Mobile Innovation Manager, Johannesburg

Mobile Innovation Manager, Johannesburg(

Job Number:

112346)

Location

- South Africa-Gauteng-Johannesburg

Description

Visa Inc. is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories, enabling them to use digital currency instead of cash and checks.

Visa does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations enable its bank customers to offer consumers choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. From the world’s major cities to remote areas without banks, people are increasingly relying on digital currency along with mobile technology to use their money anytime, make purchases online, transfer funds and access basic financial services. All of which makes their lives easier and helps grow economies.

Behind the Visa brand are more than 6,000 talented employees who continuously raise the bar with innovative solutions and products that deliver the convenience and security of digital currency to more people all over the world.

PURPOSE:

This permanent position will lead Visa’s mobile innovation initiatives throughout South Africa. Areas of responsibility include strategy development, implementation and project management, and business development with mobile operators and key financial institutions. This person will represent South Africa mobile payments within Visa; and externally with existing and potential clients, partners and vendors. This position will be located in South Africa and will report to the Head of Innovation, Africa.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

· Candidate will be accountable for the growth of mobile payments in the South African market that include contactless (NFC) payments, acceptance, closed and open-loop mobile money programs and authentication and remote payments.

· Develop South Africa mobile strategy to meet market needs, while ensuring alignment with Regional and Product strategies

· Drive Business Development efforts with mobile operators, key bank partners and other potential clients

· Deliver implementation of mobile payment projects through robust project management

· Work with local stakeholders to deliver mobile projects end to end, including Finance, Marketing, Legal, local and Regional Emerging Products team

· Be the key contact person for mobile internally; and the primary relationship manager with mobile network operators and external technical platform/solution providers

· Identify (and work with Government Relations to handle) regulatory issues specific to mobile

Strategic Nature, Management Accountability and Scope

· This role will be responsible for developing and delivering South Africa mobile strategy to meet market needs, while ensuring alignment with local, Regional and Product strategies

· The candidate is expected to sustain and build the pipeline of mobile-based payment programs.

· The candidate will need to influence the development of Visa’s mobile capabilities by providing feedback on local market requirements to regional and global mobile product owners

· The candidate will lead the building of partnerships with internal and external partners and vendors whose capabilities will be required to support Visa’s mobile capabilities to execute programs with mobile operators or banks.

Decision making and Complexity:

· This role will be responsible for managing multiple projects within mobile payments.

· The candidate will have to manage multiple external stakeholders, clients and partners and will be responsible in ensuring that programs that result in transactional revenue for Visa get prioritized and executed.

· Strategic planning and prioritization, including business case development, is key to this role.

Financial & Organizational Scope:

· The role will have no direct budget ownership but will be expected to work with Market and Regional Emerging Payments teams to input into annual budgetary planning and management processes

· The candidate will need to ensure that budgets are allocated appropriately to programs that result in growth of mobile programs resulting in transactional revenue for Visa

· The candidate will be required to provide input into the annual mobile budget needs for the market and will be responsible for managing variances from targets.

Reporting Relationships & Interactions:

· Work with local stakeholders to deliver mobile projects end to end, including Finance, Marketing, Legal, local and Regional Emerging Products team

· Will require frequent external contact with 3rd party clients and vendors

· Position will report to the Head of Innovation, Africa.

· Matrixed reporting responsibility will be to the Regional Head of Mobile Products.

Key Competencies:

· Experience working in mobile telecommunications industry a must, preferably within Africa.

· Previous exposure to payments industry preferred but not essential

· Experience in strategy development and delivery preferred

· Ability to work well across various functions and levels throughout Visa and 3rd parties.

· Strong project management skills

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· A keen interest in mobile payments is essential

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3-8 years experience/10 years preferred year experience
• Education – BA/BS Engineering undergraduate is an Advantage
• MBA

• Fluent English
• Experience working with mobile network operators, preferably within Africa
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Manages well under pressure and tight deadlines
• Strong attention to detail and ability to multi-task
• Proven ability to work independently

• Strong project management skills
• Previous exposure to payments industry a bonus
• Experience working in a relationship management capacity
• Experience in strategy development and delivery preferred

	Mobile Innovation Manager, Johannesburg