Director, Market Strategy & Partnerships

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 #LifeatVisa.

Job Description

Team Summary

The Market Strategy team is instrumental in shaping the company’s medium- and long-term direction. Working in close partnership with executives and business leaders across the organization, the team identifies and solves country-specific challenges and opportunities. Recent initiatives have included national market strategy, multi-year business planning, and exploring both organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Alongside strategy development, the team collaborates with cross-functional groups to drive successful implementation and ensure effective, ongoing business operations. The team’s remit also includes evaluating and supporting strategic partnerships that align with Visa’s market objectives.

What a Director, Market Strategy & Partnerships does at Visa Canada:

The Director, Market Strategy & Partnerships is a key leader on the Market Strategy team, responsible for shaping and executing Visa Canada’s growth agenda through both market strategy initiatives and strategic partnerships. This role blends high-level strategic planning with hands-on partnership development to deliver measurable business results. The Director reports to the Vice President, Market Strategy & Operations and works closely with executive management, product, and business development teams. This position is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and collaboration, and is eager to drive innovation in the payments landscape

Key Responsibilities

Market Strategy:

• Strategy Development: Drive the development and execution of market entry, growth, and expansion strategies for Visa Canada – drawing on data-driven insights from the payments and financial services sectors to advance Visa’s market position

• Market Analysis: Analyze industry trends, competitor actions, and disruptive technologies to inform actionable recommendations, ensuring Visa stays ahead of market shifts

• Thought Leadership: Act as an internal consultant and thought leader by proactively researching emerging topics (such as artificial intelligence or stablecoins) and formulating independent perspectives on their implications for Visa

• Cross-Market Collaboration: Coordinate with Visa teams in other markets to identify opportunities where Canada – as a digitally mature market – can adopt and scale innovative payment solutions and value-added services

• Client Engagement: Provide strategic support for executive client engagement forums including preparing presentation materials and orchestrating follow-ups to ensure outcomes are driven forward

Strategic Partnerships:

• Partnership Development: Identify, establish, and manage high-impact partnerships with key external organizations – such as industry associations, payment networks, and technology companies – that align with Visa’s strategic priorities and can drive transformative business outcomes

• Relationship Management: Serve as the primary liaison for strategic partners, ensuring effective day-to-day collaboration, clear alignment on objectives, and delivery of mutually beneficial results

• Joint Initiatives: Lead the co-creation of joint go-to-market initiatives with partners, aligning internal functions (marketing, product, sales) with partner teams to maximize commercial success and market reach for joint programs

• Partnership Execution: Drive the implementation, and oversight of partnership agreements from inception through integration. Monitor partnership performance and KPIs, and ensure each relationship delivers strategic value

Why this is important to Visa 

The Market Strategy & Partnerships function plays a central role in helping Visa Canada’s senior leadership set and execute the strategic agenda, in close alignment with North American and global teams. Your efforts in this role will be instrumental in defining, planning, and executing long-term strategic priorities – and in forging partnerships – that drive Visa’s success in the Canadian market. By effectively blending strategy and partnerships, you will help create greater value for the organization and contribute to Visa’s mission of being the best way to pay and be paid

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
• 10+ years of experience in leading strategy projects and partnerships at top-tier management consulting firms or in a corporate strategy group in a multinational environment
• Pro-active and effective communicator, experienced in presenting information to all levels and with ability to facilitate group discussions and debate
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and proven experience of project management
• Strong interpersonal and execution skills
• Strong analytical and strategic acumen
• Excellent presentation and verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to be recognized as thought leader
• Ability to influence the organization in order to make strategy happen
• Professional, confident and outgoing with the ability to maintain good communication with wide internal and external audiences
• Team player possessing a strong drive to add value to the business direction
• Highly numerate with attention to detail and ability to structure and analyze databases and strong knowledge of financial modelling, scenario-building and analysis

What will also help:

• Financial Services / FinTech / Payment industry experience would be a distinct advantage
• Broad understanding / experience in financial services and / or payments a plus

This opportunity offers the chance to shape Visa Canada’s strategic direction and drive high-impact partnerships that influence the future of payments. If you are excited about leveraging strategy and partnerships to drive innovation and growth – and meet the qualifications above – we encourage you to apply and join our team!

Additional Information

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 welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.