Merchant Acquiring Sponsorship RM

Overview

Citizens is seeking a seasoned professional to lead and grow our Merchant Acquiring Sponsorship business. This role is critical to managing a portfolio that contributes approximately $50MM in annual recurring revenue and supports ~$1.2Bn in average daily balances. Sponsorship clients account for over 55% of Citizens’ ACH originated transactions and offer significant cross-sell opportunities, particularly within our Atlanta-based CML fintech vertical. As the Relationship Manager for Sponsorship Management, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with sponsored clients, ensuring compliance with regulatory and network requirements, and driving revenue growth through innovative partnership models.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining the Merchant Acquiring Sponsorship Business Model
• Pursuing opportunities with potential clients that meet the business model
• Coordinating multi-disciplinary due diligence of potential clients
• Developing and negotiating terms, conditions, and pricing with potential clients
• Negotiating and executing sponsorship agreements with desired clients
• Managing relationships with sponsored client’s executive management team, including regular interaction with CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, Senior Counsel, Risk Manager, Head of Credit, and their teams
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with payment networks and industry experts
• Coordinating internal operational, technical, information security, risk management, and financial groups to provide robust, evolving, and innovative solutions to client needs
• Educating internal executive leadership about the business model
• Ensuring the comprehensive revenue derived from clients is included and reported in the division’s financial reports
• Coordinating with the head of Merchant Acquiring Sponsorship and Third Party Payment Oversight on a regular basis

Skills/Competencies

• Extensive knowledge of merchant acquiring business
• Strong ability to expand business growth within the boundaries of the business model
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Strong ability to teach and coach
• Strong ability to work individually as a self-starter or as part of a team
• Strong product development and implementation skills
• Creative problem solver

Experience

• BA/BS degree preferable or suitable experience required
• 10+ years of progressively responsible positions in top-tier financial institution or merchant acquiring business
• Merchant acquiring, electronic payments operations, product management, or operational risk management experience desirable
• 3 – 5 years direct management of merchant acquiring or sponsorship management function
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement revenue generating opportunities
• Superior Microsoft Office skills, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Pay and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $162k - $185k per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit

Some job boards have started using jobseeker-reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles. If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Why Work for Us

At Citizens, you\'ll find a customer-centric culture built around helping our customers and giving back to our local communities. When you join our team, you are part of a supportive and collaborative workforce, with access to training and tools to accelerate your potential and maximize your career growth

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.