Strategic Consultant - Credit and Debit Processing Evaluations

Strategic Consultant

The Strategic Consultant provides guidance, expertise, and support to Engage fi clients by engaging as a strategic partner and acting as a subject matter expert (SME) in the evaluation, selection and negotiation of critical bank and credit union solutions, including but not limited to Credit/Debit/ATM Processing, Visa/Master Card Brand, PIN/EFT Network, Card Production, Rewards/Loyalty and other related solutions, vendors, and systems.

Essential Functions:

Client Relationship Management – Builds and maintains strong relationships with clients by uncovering and analyzing client needs, providing and recommending solutions, and guiding the process with internal key stakeholders to achieve clients' goals and objectives.

Project Oversight – Oversees complex client projects and applies Engage fi and industry best practices to execute on client strategies and implement project tactics to mitigate risk and ensure success. Works with the project team and other EFI team members as needed to develop, customize, and maintain key project artifacts, such as RFPs and project timelines. Maintains scope and schedule of projects, ensuring work is completed according to the plan/statement of work (SOW).

Facilitates project workshops, vendor sessions, and other critical project events and communications and provides SME guidance to ensure project tasks are completed in a suitable and timely manner and risks, gaps, and issues are appropriately tracked, addressed, and escalated.

Vendor Relationship Management and Knowledge – Develops and sustains relationships with key strategic vendors, studies and evaluates financial industry market trends, participates in solution demos, and remains abreast of vendor changes, key competitors, and key system updates and overall functionality in order to effectively and appropriately apply knowledge and insight to client projects. Represents client's and Engage fi's best interests in all vendor interactions.

Contract Review and Negotiation – Evaluates client's current invoices, existing contracts and current proposals to capture relevant business terms, dates, and pricing. Requests and evaluates new vendor pricing and contract terms based on client's strategies for vendor selection and unique business needs. Presents initial pricing/ baseline analysis to client. Works with client, client's legal representative, vendors, and EFI team members to negotiate suitable pricing and contract terms, devising strategies to increase revenue, cut costs, and promote growth for the client while also ensuring alignment with the client's goals and objectives and monitoring the long-term effects of vendor and pricing changes.

Other Duties & Responsibilities: Acts as subject matter expert to assist in process improvement, and implementation in all areas of the company, including assisting in the ongoing development and enhancement of Engage fi best practice project artifacts/tools and integrating the use of technology into processes to gain efficiencies and add value for internal and external stakeholders. Accurately tracks and records project billing hours and budgets as directed in the appropriate technology/tool.

Accurately forecasts project milestone completion dates and keeps internal systems updated to reflect current stage, next steps and risks. Mentors and trains other Engage fi team members to assist with learning best practices and processes.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated industry knowledge of industry trends, vendors' products and services, pricing structures and key contract terminology.
• Strong skills in intrapersonal and professional verbal communication with the ability to take in information, listen, develop persuasive arguments, and present solutions and recommendations effectively.
• The ability to put together and deliver presentations to clients and effectively facilitate discussions with clients, vendors, and other key third parties.
• Excellent communication skills (written/verbal); ability to compose business correspondence that is clear and concise.
• Technical knowledge - Smartsheet, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, ability to learn other software programs.
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