Program Director in Basildon

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We connect financial institutions, corporations, merchants, and consumers to one another millions of times a day – quickly, reliably, and securely.

Any time you swipe your credit card, pay through a mobile app, or withdraw money from the bank, we’re involved.

If you want to make an impact on a global scale, come make a difference at Fiserv.

• Job Title
• Program Director

About your role

This role suits a seasoned programme delivery leader (15–20+ years' experience) who can own the client relationship at executive level, shape programme direction where clarity is lacking, and drive teams toward outcomes in complex multi-stakeholder environments.

The ideal candidate will combine deep payments domain expertise with a forward-thinking approach to AI-enabled delivery — leveraging automation, agentic AI, and data-driven decision-making to transform programme execution.

What you’ll do

• Strategic Client Leadership
• Own and develop the client relationship at executive level — acting as a trusted strategic partner, not just a delivery manager.
• Lead governance forums, steering committees, and executive reviews with authority and credibility.
• Anticipate client needs, proactively shape engagement strategy, and identify opportunities to deepen the relationship and expand scope.
• Navigate complex client politics and competing priorities, building consensus and driving alignment at senior levels.
• Use AI-supported insights to strengthen client communications, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
• Manage escalations with composure and judgement, maintaining trust even under pressure.
• Programme Delivery & Governance
• Lead multiple concurrent BAU, change, and transformation programmes with varied scope and complexity — taking full accountability for outcomes.
• Own the full delivery lifecycle from initiation through closure, with particular expertise in large-scale card issuing data migration programmes.
• Drive migration strategy, rehearsals, cutovers, and rollback planning with rigour and attention to operational risk.
• Operate confidently in ambiguous environments — structuring unclear programmes, making decisions with incomplete information, and adapting approach as understanding evolves.
• Drive adoption of AI-enabled delivery approaches including automated status reporting, predictive risk and dependency analysis, and data-driven capacity planning.
• Ensure all deliveries meet Fiserv quality standards, contractual commitments, and regulatory obligations.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building
• Build, lead, and motivate cross-functional delivery teams — setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability.
• Mentor and develop project managers and delivery leads within the team.
• Champion consistent use of automation and AI tooling across delivery teams to reduce manual effort and improve quality.
• Lead by example in adopting modern delivery practices and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Orchestrate delivery across global, onshore, and offshore teams — ensuring alignment and removing blockers at pace.
• Coordinate effectively across Product, Technology, Architecture, Operations, Compliance, and Integration functions.
• Work with payment schemes (Visa, Mastercard), third-party vendors, and regulators where required.
• Drive cross-programme dependency management and resource optimisation across the portfolio.
• Risk, Issue & Change Management
• Proactively identify and manage delivery, regulatory, operational, and migration-specific risks — with strong judgement on escalation vs resolution.
• Apply AI-assisted risk identification and trend analysis to stay ahead of emerging issues.
• Manage scope changes, CRs, and client expectations through robust governance and clear communication.
• Ensure compliance with Fiserv standards and regional regulatory frameworks (CBUAE, SAMA, etc.).
• Financial & Commercial Accountability
• Own programme P&L — tracking budgets, resource utilisation, margin, and commercial exposure.
• Use automation and AI-driven analysis to improve forecasting accuracy and cost transparency.
• Lead SOW development, effort estimation, and contract negotiations.
• Partner with sales and commercial teams to identify growth opportunities within existing accounts.
• Manage commercial risk and ensure programmes remain within agreed financial parameters.

Experience you’ll need to have

• 15–20+ years of experience in programme or project management within payments, card processing, or financial services technology.
• Deep expertise in payments processing, particularly credit card issuing and platform migrations.
• Proven leadership of large-scale, multi-stream data migration programmes in the card issuing domain, including card portfolios, customer/account data, transaction and balance migration, cutover planning, parallel runs, and post-migration stabilisation.
• Extensive experience managing enterprise clients at C-suite and VP level, with a consultative, trusted-adviser approach.
• Strong delivery track record in credit card issuing and large-scale data migration programmes — multiple successful migrations delivered.
• Practical experience using AI and automation to streamline delivery, governance, and reporting — beyond assistive tooling into embedded and agentic AI.
• Strong understanding of card issuing platforms (Vision PLUS / First Vision), data flows, and migration risks.
• PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP, or equivalent programme management certification.

Experience that would be great to have

• Experience across multiple card processing platforms (First Vision, CMS, TSYS, Cortex).
• Knowledge of ISO 8583 messaging, card scheme certification, and service-based integrations.
• Prior experience in management consultancy or professional services delivery.
• Experience managing programmes with budgets exceeding $5M.
• Familiarity with portfolio management and PMO leadership.

Thank you for considering employment with Fiserv.

Please

• Apply using your legal name
• Complete the step-by-step profile and attach your resume (either is acceptable, both are preferable).

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Fiserv is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by law.

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