Website Mastercard
For 50 years, we've been using our technology and expertise to make payments safer, simpler and smarter. Innovation is at the heart of Mastercard’s 50-year history. We take an innovative, value-driven approach to the solutions we create and services we offer, making transactions faster, easier, an… read mored more convenient and secure. One of the many ways in which we innovate is through our culture and people. We hire talented, inventive employees. We also encourage all employees to participate in efforts that cultivate innovation in local communities such as STEM programs. In addition, we showcase innovation through products such as MasterpassTM and tokenization to deliver value to consumers, merchants and banks alike. And, through outreach to developers and entrepreneurs, we are helping to facilitate improvements across the payments ecosystem that will generate future innovations. By underpinning innovation in everything we do, we are transforming the way people pay and get paid, helping businesses grow, improving the shopping experience and advancing financial inclusion around the world. 2nd Floor, 23 Melrose Boulevard Melrose Arch, Melrose North 2196 Johannesburg South Africa
Position Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President to lead our Specialist Sales Team across Africa.
This senior leader will be responsible for driving our sales strategy in a complex and evolving payments landscape, focusing on delivering innovative payment solutions to fintechs and large issuing banks specifically for their Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customer base. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in Mastercard’s growth strategy, leveraging deep industry knowledge to create differentiated value propositions that address client pain points and drive adoption of Mastercard solutions within the SME sector.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute comprehensive regional sales strategies aligned with Mastercard’s Africa business objectives
Lead a high-performing team of 4+ sales professionals, providing coaching, mentoring and performance management
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify market opportunities and drive revenue growth
Establish and maintain strong executive-level relationships with key clients and partners
Represent Mastercard at industry events and speak authoritatively on payment trends and innovations
Client Solutions
Understand the complex needs and pain points of fintechs and large issuing banks across diverse Africa, specifically as they relate to their SME customer base
Create differentiated value propositions that address client challenges in serving SME customers and deliver measurable business outcomes
Oversee the development of strategic account plans for key clients, ensuring alignment with their SME business priorities
Drive adoption of Mastercard’s innovative payment solutions for SME customers across Africa
Develop and articulate compelling business cases to prospective clients that showcase the value of Mastercard solutions for their SME offerings
Expertise in SFDC management
Team Development
Build and maintain a high-performance sales culture focused on client outcomes and revenue growth
Recruit, develop and retain top sales talent across Africa
Implement rigorous sales methodologies and best practices aligned with the Sales Transformation programme
Lead by example, demonstrating exceptional sales skills and client relationship management
Regularly review team performance against targets and implement improvement plans where needed
Market Intelligence
Maintain in-depth knowledge of the African payments landscape, including regulatory developments, competitive threats and emerging technologies affecting the SME sector
Monitor and analyze SME banking and payment trends across Africa
Identify opportunities for Mastercard to add value within the SME ecosystem through partnerships with accounting software providers (Zoho, etc.)
Monitor competitive activity in the SME payment space and develop effective counter-strategies
Collaborate with product teams to ensure solutions address evolving SME market needs
Provide regular market intelligence updates to senior leadership on SME payment trends and opportunities
Required Qualifications
Experience & Skills
Extensive experience in financial services or payments technology, with strong team management and leadership qualities.
Proven track record of consistently exceeding sales targets and driving business growth in complex B2B environments
Understanding of the African payments landscape, card issuing, and acquiring businesses with a focus on SME solutions
Experience working with or selling to SME-focused financial service providers, including banks, fintechs, and accounting software companies
Strong commercial acumen with the ability to create compelling value propositions for sophisticated clients targeting SME customers
Experience selling to C-level executives at financial institutions, fintechs, and multinational corporations
Demonstrated understanding of the SME market in multiple African countries and their specific financial needs
Exceptional leadership skills with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate actionable insights
Experience developing and implementing successful sales strategies in competitive markets
Languages
Fluent in English (written and verbal)
Proficiency in at least one additional language is required
Personal Attributes
Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate market changes and identify growth opportunities
Results-oriented with a strong focus on exceeding targets and delivering business outcomes
Client-centric approach with exceptional relationship-building capabilities
Collaborative leader who can work effectively across organizational boundaries
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly
Resilient and adaptable in a rapidly changing industry landscape
High level of integrity and professional ethics
Travel Requirements
Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time across Africa
Apply via company website ( https://www.mastercard.com ) or
careers.mastercard.com
To apply for this job please visit careers.mastercard.com.