Director – Merchant Services and Acquiring at Visa

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

Visa's Merchant Sales and Solution Team is seeking a Merchant Services and Acquiring Director who will have responsibility for driving in-market acceptance efforts of a new mobile payment solution with Large Payment Facilitors and Acquirers across the region.

The Merchant Services and Acquiring Director has the responsibility of driving growth and development of meaningful and profitable merchant relations in Southern and Eastern African markets, specifically being accountable and owning on key markets from a Merchant Servicing and Acquiring perspective. In addition, this role is responsible for working with the Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring and the Group Country Manager/Country Managers on industry & regulatory initiatives and interchange management for the region.

Director – Merchant Services and Acquiring executes on the implementation of agreed merchant acceptance strategies that grow the penetration of electronic payments in this geography to drive the increase of Merchant Sales Volume (MSV) via implementing the new payment solution and building strong working relationships with client banks, key merchants and third party partners. The role is also responsible for understanding and communicating local market needs in order that the CEMEA Hub, Digital Team and Global Merchant Sales and Solutions organizations are able to effectively and efficiently define market specific strategies required to manage strategic and complex Acceptance issues.

Key Results Areas

• Develop and execute the merchant acceptance, merchant relations and partner strategy for the region to increase Visa MSV, market share, data processing revenues and create acquirer, merchant and consumer preference for Visa.

• Partner with the Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring and the Group Country Manager/Country Managers to execute on Nano Merchant Acceptance Strategy which will transform the landscape over a 3-year horizon.

• Drive acceptance of Visa payment solutions in the Southern and Eastern African market, with a focus across various business segments, key among them top tier and marquee merchants

• Secure and close leading deals with Fintechs across the region to drive non traditional transformation of the payments landscape in Southern and Eastern Africa.

• Take the lead in negotiating large Strategic Partnerships with key clients and or partners to ensure that Strategic Imperatives are met.

• Develop strong market relationships with key Fintechs and Merchants meant to protect and grow Visa business and brand standing with these merchants

• Conduct quarterly business reviews with key Fintechs and Merchants with the aim of ensuring Visa relationship adds value to clients

• Develop and execute the fintech issuance, merchant acceptance, merchant relations and partner strategy for Southern and Eastern Africa, increase Visa MSV, market share, data processing revenues and create acquirer, merchant and consumer preference for Visa.

• Play a hands-on role in the deployment and go to market of a new mobile based technology solution.

• Development of new initiatives/solutions, implement marketing/usage initiatives targeting traditional and new merchant segments, both in physical world and virtual world, with a focus on mobile based acceptance solutions.

• Successfully translate broad strategies into specific objectives and action plans, aligning efforts of the Acceptance and Interchange organizations with other key Visa stakeholders in particular the Country and Digital Teams.

• Establish and foster relationships with Clients and internal stakeholders at all levels of staff and senior management.

• Understand client needs, solution deployment requirements in different environments, and develop models of engagement that are easily replicable across organizations with similar characteristics for faster onboarding.

• Support local Client Sales and Digital Teams with their sales and enablement efforts. Maintain current knowledge of technologies, products, services, methods and applications and implement new approaches and practices as required.

• Maintain and build rapport with Digital and functional teams across Visa Inc. to exchange, learn and leverage best practices.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 3 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 6+ years of work experience with a PhD

Local market and regulatory knowledge and functional experience
in acceptance, merchant acquiring, interchange management, consulting,
financial transaction processing knowledge and client sales, preferably Visa,
supporting highly complex clients and/or services within a highly matrixed
environment
Established networks at decision making levels with a strong business-to-
business sales track record.
Years of Experience: A minimum of 10 years of success in progressive
leadership positions in the Payments industry
Education (required): Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Masters degree in a
business field is an added advantage
Technical
Working knowledge of payments network and processing services
Working knowledge of mobile technology
Demonstrated, detailed knowledge of the full breadth of acceptance and other
products and services offered by Visa
Working knowledge of project management tools and application
Microsoft office tools e.g. PowerPoint, Excel, Word etc
Working knowledge of Visa systems (preferred)
Business
Strong Sales and relationship management skills.
Broad and multiple industry exposure.

General finance and accounting knowledge and understanding.
Strong influencing and negotiation skills
Project management experience.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Experience shaping and delivering defined strategies.
Proven track record of driving growth and taking new products from
conception to commercial launch.
Executive presence.
Global mind-set, desire and demonstrated ability to work cross-culturally.
Exposure to emerging payment solutions (mobile wallets, mobile money
ecosystems, agent banking, mobile money transfers)

Visa is an EEO Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.