VP, Country Manager, New Zealand & Pacific Islands (NZPI)

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

Visa Country Managers are responsible for establishing and delivering the market performance targets and growing the business through deep client relationships and strategic government and industry engagement. Protecting the company’s brand, growing market share, increasing revenue and navigating the regulatory environment are the priority.

Visa's country team in New Zealand is a dedicated group of professionals committed to driving the company’s growth and innovation in this vital market. Comprised of experts in sales, marketing, product, consulting, regulatory affairs and customer support, the team works collaboratively to tailor Visa's global strategies to the local context.

The New Zealand Country Manager reports to the Group Country Manager for Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands (AuNZPI) and is a member of the AuNZPI Leadership Team.

What a Country Manager, NZPI, does at Visa :

• Lead the development and implementation of the market strategy to enable the activities that achieve business targets through growing the existing business, identifying new business opportunities and implementing new products and services across the markets.
• Develop, cultivate and maintain close relationships with client CEOs, management teams, decision-makers and other influencers within Visa’s client banks, national banking association, government stakeholders, key merchants, and ecosystem players. Be aware of and clearly communicate their views on the current state and prospects for the payments industry, banking and financial services industry, and technology innovation.
• Lead and manage the product portfolio for key accounts, as well as strategically manage and prioritize efforts across the long tail of clients, ensuring Visa clients have excellent support service from the Visa team locally and regionally.
• Serve as an advocate of the industry and represent Visa as a thought leader in the marketplace.
• Sharing Visa’s views on industry developments with clients and merchants and articulating how Visa products and solutions can enhance their business results.
• Understand and articulate how Visa differs from its competitors in terms of business strategies and capabilities, product positioning and pricing, and ability to drive client performance.
• Engage regulators and other government entities in collaboration with the Visa Government Engagement team to drive stronger economic growth, business innovation and financial inclusion. Additionally, manage any specific prospective or in progress regulatory change.
• Drive strong collaboration with the Fintech ecosystem that leverages Visa’s products and services.
• Appreciate the impact of the market performance on the AuNZPI cluster and Asia Pacific region strategy and how it will enable Visa to reach its ambitious goals.
• Ensure that the initiatives of the functions within the market are integrated and aligned to Visa’s broader business plans and strategic goals in the AuNZPI cluster, helping to prioritize work across all functions.
• Lead local initiatives within the wider Visa community in AuNPI and ensure the market has the necessary resources to achieve scorecard targets.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the team, ensuring maximum efficiency and engagement by handling conflicting and challenging demands across multiple client accounts.
• Collaborate and engage with colleagues across Visa, endeavoring to provide guidance and support with complex negotiations and ensure the business is appropriately involved and informed about client matters, delivering solutions as one team.
• Maintain a comprehensive operational risk and control environment and ensure strict adherence to Visa compliance practices are maintained at all times through championing risk ownership and accountability.
• Champion Visa’s consumer and employer brand in the market – leading by example on Visa’s Leadership Principles and values.
• Attract, develop and retain outstanding talent. Ensure appropriate succession planning is in place for key roles, maximize employee engagement and ensure all staff have meaningful development plans. Create a sense of community and drive a culture of genuine inclusion.

Why this is important to Visa

The Country Manager for New Zealand at Visa is a high-impact leadership role at the forefront of the nation’s digital payments evolution. Tasked with accelerating the adoption of secure, inclusive, and innovative payment solutions, this role is pivotal in shaping the future of commerce in one of the world’s most digitally advanced economies. Operating in a dynamic and tightly regulated environment, the Country Manager will lead Visa’s engagement with key stakeholders—including regulators, financial institutions, and fintech partners—to navigate complex policy changes such as interchange fee reforms and evolving data security standards. With full accountability for market growth, compliance, and operational excellence, this role is central to Visa’s mission of enabling seamless, trusted digital payments across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications : 12 or more years of work experience with a bachelor’s Degree or at least 10 years of experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters / MBA / JD / MD) or at least 8 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications : 15 or more years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD, PhD)

A minimum of 15 to 20 years of experience including 10 years of commercial / sales leadership experience within the broader payments industry, or adjacent sectors where technology (digital / e and m-commerce) feature strongly.

Demonstrated success in developing strategy and leading it through to execution and delivery, particularly where the development and deployment of the digital and customer agenda has been a key driver of success.

A strong track record of sales leadership, developing and leading executive-level client relationships and new business opportunities with key partners, leveraging Visa’s products and services to build broader payments solutions.

Strong B2B2C experience with knowledge of expanding into new customer distribution channels.

The ability to navigate ambiguity, innovate, and lead businesses in capturing, expanding, extending, and retaining client relationships.

Commercially astute with proven success in growing a business in a high-growth, fast-paced environment, meeting challenging financial and business targets.

A track record of establishing strong connections with government representatives and regulators.

Robust decision-making and analytical skills, with a strong command of financial, market, and consumer data, and the ability to grasp complex and detailed issues.

Financially literate with an excellent understanding of risk management.

Experience working in a global matrix organization with the ability to navigate complex structures and empower local decision-making.

Experience leading change programs within a business and building and leading high-performing teams through cultural and transformational change.

Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks.

Adventurous in spirit, inspiring change through innovation.

An authentic leader who intuitively fosters an inclusive environment.

Takes a hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy.

Excellent communication skills.

A minimum degree-level qualification, with an MBA considered valuable

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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