At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive revenue growth and close deals in high-risk payments sectors.
- Company: Fast-growing payments scale-up based in Malta with ambitious targets.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, substantial bonuses, flexible location, and relocation support.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and enjoy significant career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Lead commercial strategy and make a real impact in a scaling business.
- Qualifications: Proven sales leadership experience in payments or fintech, especially in high-risk sectors.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Malta (HQ) | Candidates based remotely in the UK or Europe welcome (regular travel to Malta is essential, or fully funded relocation)
Salary: circa €120,000 base + substantial bonus & commission
The Opportunity:
We’re working with a fast‑growing, licensed payments scale‑up headquartered in Malta. The business is currently at 35 people and on track to grow to 50 FTE this year, with ambitious commercial targets and a clear need for senior commercial leadership that is both strategic and hands‑on.
This is a blended Sales Director role: you will personally originate, negotiate and close revenue‑generating deals, while also shaping the wider commercial strategy, building partnerships across the payment’s ecosystem, and leading a small commercial team.
Role Overview:
As Sales Director, you will own revenue growth across multiple channels, with a particular focus on:
- Driving payments volume from merchants in higher‑risk sectors (e.g. gaming, gambling, travel and adjacent verticals)
- Building and closing strategic partnerships with PSPs, acquirers, banks, FI’s and other payments organisations
- Establishing scalable commercial processes while remaining directly involved in closing key deals
You must be senior enough to operate at board and partner level, yet practical enough to manage details, contracts, pricing models and onboarding processes yourself when required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Hands‑on Sales & Revenue Generation: Originate, qualify and close new merchant relationships, particularly within higher‑risk verticals. Own the full sales lifecycle end‑to‑end: prospecting, pitching, negotiation, contracting, pricing, onboarding and go‑live. Drive payments volume and long‑term revenue growth through well‑structured commercial agreements.
- Partnerships & Ecosystem Development: Build and close strategic partnerships with PSPs, acquirers, issuing banks, FI’s and other payments players. Leverage your network to open doors with tier‑one and tier‑two partners. Secure senior‑level conversations and successfully pitch commercial partnerships. Structure partnership models that are commercially robust, scalable and compliant.
- Commercial Strategy & Leadership: Define and execute the commercial strategy aligned to company growth plans. Balance short‑term revenue delivery with long‑term strategic partnerships. Manage and develop a small commercial/sales team, setting clear targets, processes and expectations. Lead by example: coaching through live deals and negotiations.
- Commercial Governance & Detail: Own pricing strategy, commercial terms and margin management. Lead complex negotiations covering pricing, risk, SLAs, contracts and legal frameworks. Work closely with legal, compliance and risk teams to ensure deals are structured correctly. Build repeatable sales and onboarding processes; details matter!
What We’re Looking For - Experience & Track Record:
- Proven experience in senior commercial or sales leadership roles within payments or fintech.
- Demonstrable track record of closing complex merchant and/or partnership deals in the payments space.
- Experience operating in higher‑risk verticals (gaming, gambling, travel, or similar).
- History of successfully building and managing partnerships with PSPs, acquirers, banks or FI’s.
- Evidence that you can open doors: who have you closed deals with, how, and at what level?
Commercial Skillset:
- Strong commercial nous: pricing, negotiation, contract structuring and margin optimisation.
- Comfortable handling legal and contractual detail.
- Highly process‑driven with attention to detail.
- Strategic thinker who can translate strategy into executable deals.
Leadership & Style:
- Experience managing and motivating a small sales or commercial team.
- Hands‑on, lead‑from‑the‑front mentality.
- Credible at C‑suite and board level, internally and externally.
- Entrepreneurial mindset suited to a scaling business.
Why Join?
- Senior, high‑impact role in a licensed, scaling payments business.
- Genuine influence over commercial direction and growth.
- Competitive package: €120k base + significant bonus & commission upside.
- Flexible location (UK/Europe) with travel or relocation fully supported.
- Opportunity to build something meaningful and be recognised & rewarded for it.
If you’ve done this before - opened the doors, secured the meetings, negotiated the deals and delivered the revenue, and you want the autonomy to do it again in a high‑growth environment, this is a standout opportunity.
Sales Director - High Risk Payments in Edinburgh employer: Payments Recruitment Limited
Contact Detail:
Payments Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Director - High Risk Payments in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. The more people you know in the payments space, the easier it’ll be to land those crucial meetings.
✨Tip Number 2
Be ready to showcase your success stories. When you get that interview, have examples of deals you've closed and partnerships you've built at the ready. Numbers speak volumes, so don’t shy away from sharing your achievements!
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company inside out. Know their products, their competitors, and their market position. This will help you tailor your pitch and show them you’re genuinely interested in driving their growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Director - High Risk Payments in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Sales Director role. Highlight your experience in high-risk payments and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to close complex deals. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past successes in sales leadership and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Network: Don’t forget to mention your connections in the payments ecosystem! If you've built relationships with PSPs, banks, or other key players, let us know. We love seeing candidates who can leverage their network to drive business growth.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Payments Recruitment Limited
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Sales Director, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of revenue generation. Be prepared to discuss specific figures from your past roles, such as sales growth percentages and deal sizes. This shows you can back up your experience with concrete data.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since this role involves complex negotiations, brush up on your negotiation skills. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated tough discussions in the past, especially in high-risk sectors like gaming or travel. This will highlight your ability to close deals effectively.
✨Showcase Your Network
The ability to open doors is crucial for this position. Come armed with examples of partnerships you've built and how you've leveraged your network to secure meetings with senior decision-makers. This will illustrate your capability to drive business growth.
✨Be Ready to Dive into Details
While strategy is important, this role requires a hands-on approach. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed contracts, pricing models, and onboarding processes in previous roles. Highlighting your attention to detail will reassure them that you can handle the complexities of the payments landscape.