At a Glance
- Tasks: Support strategic partnerships and drive product innovation in real-time payments.
- Company: Join Mastercard, a leader in digital payments across 200+ countries.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the evolving payments landscape and shape the future of finance.
- Qualifications: Passion for digital payments, analytical skills, and experience in strategy or consulting.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
About the Role The Real-Time Payments (RTP) Global Strategy & Business Enablement team is seeking a Specialist to support the development and execution of Mastercard’s strategic partnerships agenda and to drive product innovation initiatives across the RTP portfolio. This role sits within the Strategy & Business Enablement function and has a dual focus:
- Supporting the identification, evaluation, and activation of partnerships aligned with RTP strategic priorities
- Supporting the development and scaling of new use cases in collaboration with the Access & Services Product team
The Specialist will work across Global Product, Regional teams, Commercial teams, and partnership functions to translate strategic priorities into actionable pipelines—accelerating time-to-market and revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Partnership Development: Support the identification, evaluation, and activation of strategic partnerships across the payments ecosystem, contributing to the development of a strong partnership pipeline aligned to RTP priorities
- Product Innovation & Use Case Development: Collaborate with Product and regional teams to identify, develop, and scale new RTP/A2A use cases, supporting innovation efforts and accelerating time-to-market
- Strategic Support: Assist in preparing high-quality materials (e.g., presentations, reports) for strategic initiatives, leadership discussions, and executive forums
- Market & Competitive Analysis: Conduct in-depth research to identify industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities within the real-time payments ecosystem
- Data-Driven Strategy: Analyse quantitative and qualitative data to assess business opportunities and translate findings into actionable strategies that support growth priorities
- Benchmarking & Assessment: Evaluate third-party partners, vendors, market segments, products, and customer profiles to inform strategic and partnership decisions
- Insight Communication: Support the development and presentation of clear, compelling insights that influence strategic planning and cross-functional decision‑making
- Commercial Evaluation: Assess the commercial potential of products, partnerships, and use cases across regions to support prioritization and investment decisions
- Go-to-Market Collaboration: Work closely with senior colleagues to shape go-to-market strategies that align with business goals and optimise product‑market fit
All About You The ideal candidate for this position exhibits the following skills and capabilities:
- Industry Passion: Genuine interest in digital payments and the broader payments ecosystem
- Experience: In consulting, corporate strategy, business intelligence, go-to-market, or a related field
- Analytical Thinking: Strong logical reasoning and comfort with numerical analysis
- Technical Proficiency: Solid skills in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with a desire to continuously improve
- Strategic Mindset: Ability to quickly conceptualise strategic ideas and articulate them clearly and concisely
- Multitasking Ability: Capable of managing multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment
- Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
- Relationship Building: Ability to build trust and credibility across different levels of the organization
- Self-Management: Disciplined and goal‑oriented, with a proactive approach to driving business outcomes
- Adaptability & Openness: Self‑aware, receptive to feedback, and adaptable to diverse situations and perspectives
Corporate Security Responsibility
- Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed
- Report any suspected information security violation or breach
- Complete all periodic mandatory security training in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines
Specialist, Product Management employer: Mastercard
Mastercard is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, empowering employees to drive meaningful change in the digital payments landscape. With a strong commitment to employee growth, Mastercard offers extensive professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment that values diverse perspectives. Located in a dynamic industry, employees benefit from being at the forefront of technological advancements while contributing to a sustainable economy that benefits everyone.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialist, Product Management
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Mastercard!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Mastercard would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Mastercard through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Specialist, Product Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Specialist, Product Management, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Specialist, Product Management position at Mastercard. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mastercard
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
