Director of Business Development at American Express

• The Global Network Partnerships organization partners with banks and financial institutions to drive merchant acceptance and issue cards on the American Express network.
• Reporting to the Vice President Business Development, sub-Saharan Africa (based in London, UK), this role will lead the team which supports the ongoing management of existing partners in the West Africa region, and from time to time engage with new prospects in the region.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring ‘best-in-class’ relationship management of the partnerships including managing key relationships with the partner businesses acting as lead contact.
• Accountability for delivering across all key business metrics for the region including Cards & merchants acquired, and both card and merchant spend.
• Identifying new opportunities for growth in existing relationships, and under direction from the VP and other teams in the UK, identifying new potential partnerships across the region as required.
• Working with the partners to develop an issuing and/or merchant growth plan to drive card spend and increase merchant acceptance, in close partnership with the marketing team based in London.
• Keeping up-to-date with the changing regulatory environment in the West Africa region, with a particular focus on Nigeria. Brief Amex stakeholders in the US/UK on the potential impacts to the Amex business.
• Working with Amex stakeholder groups (Operations, GCO, Compliance etc.) to ensure smooth implementations for new partners on the network and ongoing operational efficiency.
• Manage the day to day activities and performance of two direct reports – the Business Development and Marketing Manager – Nigeria (Lagos based), and the Business Development Manager – West Africa (London based).
• Support the smooth running of American Express Nigeria Limited (AENL) and the local office, working closely with the AENL Directors as required.

Qualifications

• First class relationship skills gained through interacting at all levels both internally and in partner organizations.
• Highly analytical and numerical, ability to clearly communicate complex issues.
• Proven ability to create winning strategies.
• Excellent core project management skills. Strong planning and organisational skills, ability to manage and see delivery of complex projects through to an end.
• Broad financial services industry knowledge gained through experience in card issuing or merchant acquiring, possibly both.
• Strong influencing and communication skills to promote ideas, products and services internally and to the partners.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, financial acumen and ability to drive and deliver results, resilient attitude in challenging business environments.
• Ability to operate independently with a high degree of self-direction. Maintain the very highest degree of integrity in all business dealings with colleagues and external parties.
• Travel – Approximately 15%.