Senior Manager, Payment Solutions

Sallie Mae; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sallie Mae is seeking a Senior Manager for Payment Strategy to oversee innovative payment product development. The ideal candidate will facilitate strategy execution with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance, alongside cross-functional collaboration. This role requires significant experience in fintech and a commitment to improving student financial experiences.

Benefits

Generous PTO and Holidays

401k with employer match

Comprehensive health benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid parental leave

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 7+ years in product development, preferably in payments.
• Experience leading product initiatives from concept to launch.
• Deep knowledge of payment systems and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute data-driven payment strategies.
• Oversee product development lifecycle from ideation to launch.
• Conduct market research to inform payment product strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Product Development

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Senior Manager, Payment Strategy will be responsible for overseeing the successful development and delivery of innovative payment product strategies that align with business goals and enhance the overall customer experience. In close partnership with Product Management, this role will drive an innovative payment strategy, ensuring that solutions are not only functionally robust and market-relevant but also compliant with regulatory and governance standards. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in payments, a customer-first mindset, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration across engineering, operations, compliance, and product teams.

What You'll Do

• Define and execute data-driven payment strategies, ensuring alignment with company objectives, market needs, and customer expectations.
• Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meeting quality standards.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify market trends, customer insights, and competitive intelligence to inform payment product strategy and decision-making.
• Analyze key operational and performance metrics to track partner effectiveness, benchmark results, and drive continuous improvement. Identify and implement opportunities to enhance operational efficiency.
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, to ensure clear communication, alignment, and support for product initiatives.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What you have

Minimum education, skills and experience required.

• 7+ years of experience in product development, preferably within payments, fintech, or financial services.
• Proven track record of leading complex product development efforts from concept to launch.
• Deep knowledge of payment systems, platforms, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in people management, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitive landscapes to drive product strategy and decision-making.
• Proficient in product development methodologies, tools, and best practices, with a focus on agile development and user-centered design principles.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and build relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Analytical and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to make data-driven decisions and provide innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Preferred education, skills, and experience.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as engineering, computer science, business administration, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with API-based payment platforms, real-time payments, or third-party payment processors.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

Feeling your best helps you do your best: Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries

• Bonus incentives

• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed

• Support for financial-well-being and retirement401k with employer match

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more

• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.

• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs

• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)

• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs

• Career development and training opportunities

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Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.
Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call [phone] and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.