Head of Innovation

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Visa is searching for the Head of Innovation for Product, Money Movement Solutions (MMS). This leader plays a crucial role in developing and implementing innovative strategies and processes that drive efficiency and growth. They are responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Innovation team, and establishing Visa as a trend setter in the real time payment industry. This role will have product leaders and product managers reporting to them and will be responsible for the end-to-end innovation process, including identifying and prioritizing ideas, discovery, inception, implementation, and product launch.

In this role, the Head of Innovation, will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, including business units, clients, and partners, to identify and prioritize opportunities for innovation and transformation. The role holder will foster a culture of creativity, experimentation and learning across the Money Movement Network.

To deliver on these objectives, this role requires deep collaboration across the entire enterprise. 

• Working closely with our Technology partners to seamlessly execute from idea to implementation.
• Facilitate and run sessions with partners and clients to explore opportunities and progress on initiatives aligned with the Innovation strategy.
• Convert feedback into tangible and executional tasks to ensure improvement throughout the product iterations.

Responsibilities

So, what do we expect of you, day to day?

• Define and execute the product roadmap based on the Innovation teams’ vision and strategy.
• Actively research the latest developments and trends in the payment industry and identify and explore new emerging opportunities for MMS, including AI, crypto, blockchain, digital identity etc.
• Lead, mentor, and provide direction to a cross-functional team with the right resources, tools, and proper guidance for success.
• Define the success metrics for the solutions created and delivered by the Innovation team.
• Communicate and showcase the Innovation teams achievements, learnings, and best practices to internal and external audiences.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance and impact of the Innovation teams solutions and identify opportunities for improvements.
• Champion Visa values and innovative DNA across the organization. Act as an ambassador to attract world-class and diverse talent in the market, whilst developing internal talent capabilities that will help Visa to thrive.

• The ideal candidate will bring 12+ years’ experience in product development/management with a track record of leading Innovations teams and projects in a large and complex organizations, preferably in the payments or technology sectors.
• S/he should be a natural collaborator, with excellent communication skills and strong executive presence. The individual must be disciplined in prioritization, able to execute and commercially driven. S/he will be comfortable with ambiguity, possessing the maturity and capability to interact and influence across multiple levels of the organization, internal and external, to Visa.
• Functional Product experience, with a mature understanding of payment systems, value added services, product lifecycle strategies, design, and execution. Technical in nature with the ability to understand and shape the details as well as set an overarching direction.
• Highly competent and influential in communication, liaising with various stakeholders both internally and externally.

Key Capabilities
• Strategic thinker: Has superior strategic and analytic skills and is capable of clearly communicating a long-term vision to his/her team, the Company, and Visa’s clients. Ability to forecast, plan, execute on various initiatives across different time horizons.
• Communication: Excellent communication, presentation and, storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex and technical concepts to a variety of audiences, and to influence and persuade senior stakeholders.
• Client Focus: Cultivates partnerships with current and potential customers across the payment’s ecosystem. Understands the current industry and can link potential client needs to future product development initiatives. Strong presence and engagement with clients.
• Team Leadership: Identify, develop, and lead a team of product specialists through effective people management and development programs in accordance with Visa values and practices. Foster an inclusive team culture that is collaborative and inquisitive, developing bench strength and planning for succession while able to make tough decisions when required.
• Influence and Relationship Building: Exhibit relevant and consistent leadership behaviors in team management and internal interactions with peers, senior management, clients, and third-party vendors. Work effectively across a global matrix organization.
• Champion for Talent: Engenders trust as a leader, internally & externally, championing the Visa brand for high-potential and diverse talent. Continually seeks diverse perspectives and creates an inclusive environment for collaboration through the region and Visa’s organization.
Personal Characteristics
• An intellectually curious but humble leader with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable, and inspire others.
• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.
• Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks. Courageous in spirit, driving change through innovation.
• An authentic leader who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling the business to reach its ambitious goals.
• Possesses high personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders, and customers.
• Diversity of thought and experience. Continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, takes an inclusive approach, and engages diverse points of view.
• High levels of learning-agility with a real interest in the payment ecosystem and a ‘technology / digital-first’ approach.
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable with ambiguous and change-led environments self-confident with an authentic style that gravitates to championing change.
• Eager to seek a challenge and expand frontiers brings a visionary approach. Sets and meets a high bar of goals and principles.
• Committed to building a community through Visa’s Leadership Principles.
o Lead Courageously
o Obsess about Customers
o Collaborate as One Visa
o Execute with Excellence

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.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is 163,800.00 to 256,000.00 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.