At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead partnerships and schemes strategy for a major credit card portfolio, driving commercial impact.
- Company: Join Lloyds Banking Group, a leader in financial services with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Generous pension, performance bonuses, tailored benefits, 30 days holiday, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; we value diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Why this job: Shape the future of financial services while making a positive impact on customers and communities.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in credit cards and partnerships, strong leadership and negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 85493 - 100580 € per year.
End Date: Tuesday 02 June 2026
Salary Range: £85,493 - £100,580
We support flexible working – click here for more information on flexible working options.
Flexible Working Options: Hybrid Working, Job Share
LOCATION: Chester or Manchester
HOURS: Full-time
Working pattern: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of your time, at one of our offices mentioned above.
What you’ll be doing: This is an opportunity to shape and lead the partnerships and schemes strategy behind one of the UK’s largest credit card portfolios, driving real commercial impact and customer value. As a Senior Manager in our Unsecured Lending team, you’ll take full ownership of credit card partnerships and card scheme relationships (Visa and Mastercard), with accountability for P&L performance, partner delivery and strategic investment of scheme funding. Sitting at the heart of a highly visible, commercially critical area, you’ll play a key role in strengthening our external partnerships while ensuring governance, compliance and operational delivery at scale.
You’ll lead the end-to-end lifecycle of co-brand partnerships, from identifying and selecting partners through to structuring deals, negotiating commercial terms and managing ongoing performance. Alongside this, you’ll develop and grow merchant partnerships that enhance our propositions, deepen customer engagement and drive sustainable spend growth. Working closely with card schemes, you’ll shape long-term strategic relationships, manage commercial negotiations and ensure the business remains compliant with all scheme requirements, including delivery of mandatory changes. You’ll provide strong financial oversight across partnership portfolios, including forecasting, MI and performance tracking, while leading and developing a high-performing team in a complex, matrixed environment.
Why join us? We’re transforming at pace. Investing billions in our people, data and technology to change the way we meet the needs of our customers. We’re growing, and we’d love you to be part of the journey.
Essential Skills:
- 7+ years extensive experience in credit cards, co-brand partnerships and card schemes (Visa and Mastercard), within a financial services or payments environment
- Strong track record of leading co-brand partnerships end-to-end, including structuring deals, commercial negotiation, contracting and performance management
- Experience of P&L ownership, financial planning and delivering against commercial targets
- Strong understanding of governance, regulatory requirements and operational delivery within a regulated financial services environment
- Proven ability to interpret complex external requirements (e.g. scheme rules, regulatory changes) and translate these into clear business and customer outcomes
- Experience leading or developing high-performing teams within a matrixed organisation
Desirable Skills:
- Experience within payments or wider card schemes environments beyond core credit cards
- Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills across internal and external partners
- Experience delivering large-scale, cross-functional transformation or partnership initiatives
We know that great talent comes from many backgrounds. Whilst this job advert may reference specific years of experience, we recognise that skills are developed in many ways, so if you have relevant, transferable experience, we encourage you to apply.
This is a place for you: Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion supporting our customers, colleagues and communities, and we’re committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop. We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. Just let us know what you need.
We offer a wide‑ranging benefits package, including:
- A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
- An annual performance‑related bonus
- Share schemes including free shares
- Benefits you can tailor to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
- 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays
- A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies
Ready for a career where you can have a positive impact as you learn, grow and thrive? Apply today and find out more!
At Lloyds Banking Group, we're driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you'll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, whilst the scale and reach of our Group means you'll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.
We keep your data safe. So, we'll only ever ask you to provide confidential or sensitive information once you have formally been invited along to an interview or accepted a verbal offer to join us which is when we run our background checks. We'll always explain what we need and why, with any request coming from a trusted Lloyds Banking Group person. We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we’re building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.
Senior Manager - Credit Cards Partnerships and Schemes in Chester employer: Lloyds Bank
At Lloyds Banking Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters growth and inclusivity. With a generous benefits package, including a substantial pension contribution, flexible working options, and a commitment to employee development, we empower our team members to thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact in the financial services sector. Join us in Chester or Manchester, where you can be part of a transformative journey that prioritises diversity, equity, and community engagement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager - Credit Cards Partnerships and Schemes in Chester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the credit card and financial services space. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company’s partnerships and schemes, especially with Visa and Mastercard. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who can drive real commercial impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your fit for the role. It shows you’re genuinely interested and keeps you top of mind.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. Plus, it’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager - Credit Cards Partnerships and Schemes in Chester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Manager role. Highlight your experience with credit card partnerships and schemes, especially with Visa and Mastercard. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention any relevant achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive commercial impact.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a high-performing team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've developed teams in complex environments and achieved results together. We love seeing strong leaders!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lloyds Bank
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's current credit card partnerships and schemes. Understand their strategic goals and how they align with your experience. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with P&L ownership and financial planning. Bring specific examples of how you've driven commercial success in previous roles. This will highlight your ability to manage financial performance effectively.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since negotiation is key in this role, think of a few successful negotiations you've led in the past. Be ready to share these stories, focusing on your approach and the outcomes. This will illustrate your capability in managing complex commercial terms.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Senior Manager, you'll need to lead a high-performing team. Prepare to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've developed teams in a matrixed environment. This will show that you can inspire and guide others towards achieving business goals.