Principal Product Manager (Card Growth)

Emburse is seeking a strategic and commercially driven Principal Product Manager to lead our Cards Growth ecosystem and expand key ecosystem relationships that power our card and payments business. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for driving strategic partnerships influencing product and go-to-market direction and accelerating growth across Emburses card portfolio.

As a senior leader this individual will serve as the strategic owner for critical payment network issuer and fintech relationships while partnering cross-functionally across Product Sales Marketing Operations Finance Legal and Executive Leadership. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in payments and card ecosystems with exceptional commercial acumen operational leadership and the ability to influence enterprise-wide strategy.

This role requires a proactive leader who can identify growth opportunities drive strategic initiatives from concept through execution and serve as a trusted advisor internally and externally.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Leadership

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for Emburses strategic card and payment partners
• Lead partnership strategy governance and executive engagement including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) joint business planning co-marketing initiatives and long-term roadmap alignment.
• Identify negotiate and operationalize new partnership opportunities that support Emburses card growth strategy and broader payments vision.
• Drive commercial negotiations contract renewals and strategic business terms in collaboration with Legal Finance Procurement and Executive Leadership.
• Develop executive-level partnership strategies that strengthen Emburses market position product differentiation and revenue growth opportunities.

Product Strategy & Operational Leadership

• Partner closely with Product Management and Engineering leadership to influence the strategic roadmap for Emburses card and payment solutions.
• Own strategic and operational relationships with core platform providers ensuring alignment across integrations product initiatives service delivery and operational performance.
• Lead cross-functional execution for new card product launches and strategic initiatives coordinating readiness across Product Compliance Fraud Operations Support Sales and Customer Success.
• Act as the enterprise subject matter expert on card operations payments infrastructure and partner ecosystem management.
• Establish scalable operational frameworks and governance models to support business growth partner performance and customer experience excellence.

Revenue Growth & Go-to-Market Enablement

• Partner with Sales Revenue Operations Marketing and Enablement leadership to drive adoption and growth of Emburses card solutions.
• Develop and execute strategic programs that accelerate card adoption increase spend volume and expand customer engagement.
• Lead partner-driven demand generation initiatives co-sell motions and strategic revenue programs with internal and external stakeholders.
• Influence market positioning competitive strategy and messaging for Emburses card and payment offerings.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to commercial leadership on card-related growth opportunities customer needs and emerging market trends.

Executive Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence

• Drive alignment across executive stakeholders on partnership priorities investment decisions product strategy and business objectives.
• Lead complex cross-functional initiatives spanning product operations partnerships compliance and go-to-market execution.
• Communicate strategic priorities business impact operational risks and growth opportunities clearly to senior leadership and external partners.
• Mentor and influence cross-functional teams through leadership collaboration and deep domain expertise.
• Foster a culture of accountability innovation operational excellence and customer-centric decision-making.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in payments card programs fintech partnerships business development or related strategic leadership roles.
• Deep understanding of card ecosystems payment networks issuing platforms fintech partnerships and payment operations.
• Demonstrated success managing complex enterprise partnerships and negotiating high-impact commercial agreements.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive cross-functional strategic initiatives in high-growth environments.
• Strong operational and analytical mindset with the ability to translate strategy into scalable execution.
• Exceptional communication leadership and relationship management skills.
• Experience working with payment processors issuing banks networks or embedded finance platforms strongly preferred.
• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree or MBA preferred.