At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic engagement and drive Visa Direct's growth across Europe.
- Company: Join Visa, a global leader in payments and technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of payments and technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in payments, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence and lead.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Company Description Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid. Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.
Job Description This client‑facing role engages Banks, Acquirers, PSPs, Processors, and Merchants and has a significant impact on Visa Direct’s performance and growth across Europe. The Director will work within a collaborative, fast‑paced team and partner closely with Strategy, Product, Risk, Compliance, and Technology to help scale Visa Direct adoption. They will work with Issuers and key Clients to identify, shape, and execute real‑time payment solutions that meet evolving market, client, and consumer needs and support Visa’s growth ambitions in the region. The role includes responsibility for driving client enablement, supporting ecosystem expansion, and improving performance outcomes for Visa Direct. The ideal candidate combines structured thinking, technical understanding, good commercial judgement, and a solid knowledge of payments and processing. Strong influencing and relationship‑building skills are essential to support Visa Direct’s Payouts strategy and ensure clients can adopt and grow the service effectively.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Ownership & Ecosystem Leadership: Define, own, and execute the Europe‑wide ecosystem enablement and acceptance strategy for Visa Direct, across domestic and cross‑border flows. Shape multi‑year growth plans and OKRs covering enablement, acceptance, performance, and revenue outcomes.
- Client & Market Enablement at Scale: Lead strategic engagement with European Issuers to deliver enablement, acceptance, and corridor expansion targets. Build and standardize scalable implementation frameworks for Fast Funds, OCT/AFT optimization, and new endpoint activation. Drive cross‑border acceptance growth, strengthening Visa’s regional value proposition and partner economics.
- Performance Governance & Escalation Leadership: Establish and run performance governance across Issuers, addressing market readiness and acceptance challenges through cross‑functional action plans. Resolve escalated issues from Client Services, Product, Technology, and Risk by coordinating root‑cause analysis and structural fixes.
- Product Influence & Requirements Definition: Define and champion European issuer‑specific product requirements; influence global product roadmaps based on regulatory, ecosystem, and client needs. Lead structured feedback loops to improve product performance, data quality, authorization/approval rates, and compliance metrics.
- Program Management & Structural Acceleration: Lead priority regional programs (e.g., ecosystem standardization, onboarding acceleration, corridor expansion), mobilizing multi‑functional teams. Drive operational excellence through BPM‑led process optimization and automation (Power Platform, reporting, dashboards).
- Executive Support & Cross‑Functional Leadership: Provide second‑line executive support for complex clients and high‑impact issues. Collaborate closely with Visa Rules, Client Services, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and Technology to ensure readiness, scalability, and operational robustness.
- Thought Leadership & Communication: Deliver high‑quality executive communications, insights, and recommendations for senior leadership. Represent Visa Direct Europe in internal and external forums, articulating ecosystem strategy and progress.
Qualifications
- Experience in payments, processing, or related roles, ideally with exposure to issuers, acquirers, or PSPs.
- Strong understanding of card and/or account portfolio performance drivers, including P&Ls, risk, authorization strategies, and relevant regulation, Banking industry, Fincrime and Crypto.
- Good working knowledge of key European payment schemes (ACH/SEPA, RTP/Instant, SWIFT, Cards).
- Solid analytical and data skills, including experience with data platforms and performance reporting.
- Practical experience using BPM methodologies and advanced Microsoft tools (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, Excel, etc.).
- Experience working across multiple European markets in payments or a related sector.
- Ability to balance interpersonal, technical, and commercial considerations in decision‑making.
- Proven capability to simplify complexity and resolve client or technical barriers.
- Experience with BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
- Strong written and verbal communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to prepare clear executive‑level presentations and summaries.
- Sound planning and project management experience; able to use data to guide issue resolution and performance improvements.
- Strong problem‑solving skills and an outcome‑focused mindset.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels.
Additional Information Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.
Visa Direct EU - Ecosystem Director in London employer: Visa
Contact Detail:
Visa Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Visa Direct EU - Ecosystem Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the payments industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Visa’s ecosystem and recent developments in the payments space. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for the industry and how you can contribute to Visa Direct’s growth across Europe.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences align with the role of Ecosystem Director. Focus on your ability to drive client enablement and performance outcomes, and make sure to highlight any relevant achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Visa and being part of our mission to uplift everyone, everywhere.
We think you need these skills to ace Visa Direct EU - Ecosystem Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Visa Direct EU - Ecosystem Director role. Highlight your experience in payments and processing, and how it aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your analytical and data skills! Mention any experience you have with BI tools like Power BI or Tableau, as well as your ability to simplify complex issues. This will show us you’re a great fit for the role.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We want to see your key achievements and how they relate to the role without wading through too much text.
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’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Visa
✨Know Your Payments Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of payment systems, especially those relevant to Europe like ACH/SEPA and RTP. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you understand the industry and can contribute to Visa Direct's growth.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've defined and executed strategies in previous roles. Think about how you can apply structured thinking to shape multi-year growth plans and OKRs for Visa Direct. This will demonstrate your ability to lead and influence effectively.
✨Build Relationships Before the Interview
If possible, connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn to gain insights into the company culture and expectations. This can help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Expect questions about how you've worked with different teams in the past. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you collaborated with product, risk, or compliance teams to resolve issues or drive projects forward. This will highlight your ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.