Director, Governance, Risk, & Compliance

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

The Director, Governance, Risk, & Compliance is a member of the Strategy & Business Operations team and will serve as the Risk Champion (RC) responsible for managing and continually improving RaIS first line of defense risk management capabilities and risk reporting working with product teams and management. The successful candidate will be responsible for embedding themself in the RaIS business unit to help identify, assess, monitor and report on potential risks, and strengthen key controls across the RaIS business. The role significantly impacts the business unit as this individual must be able to effectively aggregate and communicate RaIS’ risks to its senior management and 2nd line of defense risk functions/teams, mainly the Risk Business Partner (RBP).

As the Risk Champion, they will provide constructive challenge to RaIS teams where appropriate and make recommendations on controls or other actions required to drive risk mitigation and reduce exposure in alignment with the 2nd line of defense policies, standards, and procedures. The individual will be regarded as a trusted business partner and force multiplier that can consult executive management to make key risk decisions, leveraging the expertise business teams, other risk management teams and cross-functional subject matter experts. The candidate is to be viewed by the organization as knowledgeable, capable, competent, and an agent for change.

The Director will also provide oversight to business teams and cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Client Services, Finance, Legal, and Technology) to execute on risk management related to products, services, and operations, consistent with Visa’s Risk Management Frameworks and Risk Appetite. This will include appropriate roll out of Visa’s First and Second line control programs across the business. This role requires practical & strategic understanding of the payments industry, business environment and demonstrated experience assessing risks associated with business imperative/ strategies. This individual must work collaboratively with cross functional and geographically diverse teams to execute against a common goal of protecting RaIS.

Strong candidates are versatile team-players who learn fast, have high EQ and IQ, and carry a demonstrated record of driving workstreams.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Supporting the identification of risks & mitigation activity, providing effective oversight to and partnering with the first line business functions to ensure appropriate mitigation is applied to reduce risk exposure to within tolerance and in adherence to RaIS and Visa’s risk appetite.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with the business and cross functional partners to educate and embed Lifecycle Risk Management Practices and infuse Risk Management culture into the organization, including developing, maintaining and continually maturing the capabilities of a network of Risk Champions within the 1st line of defense.
• Driving compliance with key risk programs and processes (e.g. Risk Control Self Assessments, Model Risk Management) and any other risk and compliance initiatives (e.g. Internal audits, Regulatory requests), attend product roadmap reviews to assess and identify potential New Business Initiative Assessments (NBIA), partner with initiative owners to enforce cycle time discipline and rigor within the process.
• Develop a bottom up and top down view on risks which then feed into quarterly Risk Profiles and leadership discussions for the business unit.
• Support the execution of strategically important change initiatives, driving, enabling, and continuously improving resiliency and controls effectiveness.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of risk management to ensure mitigating measures are effective in protecting the RaIS business (e.g., overseeing risk registers, driving the development of measurement systems)
• Provide training and guidance to RaIS business
• Drive updates to leadership, and other parties as needed on risk management activities for the business, including supporting RaIS during Internal Audit engagements.
• Communicate recommendations to senior management, other executive, functional, or regional teams and management in a clear, concise, and impactful way

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

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
• Business acumen, understanding of the payments industry, including applicable regulatory environment, products/services, and the broader competitive landscape.
• Proven experience in assessing risks across an enterprise, including operational, technology and regulatory risks, with a strong understanding of Visa’s risk management programs and approaches
• A clear understanding of the Three Lines of Defense model and its application across financial and technology firms
• Sufficient expertise to provide effective oversight of the risks inherent in the business and prior experience with reducing residual risk levels.
• Collaborative personality, with experience managing deliverables across global and regional teams.
• Demonstrated analytical, process and problem-solving skills, ability to be both strategic and tactical with a high say-do ratio.
• Proven ability to accomplish results and exercise influence in a large, global, matrix organization.
• General awareness of the underlying technology that supports the payment ecosystem.
• 10+ years of relevant Risk experience within either financial services or technology organizations
• Awareness of fraud and identity solutions in market and market dynamics.
• Awareness of current fraud and identity risks and industry pain points for our customers.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, communication, and facilitation skills, plus ability to work independently and effectively in a continually changing environment.
• Clear thinker with strong technical and data analysis skills, plus solid management, and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to develop strong relationships and work with all organizational levels.
• Advanced knowledge, skill and understanding in applying risk management practices specifically as it relates to Enterprise and Operational Risk (assessment, scoring, tolerance, mitigation/ management)
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, GRC systems or platforms
• Commercial, front end, client facing experience and understanding of the Payments industry and relevant products and services

Additional Information

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 protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is 145,100 to 247,600 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.

Client-provided location(s): Foster City, CA

Job ID: 9ef4f186-2e1c-44a2-a629-728c42451755

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-12-05T22:55:16