Innovation Lead

If you’re looking for a career that will help you stand out, join HSBC, and fulfil your potential - whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or an exciting new direction, we offer opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

We’re one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with a network that covers more than 50 countries and territories. We aim to be where the growth is, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, and, ultimately, helping people fulfil their hopes and realise their ambitions.

We're currently seeking an experienced professional to join our team in the role of Payments Innovation Lead.

The UK Payments market is a vital component of the economy. It is central to our customers, making up the majority of interactions a customer has with their bank. Additionally, the National Payments Vision sets out an ambitious roadmap to re-establish the UK as a global leader within the payments market through new infrastructure and the growth of digital assets and currencies.

Within this context, your role will be pivotal to our UK Retail & Wealth’s ambitions to truly ‘excel in payments’.

You’ll lead a team to shape and deliver our UK strategy for cards-based payment innovation—driving new solutions like agentic commerce, collaborating with industry partners, responding to regulatory changes, and ensuring these innovations create real value for retail customers and our business.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you’ll have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK‑based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

In this role you’ll:

• Lead the development and execution of our UK strategy for cards-based payment innovation to deliver meaningful outcomes for retail customers and position the organisation as a leader in the future of payments.
• Represent HSBC externally to influence industry developments, manage regulatory responses, deliver practical use cases, and oversee business operating model changes related to payment innovation.
• Provide strategic leadership by embedding our ambitions, driving team engagement, and role‑modelling our leadership principles and values.
• Build and maintain a high‑performing, inclusive team with clear strategic vision, ensuring robust talent and succession planning.
• Facilitate collaboration across the matrix to progress objectives, while maintaining focus on key outcomes and championing our culture.
• Proactively manage industry relationships and engage with external organisations to understand market trends and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

To be successful in this role you should meet the following requirements:

• Extensive expertise in card payments, with a strong grasp of product innovation, regulatory requirements, and operational scaling for retail customers.
• Deep understanding of both current and emerging payments regulations, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment.
• Proven ability to set organisational strategy, mobilise stakeholders across functions, and deliver results in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated leadership in industry engagement, driving collaborative outcomes across the payments landscape.
• Skilled at building effective networks and relationships, fostering trust and collaboration both internally and with external partners.
• Confident communicator, adept at presenting complex issues simply to diverse audiences, and able to adapt quickly under pressure to shifting priorities.

Opening up a world of opportunity.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces—no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long‑term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:

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