Senior Manager - Credit Cards Partnerships and Schemes

End Date:
Tuesday 02 June 2026. Salary Range £85,493 - £100,580. We support flexible working –  for more information on flexible working options. Flexible Working Options:
Hybrid Working, Job Share.

Job Title: Senior Manager – Credit Cards Partnerships and Schemes.
Location: Chester or Manchester.
Hours: Full-time. Working pattern:
Hybrid; spend at least two days per week (40%) in one of our offices.

This is an opportunity to shape and lead the partnerships and schemes strategy behind one of the UK’s largest credit card portfolios, driving real commercial impact and customer value. As a Senior Manager in our Unsecured Lending team, you’ll take full ownership of credit card partnerships and card scheme relationships (Visa and Mastercard), with accountability for P&L performance, partner delivery and strategic investment of scheme funding.

You will play a key role in strengthening our external partnerships while ensuring governance, compliance and operational delivery at scale.

You’ll lead the end‑to‑end lifecycle of co‑brand partnerships, from identifying and selecting partners through to structuring deals, negotiating commercial terms and managing ongoing performance. You will develop and grow merchant partnerships that enhance our propositions, deepen customer engagement and drive sustainable spend growth. Working closely with card schemes, you will shape long‑term strategic relationships, manage commercial negotiations and ensure the business remains compliant with all scheme requirements, including delivery of mandatory changes.

You will provide strong financial oversight across partnership portfolios, including forecasting, MI and performance tracking, while leading and developing a high‑performing team in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Proven, extensive experience in credit cards, co‑brand partnerships and card schemes (Visa and Mastercard), within a financial services or payments environment
• Strong track record of leading co‑brand partnerships end‑to‑end, including structuring deals, commercial negotiation, contracting and performance management
• Experience of P&L ownership, financial planning and delivering against commercial targets
• Strong understanding of governance, regulatory requirements and operational delivery within a regulated financial services environment
• Proven ability to interpret complex external requirements (e.g. scheme rules, regulatory changes) and translate these into clear business and customer outcomes
• Experience leading or developing high‑performing teams within a matrixed organisation

• Experience with in payments or wider card schemes environments beyond core credit cards
• Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills across internal and external partners
• Experience delivering large‑scale, cross‑functional transformation or partnership initiatives

• Generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• Annual performance‑related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefit tailoring: discounted shopping, 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, learn and develop. We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. We value diversity, equity and inclusion and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.