Partnerships Manager- Cards Business

• Term: 12 months
• Job location:
  Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Experience requirement: 5+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or product management, ideally within the financial services, retail, or e-commerce sectors
• Department: Product & Loyalty
• Reporting to: VP & Head of Product & Loyalty

Position Summary:
We are looking for a dynamic and results-oriented Partnerships Manager to join our Card Business team. This role will be instrumental in identifying, evaluating, and securing partnerships with key retail and commerce players to enhance our product offerings and maximize the value of our card business. The Partnerships Manager will work closely with internal stakeholders to align partnership initiatives with our product and loyalty strategy, aiming to deliver increased customer engagement, acquisition, and retention.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partnership Identification & Development
  • Identify potential retail and commerce partners that align with the banks card business objectives and customer needs.
  • Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective partners for co-branded products, loyalty programs, and customer experience enhancements.
  • Analyze market trends to identify new partnership opportunities and potential competitive advantages.
• Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Collaborate with the VP & Head of Product & Loyalty to establish partnership goals, strategies, and key performance indicators.
  • Create partnership proposals and business cases, outlining objectives, revenue models, and expected customer impact.
  • Work with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Legal, Compliance, and Technology, to ensure partnerships are feasible, compliant, and strategically aligned.
• Contract Negotiation & Relationship Management
  • Lead contract negotiations with prospective partners, ensuring mutually beneficial terms that align with the banks objectives.
  • Manage ongoing relationships with existing partners to maximize partnership value and identify opportunities for further collaboration.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for partners, handling day-to-day communications, conflict resolution, and performance reviews.
• Product & Campaign Launch Support
  • Support the launch of new card products and campaigns in collaboration with the Product, Loyalty, and Marketing teams.
  • Ensure partnership elements are integrated seamlessly into product features, benefits, and marketing initiatives.
  • Track and report on partnership performance post-launch, providing insights and recommendations for optimization.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting
  • Regularly track and assess the performance of partnership initiatives against agreed KPIs.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership on partnership outcomes, highlighting successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
  • Gather and analyze customer feedback on partnership-driven product features to refine and improve future initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or a related field (MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or product management, ideally within the financial services, retail, or e-commerce sectors.
• Strong understanding of the retail banking or credit card industry, with experience in launching customer-facing products.
• Excellent negotiation, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic mindset with analytical skills, able to interpret data and trends to drive decision-making.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present to senior leadership.