Senior Director - Ecosystem Risk & Integrity - Participant Consultations

Capital One; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 239,000 - 272,000; Full time

Job summary

Capital One seeks a visionary leader to stand up and scale the Participant Consultation function within Ecosystem Risk & Integrity, partnering with C-suite and client teams to drive risk-aware growth across the global payments network.

You will translate data-driven insights into actionable strategies, manage a high-performing team, and navigate complex stakeholder networks across regions, while delivering measurable improvements in authorization, fraud, and disputes outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or military experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in Risk Management.
• At least 3 years experience in Operations Management.
• At least 3 years experience in Project Management.
• At least 3 years experience in People Management.
• Master degree in Business Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, or Project Management (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Build & Scale 0-to-1 Capabilities: Design, launch, and scale a new operational, advisory, and risk function.
• Bridge Strategy & Operational Execution: Move between executive strategy and hands-on execution.
• Lead Global Payments & Scheme Operations: Optimize network performance and compliance.
• Drive Partner Co-Creation & Client Engagement: Deliver tailored operational recommendations.
• Execute International Commercial Strategy: Oversee global operations outside the U.S.
• Synthesize Transactional Data into Actionable Strategy: Translate data into executive narratives and plans.
• Navigate Matrixed Stakeholder Relationships: Align cross-functional teams and senior leaders.
• Deliver Executive Storytelling & Briefings: Prepare briefs and leadership presentations.
• Build & Manage High-Performing Teams: Recruit and mentor a world-class team.

Skills

Risk Management

Operations Management

Project Management

People Management

Education

Bachelor's degree or military experience

Master degree in Business Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, or Project Management

Job description

Senior Director - Ecosystem Risk & Integrity - Participant Consultations Capital One and Discover are building the next generation of payment capabilities to power a modern, secure, and next-gen global network. Within Network Risk Operations, our Ecosystem Risk & Integrity (ERI) function sits at the tip of the spear of a technology and AI revolution - leveraging sophisticated algorithms, rich data, and deep risk expertise to safeguard the security and integrity of the network. Within ERI, we are standing up a brand-new Participant Consultation function designed to partner with our client-facing teams and collaborate with our ecosystem participants (US and abroad) to develop and lead programs.

Principal focus will be architecting data-driven strategies to actively mitigate fraud while maximizing authorization approval rates, reducing checkout friction, and decreasing chargeback exposure across the ecosystem. Additionally, client projects may cover an array of related topics ranging across risk strategy, product optimization, growth strategy, customer segmentation and digital tools. We are seeking a visionary leader to establish, build, and scale this function from the ground up. Operating at the intersection of client services, risk management, you will partner directly with senior executives and client-facing teams to identify opportunities, improve participant performance, and drive superior payment outcomes across authorizations, fraud, and disputes. As a 0-to-1 builder, you bring a rare combination of high-level strategy and hands-on execution - capable of establishing governance and vision while driving projects to completion to deliver measurable impact.

Job Responsibilities (What You'll Do)

• Build & Scale 0-to-1 Capabilities: Design, launch, and scale a new operational, advisory, and risk function within Ecosystem Risk & Intelligence-defining the operational framework, core performance metrics, engagement models, and advisory cadence from scratch.
• Bridge Strategy & Operational Execution: Transition seamlessly between executive-level strategy and hands-on operational execution to build a high-yielding, respected network function.
• Lead Global Payments & Scheme Operations: Apply deep domain expertise in global payment network dynamics, authorization processing, fraud management frameworks, chargebacks, and scheme regulations to optimize network performance.
• Drive Partner Co-Creation & Client Engagement: Collaborate with senior management and client-facing teams to deeply understand participant needs, delivering tailored operational recommendations that drive volume, trust, and throughput.
• Execute International Commercial Strategy: Direct and oversee on-the-ground commercial execution and localized operations across multiple international regions outside the U.S.
• Synthesize Transactional Data into Actionable Strategy: Query, analyze, and translate complex transactional data into executive-level narratives, structured action plans, and data-backed business decisions.
• Navigate Matrixed Stakeholder Relationships: Guide cross-functional teams, build alignment with technical product partners, and influence senior leaders across all levels of a matrixed organization.
• Deliver Executive Storytelling & Briefings: Independently author and present high-yield briefs, strategic memos, and leadership presentations to C-suite and senior executives.
• Build & Manage High-Performing Teams: Recruit, mentor, and retain a world-class team, fostering talent development while establishing disciplined program governance and outcome tracking to achieve shared objectives.

Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree or military experience
• At least 7 years of experience in Risk Management
• At least 3 years experience in Operations Management
• At least 3 years experience in Project ManagementAt least 3 years experience in People Management

Preferred Qualifications

• Master degree in Business Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, or Project Management
• At Least 10 years of experience in payment network risk management, governance, or network scheme regulation
• Experience with direct on-the-ground execution of commercial strategy and localized operations across regions outside the United States
• Experience in management consulting or enterprise strategy roles leading cross-functional initiative execution
• Business Process Management certification, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, Agile Coach certification, or Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation

This role is designated as a hybrid position. You are expected to adhere to Capital One's hybrid policy regarding required on-site presence at your designated office location.

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization, or offer any immigration related support for this position (e.g. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-3, and O-1, or any other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

• Chicago, IL: $217,000 - $247,700 for Sr. Director, Risk Management
• McLean, VA: $238,700 - $272,400 for Sr. Director, Risk Management
• New York, NY: $260,400 - $297,200 for Sr. Director, Risk Management
• Riverwoods, IL: $217,000 - $247,700 for Sr. Director, Risk Management
• Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website.

Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non‑exempt status, and management level. This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days. No agencies please.

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Capital One promotes a drug‑free workplace.

Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article23‑A of the NewYork Correction Law; SanFrancisco, California Police Code Article49, Sections4901‑4920; NewYork City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

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Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

At Capital One, we’re building a leading information‑based technology company. Still founder‑led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit.