Artificial Intelligence jobs in United Kingdom

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world. Join Visa and do work that matters — to you, to your community, and to the world.

Progress starts with you.

Visa Europe Sourcing has an opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced, and results-driven Product and Benefits Category Director, to join our team and help us to lead the change, further elevate the procurement function and cement strategic business partnerships. Are you interested in driving efficiencies? Do you like to challenge the status quo? Can you bring leading practice thinking and solutions? Do you pride yourself on close, strategic stakeholder and supplier relationship? Are you experienced and ambitious Product and Benefits Category expert? Do you enjoy working in cross-functional and cross-border teams? If this inspires and sounds familiar, please contact us because we would like to talk to you!

This role is to lead Product and Benefits Category, which includes subcategories such as: Concierge, Leisure, and People Benefits - reporting to Europe Head of Product and Services Category and the successful candidate will have experience of above Category buying categories at both strategic and tactical level. Scope is Europe and where requested provide support to the Global Sourcing and Regional teams.

General Responsibilities:

BUSINESS – “Shape & Deliver Value”

• Contributes to the development of the functional agenda by monitoring market trends, competitive dynamics, and stakeholder needs to support strategic planning and execution.
• Identifies and explores opportunities for value creation, recommending enhancements to current practices and supporting innovation initiatives aligned with strategic goals.
• Translates business and market insights into actionable plans, engaging stakeholders through clear communication and well-structured proposals.
• Supports alignment of regional and functional priorities with broader organisational objectives, collaborating across teams to ensure effective deployment of resources and capabilities.
• Drives change initiatives within the function, contributing to vision-setting, gaining team buy-in, and tracking progress against defined outcomes.
• Promotes operational resilience by helping to structure teams, services, and processes to respond effectively to disruption while maintaining performance.

TECHNICAL – “Drive Functional Excellence & Innovation”

• Implements consistent demand planning and forecasting processes across relevant areas of the organisation.
• Assesses sourcing initiatives and projects, providing analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Prepares sourcing reports and insights for review by senior management, ensuring clarity and relevance.
• Champions continuous improvement through adoption of best practices and innovative solutions, contributing to functional excellence.
• Develops and refines tools and templates, supports AI adoption, and maintains high standards for team and business deliverables.

LEADERSHIP – “Set Direction & Orchestrate Change”

• Acts with urgency to resolve issues and deliver results, maintaining momentum across initiatives.
• Engages team members in decision-making processes to build ownership and alignment.
• Clearly frames issues and options when escalating decisions to senior leadership.
• Fosters a high-performance culture, positioning the function as a reliable business partner.
• Leads collaborative efforts to identify opportunities and implement change, advocating for improvements across the function.
• Creates an inclusive and safe team environment that encourages open dialogue and diverse perspectives, supporting enterprise-wide change.

Role Scope:

Product and Benefits Category Leadership

• The role encompasses full ownership of the Product and Benefits category, from the initial design of strategy through to its execution. The position reports directly to the Head of Product and Benefits Category, ensuring close alignment with overarching business objectives.

Categories in scope:

• Role focused on Product and Benefits category requiring in- depth SME experience in buying insurances, broker services, travel/lounges access benefits, concierge benefits, card embedded benefit procurement.

Team Management:

• Responsible for the functional management of a dedicated Product and Benefits procurement team, the role ensures effective team performance and delivery of key objectives within the category.

Strategy Delivery

• Oversees the delivery of fast-paced procurement strategies specifically focused on card embedded and insurance benefits, driving timely and impactful procurement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Works in partnership with the business stakeholders to support revenue-enabling procurement activities, fostering collaboration and integration across functions.

Geographical Scope:

• The geographical scope of the role is Europe; however, support may also be provided to Global Sourcing and other regional teams as requested, ensuring consistency and best practice across locations.

Category Management & Operating Model:

• Translate Visa’s Sourcing Category Strategy into actionable commercial, operational, and financial projects at a category or sub-category level.
• Manage high-value ecosystems of strategic suppliers and partners.
• Execute strategic and tactical sourcing activities.
• Incorporate responsible sourcing objectives into category activities.
• Support and nurture future talent within the Visa Europe Product Benefits Sourcing team.
• Manage Category spend, supplier relationships, and opportunities, developing and maintaining Preferred Supplier Lists (PSL) and manage Tail spend.

Functional Planning & Performance:

• Lead defined sections of the sourcing planning and forecasting by aligning category plans to support the Sourcing strategy.
• Act as a strategic business partner, aligning global and regional stakeholders, Provide Sourcing, market intelligence and responsible sourcing input to support revenue generation and corporate goals.
• Responsible for the delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises the cross-functional teams and partners.

Performance Management & Reporting:

• Report on Category progress and performance using key metrics.
• Undertake supplier management activities for key strategic suppliers.
• Deliver the optimisation of the end-to-end sourcing process—from demand through delivery, measurement, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure robust risk management, control frameworks, and audit readiness to maintain functional resilience across European markets.

Governance & Best Practice:

• Deliver financial and other business values through leading practices.
• Identify efficiency opportunities in the sourcing process and deliver using Lean Six Sigma and other process optimisation tools.
• Support the Europe Sourcing Leadership Team (and attend on request/ad-hoc basis), exemplifying Visa’s Leadership Principles.
• Embed data-driven, risk-aware culture that integrates sustainability, inclusion, and ethical decision-making.
• Lead and support a diverse team through clear objectives, coaching, and performance management.
• Cultivate an inclusive, psychologically safe environment that encourages curiosity, accountability, and collaboration.
• Own succession planning and mentor future leaders to support long-term organisational growth.
• Promote a learning culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Capability Development & Communications:

• Identify and integrate digital tools, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI/Agentic AI) to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
• Lead complex change initiatives with disciplined execution, strong governance, and effective communication. Reporting delivery and achievement against plan and objectives.
• Represent Europe Sourcing internally and externally, enhancing the function’s reputation and strategic value.
• Drive continuous improvements and support digitalization.
• Support the delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises the cross-functional teams and partners.
• Lead medium complex change initiatives with disciplined execution, strong governance, and effective communication. Reporting delivery and achievement against plan and objectives.
• Represent Europe Sourcing internally and externally, enhancing the function’s reputation and strategic value.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Must Have:

• 10 years+ of advanced procurement experience in category management, with strong strategic, technical, and analytical skills
• 5 years+ of procurement experience in Financial Services, Banking, or Payments with card benefits and insurance as a category leader
• 5 years+ of broader Indirect Procurement experience in buying employee HR/benefit services (such as insurance, broker services)
• Advanced acumen and ability to design innovative commercial models
• Broad experience in all Product and Benefits sub-categories, relevant suppliers and market dynamics, business models, contract negotiations, implementation, and supplier relationship management.
• Project Leadership skills with experience in delivering large and complex Sourcing projects.
• Experience in leading people and teams in complex, matrix organisations
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build collaborative relationships.
• Energy, pace, and an impeccable track record of delivery.

Nice to have:

• Postgraduate procurement accreditation (MCIPS or MIIAPS).
• Experience in Financial Services, FinTech or Technology organisations.
• Lean Six Sigma, white or yellow belt.
• Experience in Incorporating digital tools, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI/Agentic AI) to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
• Operating in a large, multi-country region with complex stakeholder matrix.

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.