At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in shaping innovative payment solutions and strategies.
- Company: Join Planet, a global leader in integrated technology and payments solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with a focus on personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced payments industry while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in solution consultancy and strong leadership capabilities required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Planet
Planet is a global provider of integrated technology and payments solutions for retail and hospitality customers. We create great experiences for the millions of people who use our payments, software, and tax-free solutions every minute of every day. Planet empowers its customers to deliver great customer experiences by combining payments and software in ways that drive greater loyalty, increase revenue and save time. Founded over 35 years ago and with our headquarters in London, today we have more than 2,500 employees located across six continents serving our customers in more than 120 markets.
Role Overview
The successful candidate will join our existing Solution Consulting leadership team and will be responsible for leading the FI Solution Consulting team, with a particular focus on our acquirer and gateway partners. This role is accountable for shaping and driving solution strategy in support of Planet’s acquiring, gateway and value-added services propositions, including DCC, MCP and integrated payment gateway solutions. The individual will lead a team of solution consultants, ensuring that partner and customer requirements are clearly understood, well documented and effectively driven through internal teams to support delivery and commercial success.
In addition to leading the team, the successful candidate will remain hands-on in selected strategic opportunities and partner engagements, directly performing solution consultancy activity with key partners and working closely with commercial teams to support growth.
The Senior Director, Solution Consultancy will be responsible for:
- Leading and managing the FI Solution Consultancy team, providing direction, structure, coaching and development to build a high-performing regional function.
- Owning the solution consultancy strategy and engagement model for acquirer partners, gateway partners and other strategic payment ecosystem relationships across the region.
- Supporting the growth of Planet’s acquiring and gateway propositions by shaping partner-ready solution approaches for DCC, MCP and integrated gateway services.
- Working closely with commercial teams to support partner growth, new business development, strategic account expansion and solution positioning.
- Acting as a senior solution lead for selected strategic partner engagements, directly supporting discovery, solution design, requirement definition and commercial discussions.
- Ensuring partner, customer and internal business requirements are clearly captured, properly documented and driven through the appropriate internal functions.
- Translating commercial opportunities into clear, structured and actionable solution requirements for Product, Technology, Delivery, Operations and other stakeholders.
- Building trusted relationships with senior external stakeholders across acquirers, gateway partners, processors and other payment ecosystem participants globally.
- Maintaining a strong understanding of Planet products, services and technical capabilities in order to articulate value propositions clearly and credibly.
- Ensuring solution consultancy outputs are delivered to a high standard, including requirements documentation, solution overviews, partner proposals, gap analysis and internal handover materials.
- Driving alignment between commercial, product and delivery teams to ensure that partner opportunities are well-qualified and strategically prioritised.
- Supporting the governance and consistency of the Solution Consultancy function, including standards, templates, documentation quality and internal ways of working.
- Identifying opportunities to improve processes, tools and engagement models across the function to drive efficiency, quality and better partner outcomes.
- Acting as a senior escalation point for complex partner discussions, solution challenges and cross-functional alignment issues.
- Supporting ad hoc strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects as required.
What you will do
- Lead a team of solution consultants working across multiple partner types, territories and opportunity streams.
- Bring deep expertise in payments, acquiring and gateway partnerships to shape credible, scalable and commercially strong solution proposals.
- Partner closely with commercial leaders to support sales strategy, account growth and partner relationship development.
- Provide leadership and clarity for complex opportunities where multiple stakeholders, products and technical dependencies must be aligned.
- Balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution by directly supporting selected high-value or high-complexity partner engagements.
- Ensure requirements are not only documented clearly, but are also tracked, understood and driven through the organisation to conclusion.
- Represent the Solution Consultancy team internally with senior stakeholders and externally with key strategic partners.
- Mentor, coach and develop the team to strengthen capability, consistency and confidence across the function.
Who you are:
- A senior leader with a strong track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
- Highly experienced in working with acquiring partners, gateway partners and broader payment ecosystem stakeholders across multiple markets.
- Commercially minded and technically credible, able to bridge customer need, partner expectation and internal capability.
- Comfortable operating strategically while also remaining hands-on where required.
- A strong communicator who can create alignment across commercial, product, delivery and technical teams.
- Someone who is structured, proactive and capable of driving momentum in complex environments.
- A natural relationship builder with the seniority and credibility to engage external partners and internal stakeholders with confidence.
- Comfortable with complexity, pace and accountability.
What you will need to bring to Planet
- Significant experience in solution consultancy, payments consulting, pre-sales, partner solutions or a related leadership role within the payments industry.
- Strong experience working with global acquirer partners, gateway partners and related payment service providers.
- Proven experience leading and developing teams in a fast-paced, commercially focused environment.
- Deep knowledge of acquiring, payment gateways and value-added services such as DCC and MCP.
- Strong understanding of integrated payment solutions and the broader payments ecosystem.
- Demonstrable experience gathering, documenting and driving requirements across complex business and technical environments.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align both internal teams and external partners.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex solution concepts clearly.
- Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to work across multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
- Leadership, mentoring and coaching capability.
- Willingness to travel where required.
- UK-based / EMEA-based with hybrid working.
Why Planet:
Planet is an equal opportunity employer where diversity is valued, and all employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Come and grow your career in the most exciting, fast paced technology market, with a business that delivers feel-good connected commerce. We would love to hear from you – Apply now. At Planet, we embrace a hybrid work model, with three days a week in the office. Reasonable accommodations may be made in order to allow for an individual to perform the essential functions of this role successfully.
Senior Director Solution Consulting in London employer: Planet Payment
Planet is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to thrive in the fast-paced technology sector. With a strong focus on professional development, employees have access to mentorship and growth opportunities while working collaboratively with a diverse team across global markets. The hybrid work model allows for flexibility, ensuring a healthy work-life balance, making Planet an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director Solution Consulting in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Planet Payment. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director Solution Consulting in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Planet Payment.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Planet Payment's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Planet Payment
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Planet Payment.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Planet Payment will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Planet Payment employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
