Senior Manager Product Development-Issuing Loyalty Solutions

Visa; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global payments technology company is seeking a Product Development Senior Manager for their Loyalty Solutions team in Dubai. This pivotal role involves leading the product lifecycle for innovative loyalty products tailored to the CEMEA market. Candidates should have substantial experience in product management and a deep understanding of loyalty market dynamics. The position is hybrid, and offers the opportunity to influence the future of customer engagement in the region.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant work experience or 5+ years with an Advanced Degree.
• Proven track record in product management within the CEMEA region.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate insights into strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ideation and development of new loyalty products.
• Manage product lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Develop pricing strategies for new and existing loyalty products.

Skills

Relationship building and negotiation

Strategic thinking

Strong technical knowledge

Program project management

Data-driven decision making

Product management literacy

Clear written and verbal communication

Strong collaboration

Self-directed and results-driven

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

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 Visa Loyalty Solutions team is at the forefront of shaping the future of customer engagement in the CEMEA (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region. We are a dynamic and innovative team responsible for the ideation, development, and management of loyalty products and solutions that deliver seamless, rewarding experiences for cardholders and drive value for our clients. Our work is pivotal in strengthening the relationship between banks, fintech’s, and merchants with their customers, leading to increased satisfaction and profitability. We are committed to driving the growth of digital-first loyalty programs and fostering a culture of innovation.

Role Purpose

Visa is seeking a Product Development Senior Manager to join our CEMEA Loyalty Solutions team. This is a senior-level role responsible for the end-to-end product lifecycle, from the ideation of new loyalty products to the enhancement of our existing suite of solutions. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the loyalty and payments landscape, capable of driving the development of cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and cardholders in the diverse CEMEA market.

This individual will play a critical role in regionalizing Visa's global loyalty solutions and will work in close collaboration with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products to market. You will be a key player in defining the future of loyalty at Visa in the region, ensuring our offerings remain competitive and best-in-class.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy and Ideation

• Lead the ideation and conceptualization of new loyalty products and features tailored to the CEMEA market.
• Develop and articulate a clear product vision and strategy, creating and managing a product roadmap prioritized by business goals.
• Conduct thorough market and competitor analysis to identify emerging trends, customer needs, and opportunities for innovation.
• Partner with country teams to gather and structure client feedback, ensuring Visa solutions remain relevant and differentiated.

Product Development and Lifecycle Management

• Lead the product development process from concept to launch, developing detailed functional specifications and user stories.
• Collaborate with global and regional technology teams to ensure product builds align with specifications.
• Oversee the enhancement of existing loyalty products to improve functionality and user experience.
• Monitor the performance of implementations and live programs, delivering clear, action-oriented reporting to drive improvements.

Commercialization and Go-to-Market

• Develop and implement pricing strategies for new and existing loyalty products.
• Support the creation of marketing and sales collateral to enable go-to-market strategies.
• Actively drive implementations to reduce Time to Revenue and convert signed deals into launched programs.
• Act as a subject matter expert and advocate for Visa's Loyalty Solutions, both internally and externally.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with technology vendors and partners to support the loyalty ecosystem.
• Operate effectively in a matrix, cross-functional environment with teams including Global Loyalty, Sales, Client Services, Risk, Finance, and Legal.
• Engage frequently with issuer, merchant, and FinTech clients, as well as partners, at both working and management levels.
• Bring strong interpersonal skills and multicultural sensitivity to collaborate across diverse teams and markets.

Governance & Commercial Oversight

• Lead Product Risk Reviews to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with new and existing products.
• Work closely with Legal and Compliance to ensure all loyalty solutions adhere to regional regulations and Visa's policies.
• Review loyalty billing and value-in-kind recognition monthly to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Key Competencies

• Relationship building and negotiation
• Strategic thinking & structured problem solving
• Strong technical knowledge
• Program project management agile, waterfall and multitasking
• Data-driven decision making and optimization
• Product management literacy, lifecycle, frameworks, GTM
• Clear written and verbal communication. Executive presence
• Strong collaboration in a matrix environment and culturally aware
• Self-directed, service-oriented, entrepreneurial, and results-driven

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: 8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 2 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications: 9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD

Proven track record of successfully launching and managing innovative products in the CEMEA region.

Deep understanding of the loyalty market, including key trends such as digital wallets, personalization, and card-linked offers.

Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate market insights into actionable product strategies.

Experience in conducting competitor analysis and market research.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams at all levels.

Experience in managing vendor relationships and conducting commercial negotiations.

A proactive and results-oriented mindset, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

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.