Card Schemes & Partnerships Head

Liberty, a prominent force in the South African financial services sector, is seeking a seasoned professional to spearhead its Card Schemes and Partnerships endeavours. This pivotal role is based in Johannesburg and requires an individual with a profound understanding of the payments landscape and a knack for cultivating strategic alliances. The primary objective is to drive significant value for the organisation, not only through tangible financial savings but also by securing non-financial benefits that enhance Liberty's competitive edge.

About the Role

This position acts as the central point of contact for all interactions with major card associations, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club. The successful candidate will be instrumental in fostering and maintaining robust relationships with these entities. A key responsibility will involve consolidating, coordinating, and prioritising requests originating from various business units within Liberty, ensuring that these are aligned with the company’s overarching strategic goals. By identifying and leveraging synergies across different departments, the Head of Card Schemes and Partnerships will negotiate favourable terms and agreements, ultimately benefiting the organisation. This is a strategic role demanding leadership, negotiation acumen, and a deep commercial understanding.

The incumbent will be responsible for a range of critical tasks designed to maximise the value derived from card scheme relationships. This includes:

• Developing and executing strategies to achieve sustainable cost savings and enhance non-financial benefits through partnerships with card associations.
• Serving as the primary liaison between Liberty and card schemes, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
• Managing the end-to-end process of requests from business units to card associations, from initial submission to final resolution.
• Proactively identifying opportunities for collaboration and synergy across different business units to optimise outcomes.
• Negotiating contracts, service level agreements, and other commercial terms with card schemes to secure advantageous arrangements for Liberty.
• Conducting financial analysis and modelling to support negotiation strategies and track the financial performance of partnerships.
• Staying abreast of industry trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements within the payments sector to inform strategic decision-making.
• Contributing to product development and strategy related to card products and services.

What They're Looking For

Liberty is seeking an individual with a strong academic background and extensive experience in the financial services industry. Desired qualifications include a post-graduate degree in Business or Commerce. The ideal candidate will possess:

• 8-10 years of experience in the banking and payments sector.
• A demonstrable track record in product management within financial services.
• Specific experience working directly with or within major card associations (e.g., Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diners) would be highly advantageous.
• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in financial analysis, modelling, vendor management, and negotiation.
• A solid understanding of personal and private banking products.
• Proven ability in strategic planning, forecasting, and budget management.
• Proficiency in decision-making, problem-solving, and planning.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to articulate information clearly, challenge ideas constructively, and foster teamwork.
• Competencies in product development, product knowledge (Consumer Banking), and relevant consumer banking product systems.
• A commitment to upholding standards and driving results.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of card partnerships at Liberty, contributing to its mission of creating growth and delivering meaningful value.

In South Africa, a senior role like the Head of Card Schemes and Partnerships would typically command a competitive remuneration package, reflecting the significant strategic responsibility and experience required. Employers in this space often include major banking groups, insurance companies, and large financial services providers. Career progression from such a role could lead to broader executive positions in payments strategy, product leadership, or business development within the financial sector.

Type of Qualification: Post Graduate Degree
Field of Study: Business Commerce

Experience Required
Products
Personal and Private Banking
8-10 years experience in banking and payments with a proven product management track record in the financial services industry. Experience gained from working within or with Card Associations such as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diners would be beneficial.

8-10 years experience in financial analysis, modelling, vendor management and negotiations.