Strategic Initiatives Program Director

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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

The Revenue and Commercial Operations area evolved from merging several teams over four years since the original Sales Excellence team was created. The function has been instrumental in shaping our current sales mindset, discipline, approach, and has led numerous sales process improvements over the years. As we aim to be leaner, more agile, and efficient, with a focus on automation and self-service tools, we're revamping our team' structure and objectives. Our new team will have a refreshed core purpose, impactful goals, and a new organisational structure.

Job Description:

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Strategic Initiatives Program Director to lead and orchestrate a diverse portfolio of high-impact cross-business strategic initiatives across Europe. This role is crucial in enabling the organisation to meet its strategic objectives through the successful execution of these initiatives, which will also include leadership in execution of large-scale pan-European and single country deals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading and orchestrating a portfolio of European strategic initiatives sponsored by the Europe Leadership Team, including commercial, regulatory, transformational, technology, financial, and client initiatives, shaping and delivering them to an agreed scope, timeline, budget and OKRs.
• Leading the execution of large Pan European deals and single country large deals, orchestrating to bring world-class inputs across all countries and functions, whilst championing and embedding best-practice in deal approach and output.
• At the direction of the Client lead(s) in the market, leading on the execution of the client strategy for large pan European or single country large deals, applying an in-depth understanding of the Client needs and market landscapes to deliver successful commercial outcomes for our clients and Visa.
• Leading the shaping, establishment and ongoing growth of high-performance cross-business team environments to deliver complex and high impact strategic outcomes, managing competing priorities, to drive critical path delivery.
• Promoting transparency and accountability for execution of deliverables and business outcomes, and providing timely, clear, insight-rich and audience-aware communications and progress reporting.
• Leading the identification and shaping of nascent ideas and translating into tangible outcomes that drive significant strategic and transformative value to our business and clients.
• Collaborating and sustaining high-trust relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Act as a subject matter expert for project, program and strategic execution best practices, methods, processes, tools, templates, and standards.

Capabilities and Skillset Required

Proactive, Go-Do Attitude

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate a proactive and enthusiastic approach to their work. Candidates should be self-motivated, take initiative, and consistently seek opportunities to improve processes and outcomes. We are looking for individuals that are highly organized, structured, and resourceful, with a pragmatic, "can do" approach.

Commercial (Sales Mindset)

The ideal candidate possesses a strong sales mindset, with the ability to develop and execute strategic sales initiatives and is knowledgeable of our various solutions across Consumer, VAS and CMS. This includes understanding market dynamics, identifying opportunities, and delivering results that contribute to the organization's growth bringing an impressive commercial acumen with a background in shaping and leading large-scale and transformative commercial initiatives.

See Markets as Clients and Obsess Over Them

Description: Ideal candidates will consider markets their main clients and be dedicated to understanding and meeting their needs. They should prioritize client engagement, contribute positively to the AE team, and apply best practices from other regions to improve every deal process they participate in.

Analytical but Can See the Relevance and the So What

Description: We seek individuals who are highly analytical and can interpret complex data. They must be able to discern the significance of data insights and translate them into actionable strategies that drive the deal value proposition. Intellectually curious, able to think and operate at all levels of an organization, from executive and strategic to more granular operational.

Self-Starters

Description: Candidates must be self-starters, capable of working independently and taking ownership of their projects. They should exhibit a high level of initiative and the ability to drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision. Embraces ambiguity and an expert in bringing clarity, structure and focus to solving problems.

Tech Adopters

Description: The ideal candidate should be open to adopting new technologies and tools that enhance productivity and efficiency. They should stay updated with the latest tech trends and be able to integrate them into their workflow, particularly all new sales training tool and Copilot.

Highly Collaborative

Description: The successful candidate will excel in a collaborative environment, working effectively with cross-functional teams. They should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain world-class, high-trust productive working relationships.

Able to Leverage Global Tools

Description: Candidates must be adept at utilizing global tools and platforms to achieve their objectives. They should be comfortable working in a global context and able to leverage these tools to enhance communication, collaboration, and efficiency.

Exceptional Communication Skills

Candidates must have exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to establish effective relationships and communicate with all levels of the organization including executive management. Excellent presentation and communication skills including an ability to convey complex technical information.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in business or a related field.
• 9+ years of experience in leading large, complex, high-profile and fast-paced strategic initiatives in a global matrix organisation, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A qualification in an industry-recognized change methodology, e.g., PMI PMP, APM, Scrum.Org, SAFe, Prince2.
• Payments experience is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working with regulators and applying agile delivery methodologies is desirable.

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.