Cards Portfolio Manager

Job Title: Cards Portfolio Manager

Term: 12 months

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

Division: Cards

Reports to: Head of Cards

Relevant experience: Experience: 8/10 years in debit card product management or product launch

Mandatory requirements:

• Local Experience: Experience in the Pakistan banking market
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in product management (Credit) and project management
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Urdu
  
  
  

Purpose of the Project:

The Cards Portfolio Manager is responsible for overseeing the strategy, development, and execution of card products. This position involves working closely with teams such as marketing, finance, risk management, and technology to collect input, define product requirements, and ensure these align with overall business goals. The main objective is to manage and expand the banks debit card portfolio by offering a strong Customer Value Proposition (CVP), implementing effective segmentation, and achieving sustainable growth in card usage and spending. Key priorities include increasing card penetration, activation, and retention, all while ensuring compliance and maintaining profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Portfolio Strategy & Growth

• Develop and implement strategies to increase debit card penetration, activation, and spend.
• Design and execute growth campaigns targeting specific customer segments.
• Monitor KPIs such as spend per card, activation rates, attrition, and profitability.
  
  
  

2. Customer Value Proposition & Segmentation

• Create compelling CVPs tailored for different segments (mass retail, affluent, youth, SME).
• Use behavioural and transactional data to build segmentation models for targeted offers.
• Collaborate with analytics teams to identify trends and optimize portfolio performance.
  
  
  

3. Product Development & Lifecycle Management

• Manage debit card product lifecycle including pricing, features, and benefits.
• Ensure compliance with State Bank of Pakistan regulations and internal risk frameworks.
• Drive innovation in digital debit card solutions and contactless payments.
  
  
  

4. Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with marketing, operations, and risk teams to deliver portfolio objectives.
• Partner with payment networks (Visa, Mastercard) for co-branded initiatives and campaigns.
  
  
  

5. Performance Monitoring

• Prepare regular reports on portfolio performance for senior management.
• Identify gaps and recommend corrective actions to achieve business goals.
  
  
  

Mandatory Skills & Experience:

• Experience: 8/10 years in debit card portfolio management or retail banking.
  
  
  

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of debit card products, payment systems, and digital banking channels.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools (SQL, Power BI, Tableau).
  
  
  

Certifications:

• Digital Payments or Card Management certifications (Visa/Mastercard Academy preferred).
  
  
  

Domain Expertise:

• Knowledge of customer segmentation, CVP design, and regulatory compliance.
  
  
  

KPIs

• Growth in debit card activation, usage, and spend per card, driving overall portfolio profitability.
• Increase in card issuance, customer acquisition, and engagement, resulting in higher retention and satisfaction
• Superior customer experience, reflected in strong engagement and satisfaction metrics
• Timely and effective product launch and commercialization, executed on schedule and within budget