Verve Digital Executive at Interswitch

Job purpose:

• To expand and accelerate the growth of New Business issuing revenue in partnership with Other Financial Institutions (MFBs, MMOs, PSBs, Fintechs and Digital partners. To collaborate with other cross functional teams, regional partners, issuers, and service providers to enhance the strategic fit, the commercialisation framework, the positioning and messaging of New Business issuing products. To engage in and improve the whole life-cycle of New Business issuing services from inception and design, through deployment, operation and refinement.

Responsibilities:

Customer Relationship Management / Account Management

• Implement relationship management plans for complex existing customer accounts to identify and build relationships with relevant decision makers and influencers within the customer organisation and to enable effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues.
• Manage ongoing relationships with identified customer segments to ensure their needs are met, providing themes, summary analyses based on customer input.

Sell Customer Propositions

• Develop sales propositions and compelling value propositions based on new and existing opportunities, pro-active sales campaigns, and general sales engagement that focus on growing market share, market acceptance and the number of customer touch points.

Promoting Customer Focus

• Develop internal marketing plans and work collaboratively with other departments to improve internal relationships and build strong external customer relationships.
• Understanding customers, issuers, and service providers’ unique challenges and opportunities, and propose relevant solutions, plans, and programmes that address their needs in innovative and impactful ways at scale.
• Cooperate closely with Project Management and Marketing teams to refine and manage New Business Issuing offerings to enhance relevance in markets.
• Manage client relationships with guidance from senior colleagues and oversee relationship management with new transactional clients and customers.

Strategy Formation and Implementation

• Assess the competitive landscape and industry trends to develop improvement plans and initiatives that will differentiate Verve International in the market.
• Execute sales strategies and business plans by market and segments.
• Assist in the development and implementation of digital product strategies that align with Verve International global objectives.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify trends and opportunities within the digital payment space in Africa.

Product and Solution Development

• Managing delivery of product or service within Verve Digital, ensuring alignment with customer requirements.
• Plan product launches and enhancement launches.
• Develop product and service positioning, messaging and pricing that resonate with target customers and meet needs of developed and emerging markets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage the lifecycle of Verve digital card products, from conception to launch.
• Monitor product performance and work with relevant teams to implement enhancements and updates.
• Ensure product compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with internal stakeholders, including marketing, legal, and IT teams, to ensure seamless product and service delivery to customers.
• Act as a point of contact for external partners, including financial institutions and technology providers, to support product integration and adoption

Project Coordination

• Assist in the planning and execution of Verve digital projects, ensuring timelines and objectives are met.
• Prepare status reports, and presentations for senior management and stakeholders.

Performance Improvement through Business Intelligence

• Manage data preparation in collaboration with different stakeholders / internal clients in the business.
• Ensure and track revenue collections for Veve digital products and services.

Innovation and Improvement

• Stay updated on emerging technologies and industry trends in digital payments and suggest potential innovations for Mastercard’s digital card products.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute ideas to enhance product offerings.

Behavioral Competencies:

Customer Focus

• Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions i.e., solicits customer feedback and data.

Business Insight

• Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organisation's goals. For example, leverages insights to shape and drive initiatives.

Builds Networks

• Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organisation. For example, engages with a wide network, across many functions, disciplines, and business units, to add value to organisational efforts. Leverages a wide network to provide insight and influence outcomes.

Communicates Effectively

• Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, disseminates knowledge, insights, and updates in a polished, precise, and compelling manner. Demonstrates a deep interest in others' comments. Creates rich documents and reports.

Ensures Accountability

• Holds self accountable to meet commitments. For example, measures and tracks own performance, and helps the team learn from success, failure, and feedback. Adheres to goals, policies, and procedures.

Collaborates

• Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, enlists a range of stakeholders to add value; ensures they are well informed, and surprises are avoided. Confronts and challenges "us vs. them"; shows strong appreciation for others' efforts toward shared goals.

Technical Competencies:

Customer-Focused Approach

• Keeps customer at center of sale; Collaborates with customers; Elevates partner insights; Uses common terminology.

Knows Buying Influences and Manages Indifference

• Identifies all buyers and their level of influence; Assesses each buyer's sense of urgency and readiness; Seeks to understand each buyer's desired business results and concerns; Assesses buyer feelings about the proposed solution.
• Secures a coach within the buyer organisation to facilitate introductions and access; Leverages a strategic coach to support the partner relationship.

Understands Buying Influencer Needs:

• Seeks to understand buyer needs; Determines the root of buyer needs; Uncovers buyer's goals; Seeks buyer need priorities; Assesses channel relationship needs and expectations.

Other Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of digital payments, including virtual cards, tokenization, and eWallets.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).

General Education:

• University Degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Marketing and Sales, Information Technology, or related field

General Experience:

• At least 5 years' experience, including a minimum of 2 years in digital payments, or financial services, business development and client-facing positions within the Financial or FinTech sector.