Senior Manager, Financial Partnerships, Card Issuing & Acquiring, EMEA

About the Role Senior Manager, Financial Partnerships, Card Issuing & Acquiring, EMEA, based in London, will scale Airwallex’s card issuing and acquiring business through strategic partnerships with global networks and local schemes, driving market entry and growth. The role involves representing Airwallex to partners and events and working with cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives. What You'll Do

• Build and manage partnerships with global card networks and local card schemes to support Airwallex’s card issuing and acquiring businesses.
• Facilitate Airwallex’s entry into new markets by coordinating network licensing, regulatory requirements, and program implementation.
• Identify and execute on strategic opportunities with network partners, including product/feature collaboration, new revenue streams, cost optimization, and co-marketing initiatives, amongst others.
• Negotiate and structure mutually beneficial partnership agreements, and oversee the execution of Airwallex’s obligations under these agreements.
• Represent Airwallex at partner and industry events, actively building our brand profile with partners and customers.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Product, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Commercial) for strategic planning, execution of critical initiatives, business analysis, and communications regarding partnership status and strategy. What We're Looking For
• 7+ years of experience working with payment networks, card schemes, financial institutions, or other players in the card issuing/acquiring industry.
• Deep understanding of card network dynamics, issuing and acquiring business models, and economics.
• Proven track record of building and managing strategic partnerships in a fast-paced, technology-led environment.
• Strong negotiation, relationship management, and commercial agreement structuring skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, including Product, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and Commercial.
• International experience—working in multiple markets or managing cross-border relationships.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills—able to connect with stakeholders at all levels and communicate project expectations and progress effectively.
• Thrive under pressure—work well in a high-velocity environment with aggressive timelines, constant change, and dynamic priorities.
• Creative problem-solving skills and innate curiosity. Nice to Have
• Experience at a global, high-growth fintech or pre-IPO startup.
• Experience building financial partnerships in a new geography.
• Experience with merchant acquiring and/or card portfolio management and optimizing pricing, interchange, and product profitability.
• Recognized as an industry thought leader; experience representing your company at industry events.