Director, Payment Risk Operations

The Director, Payment Risk Operations is a senior leadership opportunity based in the United States. This role combines strategic ownership with hands-on execution, focusing on building and scaling a critical function within a fast-growing technology environment.

About the role

This position involves defining and owning the payment risk strategy, risk appetite, and policy framework in partnership with executive leadership. It also includes leading the full payment risk function, overseeing merchant onboarding processes, credit risk decisioning, KYC/KYB standards, and risk thresholds throughout the merchant lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the payment risk strategy, risk appetite, and policy framework in partnership with executive leadership.
• Lead the full payment risk function, including underwriting, transaction monitoring, fraud management, dispute management, and compliance operations.
• Oversee merchant onboarding processes, credit risk decisioning, KYC/KYB standards, and risk thresholds throughout the merchant lifecycle.
• Develop and enhance fraud prevention strategies, monitoring tools, escalation processes, and operational controls.
• Manage compliance with card network requirements, sponsor bank expectations, payment regulations, and industry standards.
• Build scalable systems, automation, reporting frameworks, and operational playbooks to support significant payment volume growth.
• Serve as a strategic risk advisor to executive leaders, financial partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor, and expand a growing risk operations team while establishing an effective organizational structure.
• Partner cross-functionally with product, sales, customer success, partnerships, and finance teams to enable responsible business growth.
• Use data and analytics to identify trends, measure performance, and continuously improve risk management practices.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in payments risk management combined with experience operating in technology or SaaS environments.
• Experience leading payment risk, fraud, underwriting, or operations teams or functions.
• Proven experience owning a risk function or major risk domain, including strategy, policies, and operational frameworks.
• Hands-on expertise in underwriting, credit risk, fraud prevention, and transaction monitoring.
• Experience with embedded payments, PayFac models, payment platforms, or similar environments preferred.
• Strong understanding of card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, NACHA standards, and payment processing systems.
• Experience scaling processes, systems, and teams within a high-growth environment.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, reporting tools, and data-driven decision-making.
• Experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce or similar tools is a plus.
• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to present effectively to leadership teams, partners, and technical audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Builder mindset with the ability to create structure, improve processes, and operate effectively in ambiguous environments.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Fully remote work environment within the United States.
• Opportunity to own and shape a strategic business function with high executive visibility.
• Direct partnership with senior leadership on critical risk and growth decisions.
• Ability to build and scale a team within a rapidly growing technology organization.
• Opportunity to design systems, processes, and frameworks that support long-term business expansion.
• Collaborative culture focused on transparency, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Inclusive workplace environment that values diverse perspectives and contributions.