Sr. Manager, Issuing Solutions Sales Executive

About the role

At Visa, we are passionate about making a difference. We lead the way in disrupting fraud from multiple vectors, and we are expanding our Value-Added Services team with a Sales Manager focused on Featurespace, based in Johannesburg with primary responsibility for the Sub Saharan Africa market. You will define and execute the sales strategy, communicating the value of Visa Products (Featurespace) — Adaptive Behavioural Analytics, real-time transaction scoring, and advanced machine learning models — to help financial institutions detect and prevent fraud with greater precision and lower false positives.

The Sales Manager has primary ownership and accountability for bringing Featurespace to market, growing our footprint, and making the region and the world a safer place to transact. Additionally, you will coach and assist account executives in winning new business using subject matter expertise and thought leadership in the fraud domain.

The right candidate must balance technical and functional understanding of payment systems, core products, protocols, and frameworks with business acumen and commercial instincts. Experience with risk and fraud management is an advantage. This role demands a proactive approach, robust sales skills, and the ability to engage with clients consultatively to understand their strategies and priorities. Strong coordination and project management skills are essential to deliver on large cross-functional projects across multiple geographies and time zones.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Responsibilities

• Owner of the Featurespace engagement for the Sub Saharan Africa and local region.
• Deliver complex solutions for clients and support the achievement of Visa scorecard targets.
• Identify strategic opportunities for Featurespace capabilities by understanding client business needs and leveraging Visa solutions across multiple platforms.
• Work hand-in-hand with colleagues from other functional areas to act as a catalyst for developing existing and new solutions.
• Provide thought leadership with internal and external stakeholders, including participation in industry events, regulator, and government engagement to drive regulatory change where needed.
• Partner with Account Executives to develop and execute account strategies, objectives, and plans to increase revenue and market share for strategic financial and non-financial accounts.
• Utilize a data-driven approach, providing factual and analytical support in argumentation.
• Understand the market environment and provide inputs into country strategies and account plans.
• Track competition activity and ensure Visa’s and Featurespace’s products meet all relevant consumer and merchant payment needs.
• Foster in-depth and productive relationships at all levels with clients and the Visa organization.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 12 or more years of relevant work experience with a bachelor's degree, or
• At least 10 years of work experience with an advanced degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, MD), or
• 5 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15 or more years of relevant work experience with a bachelor's degree, or
• At least 12 years of work experience with an advanced degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, MD), or
• 9+ years of work experience with a PhD.
• Bachelor's degree in business, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

Skills & Experience

• Strong sales skills to drive revenue growth and build lasting client relationships.
• Fluent English written and verbal skills.
• Experience in payments, mobile, software, or technology services, preferably in the banking or financial industry.
• Experience in risk and/or fraud management.
• Understanding of card products, digital payments, and payment technologies, with fraud prevention experience being highly advantageous.
• Experience with new product development and ability to translate client needs into product requirements, developing product pricing and positioning strategies.
• Demonstrated track record of planning, managing, and delivering complex cross-functional projects from conceptualization to launch.
• Proven ability to develop and execute go-to-market strategies for products.
• Strong ability to analyze complex data and information, develop insights, and create impactful narratives.
• Ability to quickly assimilate and apply new solutions and application knowledge.
• Data-driven problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to work.
• Strategic thinking and thought leadership.
• Ability to work within a complex and often ambiguous environment, and to influence senior management and other relevant parties.
• Executive presence, strong written and oral communication—including large-group presentations.