Director - Partnerships & Network Management, Expansion

About the Role: As the Director of Partnerships & Network Management, Expansion (EMEA region), you will play a pivotal role in building a future-ready network comprising key partner banks and other financial intermediaries that drive our company's growth. Your responsibilities include developing and executing strategic initiatives in the region, managing network expansion and product launches, and leading resilience and efficiency projects across our products. You will collaborate closely with Treasury, Product, Business, Operations, Engineering, Compliance, Legal & Risk teams and external partners to identify opportunities, negotiate partnerships, and implement strategies that enhance our market presence and enable seamless global money movement.

What would a day at Nium look like?

• Identify Partnership Opportunities: Proactively identify and evaluate potential partnerships, alliances, and collaborations with payment processors, financial institutions, merchants, and other stakeholders to expand our network reach in the EMEA region and offer a wide range of payment services to our clients.
• Develop and Execute Payment Network Strategy: Design and implement comprehensive payment network strategies for the EMEA region, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and growth targets.
• Project Management: Ensure the execution of key initiatives by partnering across multiple teams and representing the payment network team to build a stable, reliable, and future-ready network.
• Negotiate and Manage Partnerships: Lead negotiations and partnership discussions, including contract terms, pricing agreements, and service level agreements, to establish mutually beneficial relationships and drive network expansion specifically in EMEA.
• Drive Market Expansion: Develop and implement market entry strategies for new EMEA markets, conduct market research, assess regulatory requirements, and oversee the launch of payment services in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product development, marketing, legal, compliance, finance, and operations to ensure alignment and seamless execution of payment network initiatives.
• Stakeholder Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholders, external partners, regulatory authorities, and industry associations to support the company's objectives and navigate regulatory landscapes.

Which Skills & Experiences will make you successful?

• Proven track record of success in developing and executing payment network strategies within the financial services or payments industry.
• Ability to scope the market, identify the right partner, and build deep engagement, including C-suite networking and relationship building with partners.
• Extensive experience negotiating and managing partnerships with payment processors, financial institutions, merchants, and other stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of payment ecosystems, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics in EU, Middle East, and African corridors.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to leverage data insights to drive strategic decision-making.
• Awareness of evolving regulatory landscapes, partner risk appetites, potential risk factors, disruptions, and changes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive and results-oriented mindset, capable of driving initiatives from conception to implementation.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and effectively manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

What we offer at Nium

• We Value Performance: Through competitive salaries, performance bonuses, sales commissions, equity for specific roles, and recognition programs, we ensure that all employees are well rewarded and incentivised for their hard work.
• We Care for Our Employees: The wellness of Nium’ers is our #1 priority. We offer medical coverage along with a 24/7 employee assistance program, generous vacation programs including our year-end shut down, and a flexible hybrid working environment (three days per week in the office).
• We Upskill Ourselves: We provide role-specific training, internal workshops, and a learning stipend to support ongoing professional development.
• We Celebrate Together: We recognise that work is also about building great relationships. We celebrate together with company-wide social events, team bonding activities, happy hours, team offsites, and more.
• We Thrive with Diversity: Nium is a global company with over 33 nationalities, based in 18+ countries and more than 10 office locations. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.