Sr. Director

Location: US - Ashburn, VA

About Us

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Visa Consulting and Analytics (VCA) partners with Visa’s clients to solve their most important strategic challenges and drive meaningful business results. We bring together strategy consulting, analytics, payments expertise, and deep industry insight to help financial institutions and merchants grow, compete, and innovate in a rapidly evolving payments landscape.

The North America Consulting Practice within VCA works closely with U.S. issuing banks to address enterprise‑level priorities—ranging from growth and profitability to customer engagement, digital payments, and portfolio strategy. Our work sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, helping clients turn insight into action.

We are looking for a Senior Director to join our NA VCA team and will play a leadership role on a team of experienced strategic consulting professions while focusing on Visa’s issuing relationships. This role is ideal for a strategic leader who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, influencing senior stakeholders, and shaping high‑impact work for marquee clients. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, a strategic partner to Visa account teams, and a leader within the VCA practice.

What You’ll Do

Support growth and sales efforts

• Continuously review market and competitive landscape, identifying opportunities and strategies that will position Visa as the market leader.
• Strong focus on execution and deliverables. Proven record of exceeding goals.
• Collaborate with Visa account and regional leaders to identify opportunities where VCA can add strategic value.
• Contribute to client pursuits by shaping strategic narratives, creating executive‑level presentations, and developing Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Help position Visa as a long‑term, strategic partner—not just a payments provider.
• Mastery of CRM systems/tools to manage territory and pipeline, including AI-enabled tools.
• Influence the client’s vision for the future of electronic payments, consistent with Visa’s strategies.

Be a strategic advisor to clients

• Identify strategic opportunities through client engagement. Develop a strong understanding of the segment and customer's business needs and deliver value to our Financial Institutions and their clients / members.
• Serve as a thought partner to U.S. financial institutions, helping them identify, prioritize, and execute strategies that drive sustainable growth and profitability.
• Lead multiple consulting engagements from strategy definition through recommendations, ensuring insights are clear, actionable, and tailored to executive audiences.
• Develop compelling strategic frameworks and points of view that address clients’ most critical business questions.

Partner across teams for high-impact delivery

• Own client engagements by setting direction, defining scope, managing timelines, and guiding teams to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
• Partner closely with data science, design, research, implementation, risk, innovation, and product teams to bring the full power of Visa to each engagement.
• Support clients with partner teams across strategic, operational, and implementation engagements.

Build the future of VCA

• Support the development of scalable consulting offerings, toolkits, and best practices that can be reused across clients and segments.
• Share insights and lessons learned to strengthen VCA’s intellectual capital and market relevance.
• Leading and mentoring project team junior members, fostering strong strategic thinking, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

Why This Role

• Work on high‑visibility, strategy‑led engagements with leading U.S. issuers
• Influence executive decision‑making at clients and within Visa
• Combine strategy, analytics, and payments expertise in a fast‑moving, innovative environment
• Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Basic Qualifications

12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree or at least 10 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Master's, MBA, JD, MD), or a minimum of 5 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience with a Bachelor's Degree or 12 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Master's, MBA, JD, or MD); PhD with 9+ years of experience
• 10-15 years of relevant experience at large management consulting firm or in the payment acceptance industry
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects in dynamic environments.
• Strong analytical skills, with demonstrated intellectual and analytical rigor
• Knowledge and understanding of payments operations and payment schemes, including products and services, business systems and processes, marketing initiatives and card issuing experience
• Self-motivated, results oriented individual with the ability to handle numerous projects concurrently
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills

Team minded and collaborative

Technology mindset, curious, up to date with digital trends and applications

Information for US Applicants

For roles located in the US, the estimated salary range for this position is $176,800 to $333,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

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 protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

Additional Locations: US - San Francisco, CA, US - New York, NY, US - Foster City, CA, US - Atlanta, GA