Application Implementation Manager

About the job

The Implementation Manager leads end-to-end delivery of payment solutions across card issuing, acquiring, and switching platforms. This is a senior technical role that bridges client needs with internal systems requiring hands-on expertise in payment flows, APIs, core platforms, and production operations, combined with strong stakeholder and delivery management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Implementation & Solution Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of payment solutions: card issuing/acquiring systems, switch integrations, and major enhancements — from requirements through production go-live.
• Translate business requirements into scalable technical designs across switching platforms and REST/SOAP API layers.
• Own the full delivery lifecycle: solution design, system configuration, UAT coordination, and deployment sign-off.
• Ensure correct handling of transaction flows (authorization, clearing, and settlement) in alignment with Visa, Mastercard, and other applicable scheme rules.
• Define and track project milestones, proactively escalating risks or blockers to stakeholders.

Integration & API Management

• Oversee integrations between internal systems and external partners using REST and SOAP APIs, middleware layers, and message brokers.
• Ensure correct ISO 8583 message parsing, field-level validation, message transformation, and routing logic.
• Lead troubleshooting of integration failures, ensuring data consistency and end-to-end transaction integrity.
• Manage API versioning, coordinate deployments across DEV/UAT/PROD environments, and enforce API governance standards.

Core Platform & System Management

• Configure and manage core payment platforms (e.g., SmartVista, Euronet, or equivalent) across all functional modules: Front End, Back Office, CMS, Fraud, and API Gateway.
• Ensure platform stability through proper configuration management, change control, and proactive monitoring.
• Lead release activities including deployment validation, pre/post-release testing, and rollback planning.
• Maintain system integrity across interconnected modules, ensuring changes in one area do not adversely impact others.

Data Analysis & Database Management

• Apply strong SQL skills on Oracle Database (or equivalent) to support production operations:
• Data validation and reconciliation across systems
• Root cause analysis for transaction or data discrepancies
• Query performance review (in coordination with DBAs where applicable)
• Handle large transaction datasets with care for accuracy, completeness, and auditability.
• Build and maintain data validation scripts and reconciliation reports to support operational teams.

Application Deployment & Environment Management

• Oversee deployment activities on application servers (Oracle WebLogic, JBoss, or equivalent), coordinating with DevOps and infrastructure teams.
• Manage EAR/WAR deployment cycles, environment configuration, and release coordination across the application stack.
• Ensure environment parity and proper governance between DEV, UAT, and PROD — preventing configuration drift and unauthorized changes.
• Define and enforce pre-deployment checklists, deployment runbooks, and post-deployment validation steps.

Operations, Monitoring & Incident Management

• Monitor system health, transaction throughput, and availability using logs, dashboards, and monitoring tools.
• Analyze ISO message logs and system traces to proactively detect and resolve issues before they impact clients.
• Lead incident management end-to-end — triaging by severity, coordinating resolution, and driving post-incident reviews.
• Establish and maintain runbooks, escalation paths, and on-call procedures for production support coverage.
• Proactively identify systemic risks and drive preventive actions to minimize service disruptions.

7 . Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients across delivery, change requests, incidents, and ongoing enhancements.
• Translate complex technical issues into clear, business-friendly communications — managing expectations with transparency.
• Conduct regular status reviews, steering meetings, and delivery updates with both technical and executive stakeholders.
• Drive high client satisfaction by ensuring commitments are met and issues are resolved with urgency and professionalism.

Vendor & Third-Party Coordination

• Manage relationships with external vendors and technology partners (e.g., BPC Banking Technologies, Euronet Worldwide, scheme bodies).
• Hold vendors accountable to SLAs — escalating issues appropriately and ensuring timely resolution.
• Evaluate third-party solutions and integrations, providing technical assessment and integration oversight.
• Coordinate scheme certification activities and ensure compliance with network mandates and release cycles.

Security & Compliance

• Ensure all systems and implementations comply with PCI-DSS requirements and relevant scheme operating regulations (Visa, Mastercard).
• Oversee secure handling of cardholder data, including encryption standards, CVV/PIN processing controls, and key management practices.
• Maintain audit readiness and ensure documentation supports both internal and external compliance reviews.
• Embed security considerations into delivery processes — from design through production — rather than treating them as a post-delivery step.

Continuous Improvement & Optimization

• Identify and drive improvements to system performance, delivery processes, and operational efficiency.
• Leverage production data, incident trends, and user feedback to surface actionable recommendations.
• Own KPI reporting across key metrics: SLA adherence, system availability, transaction success rate, and time-to-resolve.
• Conduct structured post-implementation reviews (PIRs) and translate learnings into process improvements.

Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for system configurations, integration specifications, runbooks, and troubleshooting guides.
• Ensure knowledge transfer to operations teams prior to go-live, with formal operational readiness sign-off.
• Champion documentation culture across the team — ensuring tribal knowledge is captured and accessible.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of experience in payments, banking technology, or financial systems.
• Strong experience with payment systems (issuing, acquiring, switching).
• Hands-on experience with APIs, system integration, and production environments.
• Solid SQL knowledge (Oracle or similar databases).