Strategic Partnership Manager Card Networks

It all started with an idea at Block in 2013. Initially built to take the pain out of peer-to-peer payments Cash App has gone from a simple product with a single purpose to a dynamic ecosystem developing unique financial products including Afterpay/Clearpay to provide a better way to send spend invest borrow and save to our 50 million monthly active customers. We want to redefine the worlds relationship with money to make it more relatable instantly available and universally accessible.

Today Cash App has thousands of employees working globally across office and remote locations with a culture geared toward innovation collaboration and impact. Weve been a distributed team since day one and many of our roles can be done remotely from the countries where Cash App operates. No matter the location we tailor our experience to ensure our employees are creative productive and happy.

The Role

The Strategic Partnership Team sits within Blocks Financial Operations organization and plays a critical role in enabling Blocks multi ecosystem strategy. We manage and grow relationships with major card networks (Visa Mastercard American Express Discover) Fraud risk identity technology partners and financial data partners. These partnerships are foundational to powering Square Cash App and Afterpay enabling innovative product experiences advancing financial inclusion and unlocking new opportunities for our customers.

We work cross functionally across Block by partnering with Product Engineering Legal Compliance Risk Finance Sales Marketing and Operations to drive alignment with network partners and deliver on initiatives that shape the future of commerce and financial services.

This is a high impact senior individual contributor role. You will shape and execute Blocks network strategy manage critical relationships and deliver high priority initiatives. You will influence product direction negotiate transformative deals and ensure Blocks long term competitiveness in the rapidly evolving payments ecosystem.

You Will

• Manage and expand one of Blocks most critical U.S. card network partnerships driving joint initiatives and launching offerings that enhance value for Blocks ecosystems including Square Cash App and Afterpay
• Develop long term strategic plans with networks to support Blocks product roadmaps across acquiring issuing surcharging debit routing and new network enabled innovations
• Negotiate and execute complex commercial agreements that enable new capabilities expand card acceptance and card issuance and reduce cost to serve while aligning with Blocks mission
• Build business cases and drive internal alignment across Block stakeholders including Product Engineering Risk Compliance Treasury and Finance on network strategies and deal execution
• Influence and align network executives by clearly articulating Blocks differentiated value proposition and building trusted long term relationships
• Track manage and report on strategic plans key negotiations and overall partner health with a multi year perspective
• Navigate competing priorities across networks regulators and internal teams driving creative solutions that unlock growth and innovation
• Ensure operational excellence in day to day partner management including adherence to risk compliance and regulatory obligations
• Represent Block at industry forums and partner events strengthening Blocks role as a leader and innovator in the payments ecosystem
• This position requires approximately 25% travel primarily for: Client meetings Conference attendance Site visits

You Have

• 10 years of experience in strategic partnerships business development corporate development or related field
• 8 years of experience in payments card networks or financial services
• Deep understanding of card network economics business models and the acquiring and issuing landscape
• Proven track record structuring and executing industry shaping partnerships and commercial deals
• Experience negotiating agreements to support product innovation expand card acceptance and card issuance and enable new payment flows
• Demonstrated success working in product driven organizations with high cross functional dependency
• Strong executive presence with exceptional written and verbal communication skills capable of influencing C level stakeholders internally and externally
• Experience leading large complex cross functional initiatives with high business impact

Were working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team and always assess candidates on an individualized basis.

We believe in being fair and are committed to an inclusive interview experience including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what were doing to build a workplace that is fair and square Check out our ID page.

Block will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and fair chance ordinances.

Required Experience:

Manager