Head of Venture Debt

About The RoleWe're now building our next major growth engine: a comprehensive lending platform. Starting with marketplace partnerships before transitioning to direct origination, this represents our expansion into a massive market opportunity. The Head of Venture Debt will own and build this franchise from day one.We're looking for an experienced credit professional to architect, launch, and scale our venture debt platform. This is a senior leadership position with full ownership of building a profitable lending business within our established fintech infrastructure.You'll combine deep credit expertise with startup ecosystem knowledge to create a differentiated offering that leverages our unique position. This role demands both strategic vision and hands-on execution as you build the team, technology, and partnerships to compete at the highest level.This role is based in our New York office, 5 days a week. We believe in the power of in-person collaboration to build exceptional products and teams.What You'll OwnBuild the PlatformDesign and implement end-to-end venture debt infrastructure from origination through portfolio managementDevelop proprietary underwriting models leveraging both traditional credit analysis and our platform dataPartner with engineering to build technology-first processes that scaleCreate systems that deliver exceptional borrower experience without compromising credit qualityLead Credit & RiskEstablish comprehensive credit policies and underwriting frameworksStructure and close deals ranging from $1M to $25M+Build monitoring systems and covenant packages that balance risk and founder experienceOwn credit committee governance and decision-making processesDrive Growth & PartnershipsStructure partnerships with private capital providers and institutional investorsDesign warehouse facilities and forward-flow arrangementsBuild relationships across the venture ecosystem for deal flowDevelop go-to-market strategy that differentiates our offeringBuild the TeamRecruit and lead credit analysts, relationship managers, and operations professionalsFoster culture of analytical rigor and commercial judgmentScale the organization while maintaining talent densityPartner cross-functionally with sales, product, and engineeringWhat We're Looking ForEssential Experience8+ years in venture debt with experience through multiple credit cyclesTrack record of personally underwriting and closing $100M+ in transactionsDeep understanding of technology and life sciences lendingExperience building and managing high-performing credit teamsProven ability to structure and negotiate institutional capital partnershipsTechnical ExcellenceExpert-level understanding of venture debt structures, warrants, and equity considerationsSophisticated financial modeling and portfolio risk management capabilitiesFluency with modern credit infrastructure and data-driven underwritingUnderstanding of AI/ML applications in credit decisioningOwnership MentalityBuilder who takes complete ownership of outcomesComfortable operating with autonomy and making critical decisionsTrack record of building profitable businesses with strong unit economicsWilling to be hands-on while scaling the franchiseObsessed with winning in competitive marketsStartup DNADeep knowledge of venture capital dynamics and startup metricsEstablished relationships in the venture and growth equity ecosystemUnderstanding of how high-growth companies operate and scaleAbility to move fast without breaking thingsOur people are our most valuable asset. This role is based out of our NYC office, and the compensation range is $200k - $300k base. This role will also have a meaningful performance-based bonus component. Base salary and bonus may vary depending on relevant experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs. In addition to base pay, Rho offers equity, healthcare benefits and paid time off for this role.Diversity is a core value at Rho. We're passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for all those involved with our mission, including employees, contractors, candidates, customers and vendors. We believe every member of the Rho community enriches our ability to provide a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the market, identify problems, and drive solutions that align with our mission. We welcome all qualified applications and support each of our Rho'ers with ongoing professional growth opportunities.