Cards Portfolio Execution Consultant

Overview

The Execution Consultant will lead the end to end execution, launch, and post launch optimization of Mastercard card products in partnership with the bank's internal teams and external stakeholders. This role ensures that card products are delivered on time, compliant with Mastercard standards, and optimized to drive portfolio growth, customer acquisition, and long term profitability. The Consultant will act as a program manager, product advisor, and operational strategist to ensure the bank's card portfolio is competitive, scalable, and aligned with market opportunities.

Responsibilities

1. Card Product Launch & Execution
   • Lead and manage the full lifecycle of launching new Mastercard debit/credit/prepaid cards.
   • Coordinate with Mastercard, issuing processors, card personalization bureaus, risk, compliance, marketing, and operations teams.
   • Translate business requirements into actionable execution plans with clear timelines and deliverables.
   • Ensure that all card products meet Mastercard rules, branding guidelines, digital enablement requirements (e.g., tokenization, MDES), and regulatory obligations.
   • Oversee UAT, BIN setup, digital wallet readiness (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and operational certification processes.
2. Program & Project Management
   • Develop detailed project plans, RAID logs, and stakeholder communication updates.
   • Drive cross-functional alignment and resolve execution bottlenecks.
   • Track progress against milestones and ensure timely, high quality deployment.
   • Own governance reporting for project status, risks, and dependencies.
3. Portfolio Management & Optimization
   • Analyze performance of existing card portfolio (activation, usage, spend, retention, delinquency, interchange, rewards cost).
   • Recommend portfolio strategies to improve profitability, customer engagement, and product differentiation.
   • Support pricing reviews, incentives design, loyalty program updates, and segmentation strategies.
   • Identify gaps in customer journey and propose improvements for acquisition, onboarding, and engagement.
4. Stakeholder & Partner Management
   • Act as the primary liaison with Mastercard teams (product, operations, risk, digital services).
   • Work with external partners including processors, fintech vendors, card personalization providers, and loyalty platforms.
   • Drive alignment between business, IT, operations, and compliance to ensure seamless product delivery.
5. Risk, Compliance, and Operational Readiness
   • Ensure adherence to Mastercard operating regulations and local regulatory requirements.
   • Support creation of operational procedures, customer communications, and frontline training.
   • Identify and mitigate launch risks and implement strong control mechanisms for ongoing operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or related field.
• 5+ years experience in cards, payments, banking, or fintech (Mastercard experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record in executing card launches or major payment-related projects.
• Strong understanding of Mastercard products, digital payments, BIN management, dispute processes, and card lifecycle.
• Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex initiatives.
• Strong analytical abilities and experience with card portfolio metrics.