Manager Loyalty Solutions at Visa

Purpose

The Manager, Loyalty Solutions will be a key member of the CEMEA Hub Loyalty Solutions team. This role is based in the Visa Johannesburg office, reporting into CEMEA Hub and will service clients across region. This is a solutions product sales specialist and delivery role responsible for selling in and project managing implementation of a suite of different Loyalty product capabilities to enhance Visa’s client relationships with issuers, merchants, FinTechs and drive incremental profitable behaviours. 

Responsibilities:

Market Knowledge

• Understand market trends, client needs, the competitive landscape, and overarching privacy and regulatory environments within the CEMEA Region
• Help identify and deliver against the needs of clients (Issuers, Merchants, FinTechs) in key markets, relating to loyalty solutions and consumer experiences.
• Help package, sell and deliver robust loyalty solutions for clients.

Product Development and Delivery

• Drive product delivery including project management, understanding and developing consumer solutions (sometimes technical), processes and collateral, that allow the products and capabilities to be taken to the markets and delivered in a bespoke manner to clients.
• Work closely with local market teams to understand client needs and customize solutions as required.
• Work with the Business Development and Product teams as well as other stakeholders to implement key solutions and drive revenue targets.

Business Casing and Product Performance Management

• Support the creation of Business cases for new initiatives and prepare financial projections, working closely with Finance, Business Development and other stakeholders to validate assumptions.
• Track the performance of solution/product implementations, launches and programs, whilst providing regular reporting and dashboards (either available or personally developed).

Business Development Support / Solutions Dissemination

• Support key business development opportunities, provide input and expertise to pitches, RFPs, deal structures, revenue forecasts and contracts.
• Collaborate with key internal Visa partners - including Finance, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Marketing, Business Development, Acceptance in all activities

Strategic Nature, Management Accountability and Scope

• Help support, shape, update and drive the solutions/product strategy and operational plans.
• Provides sales, operational and technical support to internal stakeholders and external clients.
• Project manages solution implementations to achieve milestones and objectives for CEMEA Loyalty Solutions
• Produce executive management reports, briefings, and other related communications.

Decision Making and Complexity

• Support solution proposals and implement with clients.
• Prioritize work effort against client needs and internal KPIs. 

Financial & Organizational Scope

• Help achieve financial targets outlined in business cases developed for the implementation of loyalty product solutions.
• Must be able to work effectively in a matrix, cross-functional organization structure and participate in cross-functional projects, especially relating to innovation, benefits, loyalty, consumer experiences, product, and solution design and delivery.

Reporting Relationships & Interactions

• Role will be located in Johannesburg Office and reporting relationship to the Director Loyalty Solutions as well as Senior Manager Loyalty Solutions
• Individual contributor role.
• Interacts regularly with management in Products, Country management, Sales, Finance, Legal, etc.  This individual is expected to comfortably present to and interact effectively with medium and senior Visa management and staff.
• This position will involve frequent interaction and communication with key Visa stakeholders, including financial institutions, government departments, processors, agents, merchants and vendors.
• Strong interpersonal skills will be required to address on-going needs of a complex, matrix reporting structure.
• Multicultural sensitivity and interpersonal relationship management skills are essential including the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Qualifications

Key Competencies

• Strong project management skills
• Product management skills (knowledge of product lifecycle, development and implementation frameworks etc.)
• Strong sales and solutioning skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Systems thinking
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively within a matrix organization
• Self-directed and motivated
• Logical based reasoning and recommendations
• Service-delivery oriented
• Has an entrepreneurial spirit
• Results driven discipline
• Due to focus on specific markets, proficiency in English language is a must and proficiency in Arabic would be ideal.

Required Experience (education, skills - professional, technical, business)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• 5-7 years of experience spanning the areas of Product Management, Portfolio Management, Loyalty/Rewards, Analytics, Card Products & Payments
• Proven execution experience in a product management capacity, including product development and launch experience.
• Strong knowledge of sales, product management and portfolio management principles in financial services/retail banking/ payments arena.
• Experience utilizing analytical and project/program management skills to implement new platforms and lead integrations, enhancements and migrations of loyalty platforms.
• Proven track record of successful plan execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Payment processing or operations experience in new product launch and program management is desirable.
• Technically astute to work through overall functional specifications, market nuances and client payment ecosystem.
• Proven ability to execute independently and operate successfully within a matrix/team environment.
• Ability to interact effectively with external partners that include vendors and clients.
• Proficient user of all Microsoft Office products.