Director – Banking & Financial Institution Partnerships - Dubai

PayerMax; Dubai; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

PayerMax is seeking a Senior Banking & Financial Institutions Partnership Lead in Dubai to drive strategic banking, FI, and payment infrastructure partnerships across the MENA region and beyond.

The role focuses on building high-value relationships with banks, PSPs, and fintechs, architecting scalable payment infrastructure, and leading end-to-end deal cycles from structuring through go-live.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in tier-1 banks or leading fintech platforms, focusing on transaction banking, FI coverage, or payments.
• Proven track record of originating, structuring, and closing complex FI partnerships with measurable impact.
• Deep domain expertise in AML/KYC, FX operations, cross-border payments infrastructure, and modern banking tech stacks.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute the banking and FI partnership strategy across MENA, focusing on UAE market.
• Establish and nurture C-level relationships with banks, financial institutions, PSPs, fintechs, and other ecosystem players.
• Own the full partnership lifecycle: sourcing, evaluation, commercial negotiation, due diligence, onboarding, integration, and ongoing performance management.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Treasury, and Operations to deliver partnerships on time and within scope.
• Develop channel management and risk frameworks, optimize routing by cost and geography, and monitor regulatory risk.

Skills

Transaction banking

FI partnerships

Strategic partnerships

Cross-functional leadership

AML/KYC

Cross-border payments

SWIFT

ISO 20022

Tools

SWIFT APIs

Payment APIs

Job description

Location: Dubai, UAE | Region: MENA, with global responsibilities as required

About PayerMax

PayerMax is a leading global fintech company rooted in emerging markets. It is committed to delivering professional, omni-method global payment solutions — including global acquiring, payout, and collections — providing merchants with a safer, more convenient one-stop payment experience.

Leveraging years of experience in emerging markets, PayerMax continues to expand its global footprint, breaking down geographical and currency barriers, and maximizing growth beyond borders.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Banking & Financial Institutions Partnership Lead to spearhead the company's strategic banking, FI, and payment infrastructure partnerships across the MENA region, with additional support for global initiatives as required.

This role will be accountable for developing and managing high-value relationships with banks, financial institutions, payment service providers (PSPs), and fintech partners. You will architect scalable banking and payment infrastructure, identify transformational partnership opportunities, and execute end-to-end deal cycles—from commercial structuring and negotiation through technical integration and go-live.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in transaction banking, established institutional networks, a growth-oriented business development approach, robust risk management acumen, and exceptional cross-functional leadership capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships & Business Development

• Design and execute the banking and FI partnership strategy across MENA, with a primary focus on the UAE market
• Establish and nurture C-level relationships with banks, financial institutions, PSPs, fintechs, and other strategic ecosystem players
• Own the full partnership lifecycle: sourcing, evaluation, commercial negotiation, due diligence, onboarding, technical integration, and ongoing performance management

Banking & Payment Infrastructure

• Architect and optimize scalable banking infrastructure for collections, payouts, settlements, FX, and cross-border payment flows
• Demonstrate expert-level proficiency in SWIFT messaging, domestic and international payment rails, banking APIs, and modern financial infrastructure
• Apply deep operational knowledge of corporate accounts, client money accounts (CMA), FBO (For Benefit Of) structures, virtual accounts, virtual IBANs, pooled/omnibus account models, and correspondent banking frameworks

Cross-Functional Execution

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Legal, Compliance/AML, Risk, Treasury, and Operations teams to deliver partnerships and products on time and within scope
• Drive internal alignment across stakeholders with competing priorities and operate with influence in a dynamic environment

Channel Strategy & Risk Management

• Develop sophisticated channel management and volume allocation frameworks, optimizing transaction routing based on cost, capacity, regulatory risk, geography, and operational performance
• Conduct thorough counterparty and channel risk assessments; design and implement mitigation strategies
• Provide senior leadership with actionable market intelligence, competitive insights, and channel related risk reporting
• Monitor emerging trends across payments, banking-as-a-service (BaaS), embedded finance, FX, fintech innovation, stablecoins, and Web3 infrastructure
• Identify whitespace opportunities for new product offerings, geographic corridors, and strategic alliances
• Support the development and deployment of stablecoin and digital asset payment infrastructure, including fiat on/off-ramp solutions and blockchain-based settlement mechanisms

Candidate Profile

Experience & Background

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in tier-1 banks or leading fintech platforms, with a focus on transaction banking, financial institutions coverage, correspondent banking, strategic partnerships, or payments
• Proven track record of originating, structuring, and closing complex banking/FI partnerships that delivered measurable business impact
• Deep domain expertise in AML/KYC frameworks, foreign exchange operations, cross-border payments infrastructure, and modern banking technology stacks

Technical & Domain Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of payment APIs, SWIFT standards, ISO 20022, and real-time payment systems
• Solid understanding of virtual account architecture, multi-currency settlement flows, and liquidity management
• Familiarity with stablecoins, blockchain rails, and digital asset infrastructure is highly advantageous

Network & Relationships

• Established, senior-level banking network in the UAE; broader MENA relationships strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to open doors and build trust with C-suite executives and decision-makers at financial institutions
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and executive communication skills
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgment and a bias toward execution
• Ability to drive outcomes across cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Fluent in English (written and verbal); proficiency in Arabic or Mandarin is a distinct advantage