Emerging Payments Strategy Development Lead Jobs

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Job Description:
At Regions, the Consumer Payment and Partnerships Manager develops and executes strategic plans for the development of the consumer card product line and has responsibility for merchant contract negotiations, payment strategies and alternative payments.
Primary Responsibilities

• Manages merchant contract negotiations, payment strategies and alternative payments
• Develops in depth understanding of Consumer payment products and serves as a subject matter expert
• Partners with cross functional teams and leaders across the bank to align growth, performance management, and risk management priorities and execution
• Surveys payment industry efforts and peer competitors to identify areas of opportunity
• Manages external vendors responsible for payments end-to-end operations, including processing services and technology providers, card networks, embossing and printing capabilities, and loyalty platforms
• Influences marketing strategies and positioning of products and payment capabilities
• Maintains visibility into industry trends, customer behaviors, new product offerings, new providers and regulatory trends, and areas of focus
• Ensures adherence to all of Regions' compliance and regulatory standards, including product risk controls and monitoring

This position is exempt from timekeeping requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
This position is incentive eligible.
This is a single incumbent position.
Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Ten (10) years of experience in product management and development

Preferences

• Management experience
• Financial services industry experience

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to analyze data and derive facts
• Ability to influence others to effectively execute on strategic plans
• Ability to work with senior management
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Knowledge of the financial services industry, products, and services
• Strong problem-solving skills

Additional Job Description
The Consumer Payments & Partnerships Manager is responsible for the strategic management, optimization, and governance of Regions' consumer card network relationships and alternative payment rails.
This role serves as the primary enterprise owner for card network partnerships, ensuring network economics, innovation, compliance, and customer experience objectives are achieved. The role combines network relationship management, payments strategy, contract negotiation, and cross-functional leadership, acting as a bridge between product, technology, risk, compliance, operations, marketing, and external partners.
Key Responsibilities
Card Network & Payment Rail Management

• Serve as the primary enterprise relationship owner for card networks, including Visa (credit and debit), Maestro, NYCE and any additional or emerging payment rails
• Lead network contract negotiations, including incentive agreements, pricing, rule changes, product amendments, and strategic initiatives
• Optimize network economics, including interchange structures, incentives, assessments, and long-term commercial value to the bank
• Act as the internal authority on network rules, operating regulations, and compliance obligations, ensuring alignment with product design and operational execution

Payments Strategy & Innovation

• Partner with Consumer Card Product, Digital Banking, and Payments teams to support end-to-end card and payments strategy, including traditional cards, mobile wallets, and emerging payment experiences
• Evaluate and influence adoption of network-led innovations (e.g., tokenization, contactless, credentials-on-file, network analytics, risk tools, and digital provisioning)
• Maintain a forward-looking perspective on payments industry trends, competitor activity, and fintech innovation to inform strategic decision-making

Digital Wallets & Alternative Payments

• Serve as enterprise contact for digital wallet partnerships, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and other wallet or authentication platforms
• Oversee wallet compliance, provisioning enablement, certification requirements, and operational readiness in partnership with technology and operations teams
• Support evaluation and governance of alternative payment rails and network diversification strategies

Data, Analytics & Performance Management

• Act as a subject matter expert for card transaction data, interchange analytics, and network reporting platforms (e.g., Visa Analytics Platform)
• Translate network and transaction data into insights that inform pricing, product performance, customer experience, and risk decisions
• Support executive reporting and business cases related to network economics, innovation investments, and regulatory changes

Third-Party & Risk Management

• Own third-party risk management (TPRM) and ongoing oversight for assigned payment partners and vendors, ensuring compliance with bank risk standards
• Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Procurement to ensure contractual and operational adherence to regulatory and policy requirements
• Monitor and assess legal and regulatory developments impacting payments, interchange, network rules, and data usage, coordinating internal readiness and response

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a trusted payments advisor to senior leaders across Consumer Banking, Risk, Technology, Operations, Marketing, and Finance
• Influence product positioning, customer experience decisions, and go-to-market strategies related to payments capabilities
• Drive alignment across stakeholders to ensure payments initiatives are executed efficiently and at enterprise scale

Additional Preferences

• Experience in payments, cards, or financial services, with direct exposure to card networks or payment rails
• Deep working knowledge of credit and debit card ecosystems, interchange, network rules, and transaction flows
• Experience negotiating complex merchant, network, or payments vendor contracts
• Strong executive communication skills with demonstrated ability to influence across functions and with external partners
• Familiarity with digital wallets, tokenization, contactless payments, and alternative networks
• Experience navigating regulatory, compliance, and risk environments within a large financial institution

Position Type
Full time
Compensation Details
Pay ranges are job specific and are provided as a point-of-market reference for compensation decisions. Other factors which directly impact pay for individual associates include: experience, skills, knowledge, contribution, job location and, most importantly, performance in the job role. As these factors vary by individuals, pay will also vary among individual associates within the same job.
The target information listed below is based on the Metropolitan Statistical Area Market Range for where the position is located and level of the position.
Job Range Target:
Minimum:
$152,376.95 USD
Median:
$194,760.00 USD
Incentive Pay Plans:
This role is eligible to participate in the annual discretionary incentive plan. Employees are eligible to receive a discretionary award based on individual, business, and/or company performance.Opportunity to participate in the Long Term Incentive Plan.
Benefits Information
Regions offers a benefits package that is flexible, comprehensive and recognizes that "one size does not fit all" for benefits-eligible associates. Listed below is a synopsis of the benefits offered by Regions for informational purposes, which is not intended to be a complete summary of plan terms and conditions.

• Paid Vacation/Sick Time
• 401K with Company Match
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Associate Volunteer Program

Please note, benefits and plans may be changed, amended, or terminated with respect to all or any class of associate at any time. To learn more about Regions' benefits, please click or copy the link below to your browser.
https://www.regions.com/about-regions/welcome-portal/benefits
Location Details
Regions Center
Location:
Birmingham, Alabama
Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans
Job applications at Regions are accepted electronically through our career site for a minimum of five business days from the date of posting. Job postings for higher-volume positions may remain active for longer than the minimum period due to business need and may be closed at any time thereafter at the discretion of the company.