Program Manager, Card Network Office (CNO)

Stripe is a financial infrastructure platform for businesses. Millions of companies - from the world’s largest enterprises to the most ambitious startups - use Stripe to accept payments, grow their revenue, and accelerate new business opportunities. Our mission is to increase the GDP of the internet, and we have a staggering amount of work ahead. That means you have an unprecedented opportunity to put the global economy within everyone's reach while doing the most important work of your career.

The Global Partner Engineering and Operations (PE&O) team is a vital part of Stripe’s Global Partnerships organization, playing a key role in our overall success. We manage the technical and operational dimensions of new and existing strategic product partnerships and programs. Positioned at the nexus of product development, engineering, and partnerships, we facilitate seamless collaboration essential for supporting Stripe’s rapid growth.

Our team is a diverse mix of technical and business professionals dedicated to executing operations with financial ecosystem partners. We ensure efficient technical onboarding and implementation, while also overseeing ongoing KTLO (Keep-The-Lights-On) activities and achieving strict quality and performance benchmarks. Additionally, the PE&O team initiates partner-agnostic programs and solutions to tackle broad ecosystem challenges, developing tools that enhance operational efficiency and scalability.

In This Role

The team is establishing a new function to oversee Card Network Compliance. In this position, you will be responsible for developing programs and processes to address Stripe’s card network changes and their implications for both Stripe and its users. This role is crucial for ensuring we stay informed about ongoing card network announcements, enhancing our strategic position, and driving operational efficiency in response to changes.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute significantly to building a function from the ground up and to help formulate strategies that align with the best interests of Stripe and its users!

What You’ll Do:

• Implement Release Management Process: Establish a release management process for Stripe in accordance with Card Network mandates, advising all cross-functional partners on the impacts, changes, and timelines associated with network updates. Conduct comprehensive analyses of how these mandates affect existing processes and services.
• Review Card Network Releases: Review, analyze, and assess biannual card network releases to identify key initiatives that will significantly impact Stripe’s business. Collaborate cross-functionally with various teams to ensure proper visibility and prioritization of these initiatives. Facilitate communication between engineering teams and the card networks' Technical Partner Managers (TPaMs) to streamline clarifications and negotiations regarding complex mandates and programs.
• Monitor Compliance: Establish a framework and process for monitoring compliance with card network requirements and internal policies. Ensure regular audits and assessments are conducted to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement strategies.
• Develop Metrics and Dashboards: Create and implement comprehensive metrics and JIRA dashboards to effectively monitor, review, and analyze mandates for each release cycle. Regularly update and refine the dashboards to reflect current business priorities and challenges, enabling teams to make informed decisions and proactively address potential issues related to card network mandates.
• Manage Mandate Intake Process: Oversee the network mandate intake process, ensuring timely review, assessment, and prioritization of mandates. Lead the proactive management of waiver requests, liaising between compliance and operational teams for resolution.
• Engage with External Partners: Actively engage with external network partners by participating in councils, forums, and regular strategic meetings. Establish and nurture relationships that facilitate mutual understanding of goals and objectives.
• Advocate for Stripe: Serve as a dedicated advocate for Stripe within the card network ecosystem, ensuring that the unique perspectives, challenges, and opportunities faced by Stripe are considered by network stakeholders.

We're looking for someone who meets the minimum requirements to be considered for the role. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

• 5+ years of experience in the payments industry, with significant expertise in working with card networks and understanding card network rules and compliance activities.
• In-depth understanding of acquiring platforms and systems, and their interactions with card network products and processes.
• Proficient in navigating and using JIRA for project management and tracking. Familiarity with card network portals for managing and monitoring compliance activities. Comfortable utilizing Google Workspace tools (such as Sheets, Docs, and Slides) for collaboration and documentation.
• Proven track record of effectively collaborating with product and engineering teams to develop new processes and strategies in partnership with them.
• Strong program and project management abilities, with the capacity to engage and influence stakeholders outside of direct control.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with both internal and external partners and drive change.
• Ability to thrive with minimal guidance, navigating uncertainty and ambiguity while shaping a new program and function at Stripe.
• Strategic thinker adept at identifying cross-functional issues, providing innovative solutions, and communicating the implications of these solutions across existing processes, systems, and teams.
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• Prior experience at a payment service provider (PSP), card network, or high-growth technology company  is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Finance, Technology) is preferred.