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From the employer's careers site First seen 26 Oct 2026

Startups Program Lead

Vercel San Francisco, CA Hybrid senior full-time

Salary

$148,000 - $185,000 per year

Apply on Vercel

Description

Vercel is seeking a Startup Program Lead to build, lead, and scale their global startup program and team. The successful candidate will own the startup program end-to-end, leading strategy, execution, and team operations, ensuring a high-quality experience for early-stage founders.

The role involves working closely with various teams to grow Vercel's footprint across early-stage technology communities and identifying strategic opportunities to support startup founders. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of the startup and VC community, experience with developer-first products, and a track record of building and scaling programs.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Own and lead Vercel's global startup program strategy, roadmap, and execution end-to-end.
  • Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing startup program team.
  • Design and scale programs that drive adoption, activation, and ongoing engagement of startups building on Vercel.
  • Develop and grow relationships with venture capital firms, accelerators, incubators, and founder communities.
  • Partner with Sales to identify high-potential startups and support their progression into long-term customers.
  • Establish clear pathways from early-stage adoption to deeper product usage, expansion, and retention.
  • Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Vercel Media, Partnerships, and Developer Relations.
  • Identify opportunities to embed Vercel into the early-stage ecosystem.
  • Serve as a visible leader and ambassador for Vercel in the startup ecosystem.
  • Bring insights from early-stage founders and developers back into Vercel's strategies.

Requirements:

  • 6+ years of experience in programs, partnerships, or ecosystem roles.
  • Experience building and scaling programs with clear impact on marketing, growth, or revenue.
  • Proven experience managing or leading teams.
  • Strong track record of building strategic relationships with VCs, accelerators, and early-stage companies.
  • Deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and the needs of founders and developer teams.
  • Ability to engage credibly with technical audiences.
  • Strong cross-functional operator with experience defining success metrics and optimizing programs.
  • Excellent communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.

Nice to Have:

  • Contribution to open-source projects related to modern frontend technologies.
  • Existing relationships with top-tier VCs, accelerators, or founder communities.
  • Experience building applications at scale with modern frontend technologies.

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Competitive compensation package, including equity.
  • Inclusive Healthcare Package.
  • Opportunities for learning and growth.
  • Flexible Time Off.
  • Gear and WFH budget provided.

The San Francisco, CA base pay range for this role is $148,000 - $185,000.

Skills

Required

Nice to have

  • open-source contributions
  • VC relationships
  • founder communities
  • modern frontend technologies

Ready to apply?

You apply with the employer directly. Their original posting is here: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/vercel/jobs/5971203004

Apply on Vercel