Relationship Manager

Remote (U.S.) — Full Time

About The Role

This is a foundational role that requires a track record of being a senior point of contact for leadership across payments, banking, or financial technology institutions. The Relationship Manager is accountable for partner bank engagement from contract signing through steady-state operations and will work cross-functionally to deliver best-in-class customer service across the relationship lifecycle. As Cari's first RM, this role is not suited to candidates expecting a mature playbook—you'll help shape the onboarding and relationship management approach over time, partner with banks to drive end-customer adoption of the Network, and build the feedback loop that brings partner bank realities into Cari's roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Be the day-to-day bank contact: Serve as the named owner for partner bank relationships across onboarding, go-live, and steady-state operations. Run the governance cadence — executive, operational, and working-group touchpoints. You are also the senior, accountable contact a partner bank calls when an issue requires escalated attention.
• Own the onboarding and partner-services experience: Lead each partner bank from post-signing through go-live and into steady-state, such as kickoff, introduction to onboarding and completion of readiness checklists. Steward each partner bank’s ongoing obligations under the Network Rulebook and signed agreements so all parties stay in good standing. Help shape the onboarding and partner-services playbook over time.
• Partner with the help desk and engineering: Partner with the Help Desk and Engineering on escalations and incidents that warrant elevated attention, engaging in communication and resolution as needed.
• Be the voice of the partner bank inside Cari and translate Cari back to the bank: Bring each partner bank's strategic priorities, commercial plans, and capacity constraints into Cari's product and release planning. Translate performance data, metrics, and exception trends into insights the partner bank's leadership can act on and make sure Cari's roadmap reflects partner bank realities.

Qualifications

• U.S.-based, with ability to travel
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience
• 7+ years in payments, banking, or financial technology infrastructure, with significant time as the client-facing point of contact
• Working knowledge of large-value payment systems and network rulebooks (e.g., FedNow, RTP, CHIPS, SWIFT, or a payments network / FMU), including SLAs, liquidity rules, and exception handling
• Demonstrated experience running structured programs for complex financial institutions - including contractual oversight, commercial management, and change control in regulated environments
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to translate operational issues and product direction to executive bank stakeholders
• Comfort operating in early-stage environments where management can be fluid, and where the work can be demanding, creative, and consequential
• Experience with tokenized deposits, stablecoins, or shared-ledger payment networks, blockchain technology, or cryptocurrency is a significant plus

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: salary and equity
• Full medical, vision, dental benefits
• 401(k) with matching program
• Flexible vacation policy (PTO) and remote-first work environment