Director, Co-Brand Strategic Partnerships NA

About Us
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.

Job Description

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

We are a dynamic team who sits in the North America Enablers, Merchants and Fintech Organization and our team’s mission is to bring the best to our co-brand clients from helping establish new partnerships to innovating and optimizing our existing program across the US and Canada. The team is engaged across multiple functions within the Visa’s NA organization to bring the very best of Visa’s expertise and assets to our clients, earning well-qualified wins to drive revenue growth while building trust and growing engagement and satisfaction among teammates, partners and clients.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Director for the Co-brand Strategic Partnerships, - North America team will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day engagement and broader partnership strategy with key partners across the co-brand ecosystem, including but not limited to issuers, fintechs, enablers, and consultants. This role requires a strong organizational skillset, assertive thought leadership, entrepreneurial vision and creativity to develop, proactively elevate and support the Co-brand strategy, driving the awareness and expansion of Visa products and solutions, and support the overall commercialization of Visa’s co-brand business development objectives.

This role will report directly to the Senior Director, Head of Co-Brand Strategic Partnerships, North America. This role will collaborate and effectively communicate with team members across the NA co-brand team and key stakeholders from functions across Visa such as merchant and fintech sales leaders, issuer account leaders, marketing, technology, customer support, sales enablement, and product teams. Externally, this role will collaborate and be responsible for presenting updates to key contacts at fintechs, issuers and consultants.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead strategic partnerships and initiatives across the U.S. co-brand ecosystem, working closely with Business Development, Account Management, Product, Marketing, Creative, Legal, and Finance teams
• Identify, structure, and execute ecosystem co-brand partnerships with fintechs, merchants, issuers, consultants, technology providers, and other infrastructure providers that align with Visa’s long‑term co-brand strategy
• Identify, prioritize, and pursue new co-brand “attack” partnership opportunities; own the strategic direction, development, and execution of complex RFP responses, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives, partnership strategy, and client priorities
• Drive competitive win strategies through issuer influence by leading pursuit teams, shaping value propositions, and overseeing the delivery of high-impact RFP responses for strategic co-brand “attack” partnership opportunities.
• Develop innovative co-brand partnership structures that create differentiated value.
• Serve as the senior relationship owner for priority co-brand issuing partners.
• Build trusted advisor relationships with C-suite and executive stakeholders.
• Influence issuing partner strategy and align joint objectives across organizations.
• Lead executive business reviews and strategic planning sessions.
• Drive cross‑functional execution of priority co-brand initiatives, ensuring alignment from concept through launch and scale
• Develop partnership frameworks and operating models that can be reused across clients and segments
• Provide market insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership to inform product roadmap, go‑to‑market strategy, and investment priorities

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 3 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• 12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 6+ years of work experience with a PhD

• Track record of planning, managing, and closing complex, competitive sales efforts, including negotiation, closure, and delivery management.

• Demonstrated experience managing and cultivating C-level relationships and negotiating complex commercial agreements.

• Collaboration and Relationship Building – Demonstrated experience building and leveraging strong relationships within Visa and client organizations at multiple levels.

• Excellent Communicator – Superb ability to influence and collaborate across all levels; ability to articulate strategic concepts through exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong “managing up” abilities, including developing executive-level communications and delivering impactful presentations.

• Executive presence, with superior written and oral communication skills and presentation capabilities.

• Proactive/Self Starter – Willing and able to take on new challenges and able to work through ambiguity.

• Dynamic and flexible – Able to juggle numerous responsibilities simultaneously with swift turnaround times; able to work across multiple time zones when required.

• Expertise in gathering and synthesizing co-brand market intelligence to create actionable go-to-market plans.

• Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills; able to influence without authority and motivate diverse teams.

• Excellent problem-solving skills with a strong focus on delivering client value.

• Payments industry experience with a strong partnership focus.

• Co-brand issuer and/or merchant experience.

• Knowledgeable in co-brand, loyalty, and/or program management best practices along with implications for issuers, networks and merchants.

U.S. Applicants Only

The estimated salary range for this position is $151,600 to $285,600 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

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 protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.