Strategic Initiatives Program Director

Job Description

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Strategic Initiatives Program Director to lead and orchestrate a diverse portfolio of high-impact cross-business strategic initiatives across Europe. This role is crucial in enabling the organisation to meet its strategic objectives through the successful execution of these initiatives, which will also include leadership in execution of large-scale pan-European and single country deals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading and orchestrating a portfolio of European strategic initiatives working directly with the Europe Leadership Team, including commercial, regulatory, transformational, technology, financial, and product, client initiatives, shaping and delivering them to an agreed scope, timeline, budget and OKRs.
• End to end program management of client deals, orchestrating to bring world-class inputs across all countries and functions, whilst championing and embedding best-practice in deal outcomes.
• Leading the shaping, establishment and ongoing growth of high-performance cross-business team environments to deliver complex and high impact strategic outcomes, managing competing priorities, to drive critical path delivery.
• Promoting transparency and accountability for execution of deliverables and business outcomes, and providing timely, clear, insight-rich and audience-aware communications and progress reporting.
• Leading the identification and shaping of nascent ideas and translating into tangible outcomes that drive significant strategic and transformative value to our business and clients.
• Collaborating and sustaining high-trust relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Act as a subject matter expert for project, program and strategic execution best practices, methods, processes, tools, templates, and standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leading large, complex, high-profile and fast-paced strategic initiatives in a global matrix organisation, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A qualification in an industry-recognized change methodology, e.g., PMI PMP, APM, Scrum.Org, SAFe, Prince2.
• Payments experience is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working with regulators and applying agile delivery methodologies is desirable.

Capabilities and Skillset Required

Proactive, Go-Do Attitude

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate a proactive and enthusiastic approach to their work. Candidates should be self-motivated, take initiative, and consistently seek opportunities to improve processes and outcomes. We are looking for individuals that are highly organized, structured, and resourceful, with a pragmatic, "can do" approach.

Commercial (Mindset)

The ideal candidate possesses a strong commercial mindset, with the ability to develop and execute strategic commercial initiatives and is knowledgeable of our various solutions across Visa’s business. This includes understanding market dynamics, identifying opportunities, and delivering results that contribute to the organization’s growth bringing an impressive commercial acumen with a background in shaping and leading large-scale and transformative commercial initiatives.

See Markets as Clients and Obsess Over Them

Ideal candidates will consider markets their main clients and be dedicated to understanding and meeting their needs. They should prioritize client engagement, contribute positively to the Account team, and apply best practices from other regions to improve every deal process they participate in.

Analytical but Can See the Relevance and the So What

We seek individuals who are highly analytical and can interpret complex data. They must be able to discern the significance of data insights and translate them into actionable strategies that drive the deal value proposition. Intellectually curious, able to think and operate at all levels of an organization, from executive and strategic to more granular operational.

Complex Problem Solving

Capable of working independently and taking ownership of their projects. They should exhibit a high level of initiative and the ability to drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision. Embraces ambiguity and an expert in bringing clarity, structure and focus to solving problems.

Highly Collaborative

The successful candidate will excel in a collaborative environment, working effectively with cross-functional teams. They should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain world-class, high-trust productive working relationships.

Exceptional Communication Skills

Candidates must have exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to establish effective relationships and communicate with all levels of the organization including executive management. Excellent presentation and communication skills including an ability to convey complex technical information.