Senior Banking Partnerships Manager

We are seeking a strategic and driven Senior Banking Partnerships Manager to join our team in Dubai. This role is critical in developing and managing banking and financial service partnerships across Middle East and Africa. You will assess and onboard financial institutions that align with Sokin's product needs, ensuring successful integration and continued partnership growth. This position will serve as the primary point of contact for our banking partners in the region and will work closely with internal stakeholders across compliance, legal, product, and engineering.

About Us

Sokin is a next-generation B2B financial services provider, enabling businesses to make and receive global payments with greater speed, lower cost, and total transparency. Our mission is simple: we're simplifying global business - so businesses thrive wherever they choose to grow. We deliver services across:

• Global payments and receivables
• Foreign Exchange (FX)
• Treasury management
• Finance reconciliations

We are rapidly expanding, with established presence in EMEA, APAC, and North America, backed by a strong global infrastructure and industry leading partners, we are redefining how businesses move money worldwide.

Our clients span industries from sports and entertainment to logistics and travel, and our community is growing rapidly. As we continue to expand, we're building a team of exceptional people who share our ambition to transform the future of global payments.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Development: Identify, evaluate, and recommend banking and financial services providers capable of supporting Sokin's clients and product requirements in Middle East and Africa.
• Due Diligence: Assess potential partners for regulatory compliance, operational robustness, and product fit, conducting thorough due diligence and risk assessments.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Present partnership strategies and recommendations to senior leadership; provide insights to influence decision making.
• Negotiation: Coordinate with Sokin's legal team on negotiation of legal agreements, reach compromise with partners on commercial terms to maximize profitability, and on SLAs to ensure operational excellence.
• Onboarding & Integration: Lead the onboarding process for new partners, coordinating across internal teams to ensure smooth technical and operational integration.
• Product Launch Support: Collaborate with product, engineering, and operations teams to ensure timely and successful product and service launches through new banking partners.
• Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for regional banking partners, managing day to day relationships and issue resolution.
• Performance Monitoring: Conduct regular reviews of banking partners to ensure service level adherence, compliance, and performance optimization.
• Market Intelligence: Stay informed on market trends, regulatory developments, and competitive dynamics within the banking and payments ecosystem in the Middle East and Africa.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in banking partnerships, financial services, or fintech, with a strong understanding of common payment practices and regulatory landscapes in Middle East and Africa.
• Proven ability to build and manage complex relationships with financial institutions, banks, and other service providers.
• Strong project management skills with experience leading cross functional initiatives from discovery through execution.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience interfacing with senior leadership.
• Knowledge of compliance, licensing, and operational requirements related to cross border payments is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge of competitive landscape for providers of banking, acquiring and payment services is a strong advantage.
• Self starter with a collaborative mindset and a results driven approach.

Please note, candidates will need to have the right to work in the jurisdiction that they are looking to work in.

Sokin is an equal opportunities employer and committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment. As a growing global startup with bases across multiple countries, we were established on and continue to promote an agile, flexible working culture. Please reach out to discuss any accommodations you may require during the recruitment process.