.

Here is something I did not understand early in my career. Something I wish someone had told me. For the few people who do get to work here, it is a chance to own and lead and grow in your career like never before.

We Don't Hide How The Company Works.

We don't shield people from hard decisions.

We want everyone here to learn everything there is to know about running and building a company.

Because the best thing about going small isn't the speed. It isn't the lack of red tape.

It is the learning. Seeing how it really works from the inside out.

Whatever you want to do after XMTP.

Start something. Lead something. Build something.

You will be better because of your time here.

You will leave with a level of judgment, ownership, and leverage you can't get anywhere else.

If this resonates, take a look at the roles below.

If it doesn't, that's fine too. Please send this to someone you know who would thrive here.

Shane

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A Note About This Role

If you're here to hype a token, pump fake scarcity, spin up clever “tokenomics,” run Discord giveaways, drop crypto buzzwords, and call it “strategy,” this is not your job.

If your idea of comms is polishing a press release, chasing hype cycles, or optimizing impressions, this isn't for you either.

This role is, at its core, about owning and carrying the story of XMTP and turning that story into action.

We may call it Chief Marketing Officer or Head of Marketing, but the person we're looking for understands that story is the highest-leverage vector in the company.

Someone who can take our mission and make it simple, powerful, and impossible to ignore, and then build the systems that distribute it to the world.

We already have exceptional creatives and campaign thinkers.

What we need now is the operator who can:

Own the story
Carry the story
Turn the story into momentum and action - quickly

If that fires you up, read on.

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Build the Future of Private Communication

XMTP Labs is building the future of messaging - secure, private, and decentralized.

Our open protocol, XMTP, powers the next generation of communication, enabling a universal, secure messaging layer for the internet. Convos, our flagship app, brings that vision to life as a privacy-first, interoperable chat experience.

We're hiring a Chief Marketing Officer to define and drive how XMTP meets the world - the story, the systems, and the execution that turn our mission into global adoption.

This is a foundational executive role responsible for:

Owning the XMTP narrative
Leading brand, comms, marketing, design
Architecting and running the marketing engine
Turning high-level story into high-impact execution

You'll report directly to the CEO and sit on the exec team.

Key Responsibilities

Communications, Brand & Narrative

Own the narrative of XMTP — articulate, protect, and evolve the story.
Build a simple, powerful, compelling brand voice.
Lead all external communications, including press, content, social, and executive comms.
Represent XMTP externally with press, partners, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Story → Action: Distribution & Activation

Build and run the machine that moves from story → execution:

Identify the people, outlets, and partners who need to hear it
Architect the channel strategy (press, creators, community, partners)
Lead high-velocity execution, often 24–48 hours when necessary

Activate and grow developer, user, and ecosystem communities.
Turn ideas into repeatable, scalable playbooks.

Marketing Leadership

Lead the GTM organization:

Brand
Marketing
Design

Create clarity, cadence, systems, and focus across the entire org.
Mentor and empower leaders and ICs.

Strategic Planning & Market Vision

Own marketing strategy across protocol, product, and ecosystem.
Align product launches with strategic growth priorities.
Identify opportunities across Web3, open-source, messaging, privacy, fintech, and beyond.
Build fast feedback loops between market insights and product direction.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Ecosystem.
Ensure story and product reinforce each other across the roadmap.
Build shared systems for prioritization, measurement, and performance.

What We're Looking For

10+ years in communications, brand, marketing, or GTM roles
5+ years leading teams
Experience owning narrative in high-growth or product-driven environments
Success taking products from 0→1 and 1→many
Deep understanding of developer ecosystems or community/product-led growth
Exceptional storyteller with operational rigor
High-velocity operator energized by execution
High EQ leader who creates clarity and alignment
Comfort with Web3/crypto concepts (not an identity)

Nice-to-Haves

Experience with decentralized systems, open-source, protocols, or privacy tech
Developer relations, ecosystem, or partnerships experience
Building brands that bridge technical and mainstream audiences

We strongly encourage women and underrepresented leaders to apply - increasing representation on our executive team is a priority.

Why This Role Matters

Because great technology without great communication doesn't win.

Because story is strategy.

Because the world needs to understand why private, secure, decentralized communication matters.

This is the role responsible for making that story impossible to ignore.

You Might Be a Fit If…

You've led comms or marketing during pivotal moments of growth
You think in stories and operate in systems
You move quickly with clarity
You care deeply about privacy and user trust
You want your work to have global impact

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $250k–$300k

Equity: Competitive early-stage ownership

Benefits:

Fully paid Medical, Dental, Vision
Parental Leave
Wellness & lifestyle stipend
WFH + equipment budget
Personal assistant support
Unlimited time off
Remote-first team with semi-annual IRL gatherings

Compensation Range: $250K - $300K

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Chief Marketing Officer