Director, Strategy & Operations - Security Solutions

MasterCard; Dubai; On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in the payments industry is seeking a Director of Strategy & Operations for its Security Solutions Organization in EEMEA. This role involves defining strategic initiatives, leading sales enablement, and collaborating with various teams to enhance operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in strategy consulting and the payments sector, with strong leadership and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Experience at firms like Bain, BCG, or McKinsey.
• Payment industry experience through roles at Issuers, Acquirers, or Merchants.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the 5-year strategy for the Security Solutions Organization.
• Lead sales enablement efforts across all SSO product verticals.
• Create execution plans for key strategic initiatives.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Problem Solving

Data Analysis

Collaboration

Job description

Job Title:

Director, Strategy & Operations - Security Solutions

Overview:

Who is Mastercard?
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Overview of the Role:

The Mastercard Security Solutions organization (SSO) in Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (EEMEA) leverages world-class security products and services to lead multi-product commercialization initiatives. It is part of Mastercard Services organization.

The Director, Strategy & Operations for the Security Solutions Organization in EEMEA is responsible for:

1. Defining and executing the 5-year strategy for the Security Solutions Organization in EEMEA.
2. Creating deep-dive analyses for strategic growth areas, including pricing and operational excellence.
3. Ideating and creating, in collaboration with the Services and SSO organization, key strategic initiatives covering network-level initiatives, synergies within Services, regional acquisitions and investments, new distribution networks, new revenue streams, and customer success.
4. Leading the sales enablement efforts across all SSO product verticals.
5. Creating execution plans for key strategic initiatives.
6. Shaping internal and external communication for EEMEA SSO, including voice of customer and market research.
7. Developing compelling communication narratives for key updates to EEMEA leadership, region, and Services.
8. Assisting in creating compelling solution sets comprising SSO solutions targeted for different customer segments.
9. Supporting Product vertical leads to develop and implement go-to-market strategies for target C&I solution bundles, in partnership with other Mastercard consumer-facing product teams.
10. Engaging with divisional expert teams and sales teams to build out detailed go-to-market strategies for the EEMEA region.

This role will work closely with internal Product vertical leads within SSO—both in EEMEA and globally—and will interact with other parts of Services and the region, including other Product verticals, Country, Sales, and Customer Success.

This role reports to the SVP of SSO EEMEA.

Candidate Profile:

• Experience at firms like Bain, BCG, McKinsey, or the Big 5, or in strategy teams within Financial Institutions. Exposure to operational improvement projects is valued.
• Payment industry experience through projects or roles at Issuers, Acquirers, or Merchants.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, alongside project management and planning skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze large data sets and synthesize recommendations.
• Highly collaborative, self-driven, and a fast learner, with experience in interim product management roles.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to influence and build credibility; team-oriented, diplomatic, and flexible.