Payments Program Manager

Antler; New York (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full health coverage

Unlimited PTO

Meaningful equity

Job summary

Antler in New York is looking for a Program Manager to design, launch, and scale debit card and banking programs. The role involves overseeing relationships with banks, managing transaction flows, and ensuring compliance.

Applicants should have a minimum of 4 years of experience in program management within fintech, alongside knowledge in card network operations. This position also offers a competitive salary range of $130,000–$150,000 USD and meaningful equity.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of program or operations management in card issuing or payments.
• Deep operational understanding of card network mechanics.
• Experience managing sponsor banks or processors directly.

Responsibilities

• Launch and scale debit card and banking programs end-to-end.
• Manage relationships with sponsor banks and card networks.
• Run risk and compliance operations for card programs.

Skills

Program management

Payments infrastructure

Operational understanding of card network mechanics

Experience with stablecoins

Job description

THE ROLE

As Program Manager, you'll own the design, launch, and scaling of our debit card and banking programs end-to-end. You'll sit at the intersection of card networks, sponsor banks, and stablecoin settlement — turning that complexity into a seamless payment experience, and owning the partnerships and unit economics of every program we run. If you touch it, you own it. That's how we work.

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

• Launch and scale stablecoin-powered debit card and banking programs end-to-end — BIN setup, network certification, launch, and ongoing operations.

• Own day-to-day relationships with sponsor banks, issuer processors, and card networks — operating cadences, SLA accountability, and contract and commercial negotiations.

• Operationalize the transaction flow from authorization to on‑chain stablecoin settlement, including monitoring, incident response, and reconciliation.

• Run risk and compliance operations for card programs — fraud, disputes, and chargebacks alongside Reg E, network rules, and audit readiness — in coordination with banks, processors, and our Compliance Engineer.

• Own card program unit economics in production — interchange, FX spread, reserve yield, cost‑per‑transaction — and partner with Product on improvements.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 4+ years of program or operations management in card issuing, payments infrastructure, or an adjacent fintech domain.

• Deep operational understanding of card network mechanics — authorization, settlement, BIN management, chargebacks, and Visa/Mastercard compliance.

• Hands‑on experience managing sponsor banks, processors, or networks directly — you've run the QBRs and pushed back when the contract wasn't right.

• Familiarity with stablecoins, crypto wallets, or on‑chain payments — you understand how settlement works on‑chain and off, and why the timing matters operationally.

• High agency under ambiguity — you move fast, raise problems early, and build the playbook where none exists yet.

NICE TO HAVE

• Launched a card program from zero — network certification, bank negotiation, operational ramp — not just inherited one.

• Familiarity with Visa Direct or Mastercard Send, including AFT (Account Funding Transaction) and OCT (Original Credit Transaction) flows.

• Hands‑on with on‑chain stablecoin settlement in production — you've operated or debugged the flow, not just used it.

• Early‑stage startup experience — scoped the program, found the vendor, negotiated the contract, and launched in the same quarter.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Base salary range: $130,000–$150,000 USD, with the starting figure depending on location, skills, experience, and internal pay parity. As one of our first hires at an early stage, you'll also receive meaningful equity — real ownership in what you're helping build, which is central to how we think about total compensation here. We offer full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision) and unlimited PTO.

We're changing how modern business moves value. If that's the problem you want to spend the next chapter of your career on, we'd love to meet you.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

HIFI is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We provide reasonable accommodations during the hiring process.