Director of Community (Ventures)

Job Description

Job Description

About Merlin Group

Merlin Group operates at the intersection of cyber innovation, national security, and technology-driven transformation. With a mission to accelerate the adoption of high-impact technologies across the U.S. public sector and regulated commercial markets, Merlin is uniquely structured around three core tenets – Invest, Enable, and Scale – each designed to address a specific stage of the technology lifecycle. Together, our affiliates – Merlin Ventures, CGC, and Merlin Cyber – form a flywheel that builds enduring capability for customers, partners, and the broader cyber ecosystem, operationalizing technological advancement into mission-ready, enterprise-grade solutions.

At Merlin, we believe our strength lies in our people. Team members are encouraged to be creative, collaborative, and nimble, pursuing paths to deliver the cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions that our customers rely on. From next-generation cyber defense to secure cloud and AI, we are united by one purpose – transforming innovation into mission impact.

The Opportunity

Merlin Ventures is searching for a Director of Community who knows the cybersecurity market and is ready to lead and grow our unique network of cybersecurity leaders and partners. Based in the Washington, DC metro area, we are a fund focused on early-stage Israeli cybersecurity companies. Over the past four years, we've built a robust and open network of hundreds of CISOs, MSSPs, and other industry advisors. What makes our community different is our commitment to building genuine relationships. We give our members access to the entire Israeli cybersecurity ecosystem, helping them stay on top of the latest innovations. We are looking for someone to take our momentum to the next level. The ideal candidate will be creative, strategic, flexible and adaptable to high pace environments, and not afraid to challenge our current model.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Community Engagement & Growth: Develop and implement creative strategies to grow and engage our cybersecurity community. This includes building strong relationships with new and existing members through regular calls, events, and other interactions.
• Event Planning: Plan and execute community events, including our annual "Safari" event that brings together CEOs, CISO advisors, and partners for networking and learning.
• Partnership Management: Identify and secure new sponsorship partners while managing existing relationships to support our innovative events.
• Strategic Introductions: Facilitate thoughtful connections between our portfolio companies and community members, ensuring a valuable and non-intrusive experience for our advisors. We believe in a "pull" rather than "push" approach, aiming to provide more value (education, experiences, networking) than we ask for.
• Team Collaboration: As a key member of our small, 8-person team, you’ll work closely with colleagues and take on tasks outside your core responsibilities to ensure our collective success.

Qualifications

• Entrenched in Cyber: You know the cybersecurity market and can hit the ground running with your own network of contacts.
• Technically Capable: You don’t need to be a operator, but you should be able to understand our portfolio companies and identify when they are a relevant fit for our advisors.
• Extroverted & Detail-Oriented: You enjoy meeting new people and building relationships. You also have a keen eye for detail, ensuring no small task is overlooked—whether it's organizing an event or tracking community metrics.
• Entrepreneurial & Proactive: We're a young fund that is always looking to reinvent ourselves. You should be a self-starter with new ideas who is ready to challenge the status quo.
• Flexible & Willing to Travel: You will be expected to travel for conferences (approximately five times per year) and regional events, including occasional trips to Israel.
• Location: This position is based in Tysons Corner, VA in the Washington, DC area, and local candidates are highly preferred. There is flexibility around days and times, but candidate will be expected to be present in the office on a regular basis.

Success Attributes

• Commitment to personal and professional integrity and respect for others
• Roll-up-your-sleeves attitude and low-ego approach
• Commitment to teamwork and professional relationship development
• Passion for lifelong learning, growth, and development
• Flexible and nimble; comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change
• Strong communication and functional project management skills
• Desire to innovate, try new things, and creatively explore novel solutions to business challenges
• Professional and respectful approach to the diversity of thought, action, identity, and attributes

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.