Payment Operations Director

HALA; Riyadh; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

HALA is seeking a strategic Director of Payment Operations to oversee merchant lifecycle operations, manage card issuance, and ensure operational excellence. This leadership role requires strong expertise in fintech payments, with responsibilities across compliance, risk, and enhancing merchant experiences. Candidates should have significant experience in operations and a deep understanding of the payment ecosystem.

Benefits

Inclusive and diverse culture

Flexible work arrangements

Competitive compensation packages

Training and learning stipends

Opportunity for mentorship

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in payments, with 5+ years in leadership.
• Strong expertise in acquiring and issuing operations.
• Experience with payment processors and banking partners.

Responsibilities

• Oversee merchant lifecycle operations including onboarding and KYC.
• Manage card issuance lifecycle and transaction authorization.
• Define and report on OKRs and SLAs for payment operations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Stakeholder Management

Operational Knowledge

Compliance Understanding

Tools

ISO 8583

EMV Standards

BASE24

Job description

HALA is a leading fintech player in the MENAP region that aims to redefine financial services and build the future bank of SMEs. HALA aims at empowering SMEs to start, run, and grow their businesses by providing them with cutting-edge financial and technological tools.

HALA currently holds multiple entities in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt (including HALA Payments, HALA Cashier, and HALA Logistics) and offers solutions that enable merchants to digitize their payments as well as manage their sales and operations.

Founded in 2017, HALA is licensed by the Saudi Arabian Central Bank and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in Abu Dhabi Global Market.

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic and execution-driven Director of Payment Operations to join our operations department and collaborate with cross-functional teams. This role is crucial for scaling our fintech infrastructure, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and seamless merchant and cardholder experiences. The ideal candidate has extensive technical and operational knowledge of the payment value chain and thrives in fast-paced, high-growth fintech environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Acquiring Operations:

• Oversee merchant lifecycle operations including onboarding, KYC, terminal/POS deployment, SoftPOS, and payment gateway integration.
• Manage transaction monitoring, clearing & settlement processes, and interchange optimization.
• Lead chargeback and dispute operations, ensuring compliance with Mada, Visa, and Mastercard.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Product, and Tech teams to enhance merchant experience.

Issuing Operations:

• Manage card issuance lifecycle: BIN sponsorship, card production, tokenization (Apple Pay, Google Pay), activation, and expiry.
• Supervise transaction authorization, real-time fraud prevention, and cardholder dispute management.
• Ensure seamless integration with core banking and card processing platforms.
• Support new card program rollouts (debit, prepaid, virtual cards) with operational readiness.

Operational Excellence:

• Define, track, and report OKRs and SLAs for payment operations.
• Establish robust SOPs, workflows, and controls to support scalability and compliance.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in payments, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within fintech or digital banking.
• Strong expertise in both acquiring and issuing operations.
• Experience working with payment processors, card networks, and banking partners.
• Knowledge of BASE24, ISO 8583, EMV standards, and real-time payment systems (Sarie, IPS).
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and analytical skills.
• Deep understanding of payment compliance, risk, and scheme regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience launching SoftPOS or card issuing platforms in startups or scale-ups.
• Knowledge of SAMA regulatory frameworks and certifications.
• Experience with PCI-DSS, 3DS, and fraud management platforms.

What We Offer:

• An inclusive, diverse culture promoting innovation and flexible work arrangements.
• Competitive compensation packages, including potential equity.
• Focus on personal development with training and learning stipends.
• Opportunity to work with a talented, multicultural team across multiple countries.
• Autonomy, mentorship, and challenging goals fostering growth.

If you believe you are a fit for this remarkable team, #apply_now.