Description
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Director, SME Programme Delivery & Strategic Initiatives (12‑Month FTC) About the RoleMastercard is seeking an accomplished and collaborative programme leader to cover a 12 month maternity leave as Director, SME Programme Delivery & Strategic Initiatives – Europe. This position plays a central role in driving Mastercard's multi market execution agenda for embedded financial and payment solutions across Europe.
The role focuses on orchestrating complex, cross functional initiatives spanning product, sales, marketing, and partner organisations — ensuring effective coordination, delivery, and measurable business outcomes across large, matrixed teams. This leader will oversee programme planning, governance, stakeholder alignment, and execution excellence for Mastercard's SME ecosystem partners, including ISVs, PayFacs, wholesalers, marketplaces, and digital platforms.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of Mastercard's SME embedded finance programmes across multiple European markets.
• Establish governance structures and stakeholder models to manage cross functional teams, ensuring accountability and progress across business units.
• Drive end to end programme execution for large scale go to market initiatives, product launches, and strategic partnerships.
• Navigate complex stakeholder landscapes across Mastercard regions and functions, aligning priorities and managing dependencies.
• Partner with internal and external leaders to deliver seamless integration of Mastercard's financial solutions within partner platforms.
• Identify and manage risks, issues and timelines to ensure on budget and on schedule delivery of critical initiatives.
• Provide strategic guidance and performance tracking to optimise programme outcomes and drive commercial success.
• Promote continuous improvement and best practice in programme governance, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
Why This Role Matters
The SME segment represents one of the most dynamic areas of growth in financial services. As Mastercard expands its embedded finance capabilities and partnerships across Europe, effective programme leadership is essential to translate strategy into scalable delivery. This role ensures alignment, pace and impact across Mastercard's most transformative initiatives serving millions of SMEs.
What We're Looking For
• Extensive experience in programme or portfolio management within large, complex organisations (SaaS, payments, fintech, or technology sectors preferred).
• Proven record of managing multi market delivery programmes with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong cross functional leadership skills, capable of driving execution across global and regional teams.
• Exceptional organisational and communication abilities, balancing strategic oversight with operational excellence.
• Familiarity with go to market strategy, partner ecosystems, and B2B digital solution deployment.
• Expertise in governance frameworks, resource management and performance reporting for high impact initiatives.
• Collaborative and resilient mindset with the ability to influence and inspire diverse teams.
What You'll Gain
• The opportunity to lead large scale programmes at the intersection of technology, partnerships, and payments.
• A broad, pan European remit driving Mastercard's SME transformation and innovation agenda.
• Exposure to senior level stakeholders and the chance to deliver tangible, measurable impact at scale.
• A dynamic, inclusive and highly collaborative environment where strategic vision meets disciplined delivery.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.
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