SVP, Group Country Manager, Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (AuNZSP)

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.

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Team Summary
The Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific (AuNZSP) Group Country Manager and their team are responsible for executing Visa's strategy in the countries that make up the AuNZSP cluster. 

The Group Country Manager’s (GCM) leadership team is made up of the Country Manager of New Zealand & South Pacific, key client Sales Leaders and core Visa function leaders.  

What a Group Country Manager, AuNZSP does at Visa:
The Group Country Manager has overall management responsibility for all aspects of Visa’s AuNZSP business operations, including P&L responsibility for the Visa business in the markets. They will be expected to effectively develop local initiatives and deploy Visa’s relevant global solutions across the group to strengthen Visa’s client and other partnerships and drive local and regional business growth.  This is achieved through:

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Design and execute strategies and key initiatives to achieve Visa’s Core, Value Added Services (VAS) and Commercial & Money Movement Services (CMS) business growth and performance goals for the AuNZSP cluster.
• Monitor the local development of various industries including payments, banking and financial services and technology/big data for trends, as well as other factors with the potential to impact Visa’s current and future business in AuNZSP and across Asia Pacific. 

• Identify and prioritize new business opportunities in AuNZSP and determine the appropriate level of resource investment to pursue effectively. Reprioritizing resources where necessary.
• Lead Visa’s strategy with government, central bank and other regulatory institutions within AuNZSP.
• Broadly represent Visa across multiple areas from sales to regulatory affairs to corporate and social responsibility by speaking at conferences and business forums and undertaking media/public relations activities to drive positive perceptions of the company.
• As a member of the Asia Pacific Leadership Team (APLT), effectively collaborate with fellow APLT members to help set and execute the overall regional strategy.

Client and Stakeholder Partnerships

• Develop, cultivate and maintain deep partnership with client CEOs, management teams, decision-makers and other influencers within Visa’s clients, banks, national banking associations, key merchants, merchant associations as well as prospective and existing Fin Tech partners.
• Ensure that client account plans are up to date with current priorities and opportunities, aligned with Visa’s functional priorities and that these client account plans are executed with excellence.
• Engage regulators and other government entities in collaboration with the Visa Government Engagement team around Visa’s ability to drive stronger economic growth, business innovation and financial inclusion. 

People Leadership and Management

• Lead and manage Visa’s AuNZSP team, managing Visa’s current talent and hiring new staff to expand the team’s capabilities. Actively engage employees with exceptional communications skills and commitment by role modelling the behaviors underlying Visa’s four leadership principles.
• Collaborate directly with all functions (VCA, MS&A, Product & Solutions, Marketing, Clients Services, Risk, Finance, HR, Government Engagement, Legal, Corporate Comms), to ensure that each function contributes to and supports the execution of the Cluster’s strategic agenda.
• Take a thoughtful and diverse approach to talent acquisition and talent management, attracting, developing and retaining outstanding talent, whilst also continuing to raise the performance expectations of the team.  Ensure appropriate succession planning is in place for key roles, maximize employee engagement and ensure all staff have meaningful development plans. Create a sense of community and drive a culture of genuine inclusion for the cluster.

What you will need:

• A minimum of 20 years of experience including 10 years of commercial / sales leadership experience within the broader payments industry, or adjacent sectors where technology (digital / e and m-commerce) feature strongly.
• Strong track record of client service, strategic development and execution, where the advancement and deployment of the digital and customer agenda has been a key driver of success.
• Track record in developing and leading client relationships and new business opportunities with key partners in the market.
• Experienced in navigating ambiguity, innovation and leading businesses in the capture, expansion, and retention of client relationships in a high-growth / fast-paced environment.
• Strong B2B2C experience, with knowledge of expanding into new customer distribution channels.
• Track record in establishing strong connections with government representatives and regulators.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Robust decision-making and analytical skills. Strong command of financial, market and consumer data with the ability to grasp complex and detailed issues. Financially literate with an excellent understanding of risk management.
• Consistent record of meeting stretched financial and business targets.
• Ability to work collaboratively with executives from Visa’s clients and partners, leveraging Visa’s products and services to build broader payments solutions and enhance the organization’s client relationships.
• Experience of working in a global matrix organization with the ability to navigate complex structures and empower decision-making locally.
• An inclusive leader with experience building, empowering and developing high performing diverse teams.
• Experience of leading change programs within a business and has experience leading a high performing team on a journey of cultural and transformational change.
• Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks.
• Adventurous in spirit, inspiring change through innovation.
• Takes a hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy.
• Minimum degree level qualification, MBA considered valuable.

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.