Senior Manager, U.S. Merchant Partnerships (Services Vertical - Automotives)

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

The Senior Manager, U.S. Merchant Partnerships, Services Vertical is responsible for managing a portfolio of approximately five strategic automotive clients. This role serves as the primary Visa relationship owner for assigned clients and is responsible for developing senior-level relationships, understanding client priorities, identifying growth opportunities, and connecting clients with Visa's broad portfolio of products, solutions, and services.

The Senior Manager will develop and execute integrated account strategies that strengthen client partnerships, expand executive engagement, and drive commercial growth. Acting as the primary coordinator (generalist AE) for assigned accounts, this individual will collaborate closely with specialized sellers and subject matter experts across Visa, including Value Added Services, Consulting and Analytics, Commercial Solutions, Acceptance, Risk, Digital Solutions, Co-brand, Debit Routing, and emerging commerce capabilities.

This role requires a strategic, relationship-oriented seller who can engage effectively with senior client leaders, navigate complex organizations, influence across a matrixed environment, and bring together the right Visa resources to deliver meaningful outcomes for clients and Visa.

Essential Functions

·       Serve as the primary Account Executive and relationship owner for a portfolio of approximately five strategic automotive clients.

·       Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client leaders and decision-makers across payments, finance, treasury, digital commerce, customer experience, strategy, technology, mobility, and operations.

·       Develop and execute comprehensive account plans that align client priorities with Visa's strategic objectives, products, capabilities, and growth opportunities.

·       Act as the primary coordinator of Visa's client engagement strategy, partnering with specialized sellers, product leaders, consultants, and subject matter experts to deliver integrated client solutions.

·       Identify, prioritize, and advance opportunities across Visa's portfolio, including Value Added Services, Consulting and Analytics, Data Solutions, Acceptance, Commercial Solutions, Risk, Co-brand, Debit Routing, and emerging commerce initiatives.

·       Lead regular client business reviews, strategic planning sessions, and senior-level discussions that deepen relationships and advance shared priorities.

·       Develop a strong understanding of the automotive industry, assigned clients' business models, competitive dynamics, and emerging trends in mobility, commerce, and payments.

·       Facilitate engagement between client leaders and Visa executives, product leaders, specialized sellers, and industry experts.

·       Partner with sales, product, consulting, legal, finance, and pricing teams to support commercial discussions, solution development, negotiations, and client initiatives.

·       Maintain a robust pipeline of opportunities and drive cross-functional alignment and accountability to advance opportunities and achieve growth objectives.

·       Maintain high-quality account, contact, pipeline, forecasting, and opportunity records within Microsoft Dynamics and other sales management tools, ensuring strong data integrity and reporting accuracy.

·       Leverage AI-enabled productivity tools, automation, analytics, and client intelligence to improve account planning, relationship development, opportunity management, and sales effectiveness.

·       Provide client, industry, competitive, and market insights to Visa leadership and internal stakeholders.

·       Represent Visa during client engagements, executive meetings, industry conferences, and automotive-related events.

·       Travel up to 20% of the time to support client relationship development and business growth.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager. 

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

·     8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 2 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications

·     9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD

·       6 or more years of experience in account management, business development, strategic sales, relationship management, consulting, payments, financial services, or a related client-facing commercial role.

·       Experience managing strategic client relationships and developing commercial growth opportunities within large, complex organizations.

·       Proven ability to build credibility and establish relationships with senior leaders and executive stakeholders.

·       Experience developing and executing account strategies that align client priorities with business growth objectives.

·       Demonstrated success influencing and collaborating across matrixed organizations and partnering with multiple stakeholders to achieve client and business outcomes.

·       Ability to identify opportunities across a broad portfolio of products, solutions, and services and effectively coordinate specialized sellers and subject matter experts to advance commercial discussions.

·       Strong understanding of the payments ecosystem, including merchants, issuers, acquirers, digital commerce, and emerging payment trends.

·       Experience supporting clients in the automotive, mobility, retail, or related merchant industries is a plus.

·       Experience working with Value Added Services, consulting, data, risk, acceptance, commercial solutions, or other value-added payment offerings is a plus.

·       Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive results in a fast-paced environment.

·       Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to translate client business objectives into actionable growth opportunities.

·       Excellent communication, presentation, relationship management, and influencing skills, including experience presenting to senior executive audiences.

·       Experience leveraging CRM platforms, data insights, and AI-enabled productivity tools to improve account management effectiveness and client engagement.

·       Highly collaborative, self-motivated, and results-oriented, with the ability to operate effectively across cross-functional teams.

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and AI-powered productivity tools.

Information for US Applicants

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer