At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a high-performing team in solution consulting for payment partners.
- Company: Join a dynamic payments company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for travel and strategic engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payment solutions while making impactful connections.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in payments consulting and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Requirements
- 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.
- 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.
What the job involves
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Senior Director of Solution Consulting in London employer: Planet
At Planet, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that our team members thrive in their careers. With a hybrid working model based in the UK/EMEA, we provide a flexible environment that supports work-life balance while engaging with leading partners in the payments industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director of Solution Consulting in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Senior Director of Solution Consulting at Planet!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Planet or be willing to refer you for that Senior Director of Solution Consulting position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Planet who’s on the lookout for their next Senior Director of Solution Consulting star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Senior Director of Solution Consulting role at Planet!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director of Solution Consulting in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Planet. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Planet
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Planet. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
