Team Summary:
Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) drives tangible, impactful and financial results for Visa's clients, including card issuers, acquirers, and merchants. Drawing on our expertise in strategy consulting, data analytics, brand management, marketing, operations and macroeconomics, VCA solves the most strategic problems for our clients.
The VCA team within Japan provides a comprehensive range of consulting services and solutions to our clients in Japan, that address unique challenges in areas such as strategic growth, profitability, risk management and digital strategy.
VCA Dedicated Team members play a key role in enhancing the partnership with one of Visa Japan’s largest clients by supporting strategic planning and implementation of their most strategic initiatives.
What a Director, Strategy & Business Design — VCA Dedicated Team does at Visa:
We are seeking a Consulting Director to lead the Strategy & Business Design function within the VCA Dedicated Team. This role will drive strategic dialogues, shape medium‑ to long‑term business agendas, and co‑create innovative initiatives with one of Visa Japan’s most significant clients. The Director will identify strategic themes, lead business planning efforts, and bring new value creation opportunities that push beyond conventional project frameworks.
This position requires a strong strategic leader who can collaborate across functions, guide complex problem‑solving, and deliver impactful, actionable business initiatives.
Responsibilities:
On a project-by-project basis:
- Lead strategic, cross‑organizational dialogues with senior client executives, positioning Visa as their most critical long‑term strategic partner. Demonstrate strong ownership for the impact of initiatives driven by the Dedicated Team with deep understanding of the overall account P&L (NR).
- Develop high‑quality, execution‑ready proposals for new business domains through structured yet creative problem‑solving, leveraging Visa as platform lever. Proactively manage stakeholder alignment and risks to ensure proposals directly contribute to account‑level business impact.
- Design and drive priority strategic initiatives—including organizational transformation and talent development—with team member’s clear accountability for initiative quality and outcomes. Provide direction that enables the team to deliver consistently high‑impact results.
- Build external networks and translate emerging technologies (e.g., AI, stablecoins) into tangible opportunities. Lead pilot testing and secure internal buy‑in to accelerate adoption and maximize value for the account.
- Conduct focused, fact‑based analyses and synthesize insights into concise, actionable recommendations that influence client decision‑making and advance account‑level goals.
- Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including CRM, global hubs, and subject‑matter experts to integrate specialized capabilities and ensure seamless execution.
- Deliver sharp, compelling executive‑level communications. Coach team members to elevate deliverable quality and enhance overall team performance.
More generally:
- Identify and surface opportunities for strategy and business design projects for inclusion in account plans.
- Contribute to development of strategic methodologies, analytical frameworks, and standardized VCA offerings.
- Produce thought leadership and best practices to enhance VCA’s strategic advisory capabilities.
Why this is important to Visa:
Our purpose is to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
VCA’s strategic advisory services help clients elevate their business performance by leveraging Visa’s robust solutions, thought leadership, and market insights. These efforts directly contribute to Visa’s business and strengthen long‑term client partnerships, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem that drives sustained growth.
This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.
- Basic Qualifications:
- You bring a breadth of professional experience and strong curiosity about the payments industry, with a passion for shaping strategic agendas and working closely with clients.
Specific skills and experience required:
- Fluent Japanese and business‑level proficiency in English
- 12+ years of high‑performance experience in strategy consulting, corporate planning, or business planning
- Proven track record managing complex, cross‑functional, and cross‑regional initiatives
- Passion for driving business impact directly while managing complex multi-stakeholder interests in a highly matrixed, process driven organization
- Self‑motivated and results‑driven, able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Flexible and resilient mindset, capable of adjusting plans while effectively communicating with stakeholders
- Superior analytical, conceptual, and problem‑solving skills with demonstrated intellectual rigor
- Strong team orientation with a collaborative, diplomatic, and adaptable style
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to high‑quality outputs
- Excellent presentation and communication skills, both oral and written
- Strong commercial acumen with experience developing business cases and evaluating ROI
- Passion for leveraging data and analytics to inform strategic decision‑making
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities with the ability to inspire and develop team members
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in the payments, banking, or technology sectors
- Familiarity with strategic planning tools, business modeling, and organizational design
- Experience leading or supporting organizational transformation and talent development initiatives
Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.
