VP, Strategic FI Partnerships

Planet; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Global exposure

Job summary

Planet is seeking a VP, Strategic FI Partnerships to lead a portfolio of its most strategic financial institution partnerships. You will own commercial performance, delivery and long-term strategy, collaborating across Product, Technology, Operations, Commercial, Finance, Legal and Risk teams globally.

You will drive sustainable revenue growth, develop joint business plans, and manage complex cross-functional initiatives while maintaining executive visibility and governance across regions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing high-value partnerships in payments or fintech.
• Proven revenue growth through complex partner ecosystems and significant relationships.
• Experience engaging with executive stakeholders within financial institutions, payment providers or enterprise organisations.
• Strong ability to influence senior leaders and drive outcomes without direct authority.
• Excellent commercial acumen with strategic judgment.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop a portfolio of Planet’s most commercially significant financial institution partnerships.
• Lead strategic planning, governance and business review activities with partners.
• Develop and execute long-term partnership strategies aligned to Planet’s objectives.
• Drive expansion into new markets, products and capabilities within partner ecosystems.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives across products, regions and geographies.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Executive stakeholder mgmt

Commercial leadership

Program governance

Payments/Fintech

Job description

About Us

Planet is a leading technology company transforming payments by putting customer experience first. We offer integrated solutions that include payment processing, VAT refunds, dynamic currency conversion, and management services for merchants in the Retail and Hospitality sectors worldwide.

In recent years, we have experienced significant growth, expanding our services and global presence.

With strong private equity investors, Advent International and Eurazeo, we have the financial capital and expertise to grow our capabilities and reach through acquisitions.

Our mission is to create a world of connected commerce where payments are simple, secure, and seamless, enabling our partners to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.

Role Overview

The VP, Strategic FI Partnerships is responsible for leading and growing a portfolio of Planet’s most strategically important financial institution partnerships.

These relationships represent some of Planet’s most significant partnership-led revenue opportunities and play a critical role in Planet’s growth strategy. The role requires executive-level relationship management, commercial leadership and the ability to drive complex cross-functional initiatives across multiple regions and business units.

This individual will own the commercial performance, operational delivery and long-term strategic development of these partnerships, ensuring Planet maximises growth opportunities while delivering against complex contractual, operational and commercial commitments. The role is accountable for partnerships that represent a significant proportion of Planet’s strategic partnership growth opportunity and requires executive-level engagement both internally and externally.

This is a highly visible role with significant exposure to executive stakeholders. While the position has no direct reports, it requires leadership through influence across Product, Technology, Operations, Commercial, Finance, Legal and Risk teams globally.

What You Will Do

Lead Strategic Financial Institution Partnerships

• Own and develop a portfolio of Planet’s most commercially significant financial institution partnerships.
• Serve as Planet’s senior commercial representative for assigned partners.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with executive and senior stakeholder groups across partner organisations.
• Lead strategic planning, executive governance and business review activities.
• Develop and execute long-term partnership strategies aligned to Planet’s business objectives.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to increase partnership value, market reach and revenue contribution.
• Provide strategic recommendations and partnership insights to senior leadership.
• Act as the executive sponsor and escalation point for critical partnership initiatives.

Drive Commercial Growth

• Deliver sustainable revenue growth across assigned partnerships.
• Develop and execute joint business plans with clear commercial objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Expand partner-generated pipeline and improve conversion performance.
• Identify opportunities to introduce new products, services and capabilities within existing partner ecosystems.
• Drive expansion into new markets, customer segments and growth opportunities.
• Shape commercial strategies that maximise the long-term value of strategic partnerships.
• Monitor industry trends and market developments to ensure Planet captures emerging opportunities.

Deliver Strategic Programmes and Agreements

• Own the successful execution of high-value strategic agreements and commitments.
• Translate complex contractual obligations into actionable delivery plans and measurable outcomes.
• Lead large-scale cross-functional initiatives involving multiple products, business units and geographies.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders to ensure alignment, accountability and timely execution.
• Proactively identify risks, remove barriers and resolve issues that could impact delivery or partner success.
• Ensure all programmes are supported by robust governance, reporting and performance tracking.
• Maintain executive visibility of progress, risks and key decisions.

Influence Across the Organisation

• Act as the senior partnership lead across Product, Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Risk and Commercial functions.
• Align internal stakeholders around shared strategic priorities and business outcomes.
• Lead and influence without direct reporting authority.
• Represent partnership priorities within executive discussions and strategic decision-making forums.
• Drive organisational focus and investment in areas that support long‑term partnership success.
• Foster strong collaboration across teams to ensure delivery against strategic objectives.

Optimise Partnership Performance

• Drive initiatives that improve customer acquisition, revenue generation and solution adoption.
• Support the growth of Planet’s payments, acquiring and value-added services within partner portfolios.
• Establish scalable engagement models, processes and commercial frameworks.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement improvement plans where required.
• Identify opportunities to deepen existing relationships and unlock additional strategic value.
• Ensure partnerships continue to deliver meaningful commercial and competitive advantage to Planet.

Governance and Compliance

• Maintain oversight of partnership performance, commercial commitments and contractual obligations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, network requirements and Planet policies.
• Maintain accurate forecasting, reporting and performance visibility.
• Support executive governance forums with clear updates, recommendations and decision points.
• Ensure effective risk management across partnership activities and strategic programmes.
• Travel internationally as required to support strategic partner relationships and initiatives.

Who You Are

• Extensive experience managing high-value strategic partnerships within payments, financial services, fintech or related industries.
• Proven success growing revenue through complex partner ecosystems and commercially significant relationships.
• Experience engaging with executive stakeholders within large financial institutions, payment providers or enterprise organisations.
• Strong track record of leading complex commercial agreements involving multiple stakeholders, products and geographies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong commercial acumen combined with excellent strategic judgement.
• Comfortable operating in complex, international and fast-moving environments.
• Highly effective at balancing long-term strategic priorities with operational execution.
• Strong programme management, governance and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Deep understanding of payments, acquiring, merchant services, acceptance solutions or related financial technology ecosystems.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex business challenges and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required

Why Planet

Planet is an equal opportunity employer where diversity is valued, and all employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

Come and grow your career in the most exciting, fast-paced technology market, with a business that delivers feel-good connected commerce.

At Planet, we embrace a hybrid work model, with three days a week in the office.

Reasonable accommodations may be made in order to allow for an individual to perform the essential functions of this role successfully.