Programme Lead (Loyalty), VCA Implementation Services (Fixed-Term)

Team Summary

Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific (AUNZPI) is Visa's advisory division, working with Visa's clients (including card issuers, acquirers, and merchants) on a broad range of key business initiatives including strategy, operational optimisation, customer engagement and overall business profitability.

VCA is made up of three services lines - Advisory, Data Science and Implementation Services, the latter being the execution arm of VCA.  Our Implementation Services teams (also known as squads) are embedded on client sites leading long-term engagements and delivering value primarily through implementation and execution services.  We deliver objectives from a shared value agenda but are also closely connected to the broader VCA team, sharing knowledge, and bringing the best of Visa to the client.

We are looking for a Senior Manager for the role of Programme Lead of Loyalty Products, embedded with one of our valued clients based in Auckland. This role is offered as a fixed-term contract for up to 24 months.

Role Summary

As a Programme Lead (Senior Manager) embedded with a banking client in Auckland, this role will:

• Lead overall Loyalty Programme operations, delivering measurable value for the client, Visa, and merchant partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the client and Visa, ensuring governance and communication.
• Use customer data to guide programme improvements and inform an optimisation roadmap.
• Champion compliance and risk management, maintaining regular reporting to stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Leadership, Governance & Performance

• Own the end‑to‑end running of the loyalty programme, ensuring seamless daily operations, adherence to SLAs, and delivery against defined KPIs and success metrics.
• Establish and lead structured governance forums (e.g., steering, WIP, risk reviews) that drive transparency, decision‑making, and accountability across stakeholders.
• Align stakeholders on programme performance, risk management, and the strategic merchant and campaign roadmap, sequencing initiatives to maximise both customer engagement and commercial outcomes.
• Maintain operational rhythms (issue management, backlog prioritisation, change control) to keep delivery on track and proactively address risks and impediments.

Stakeholder, Partner & Cross-Functional Management

• Act as the primary liaison between the client and Visa for all loyalty Programme matters, driving clarity of deliverables, timelines, and accountability across teams.
• Support the management of strategic partners and merchants to ensure they realise maximum value from the platform.
• Lead and nurture internal stakeholder relationships across Marketing, Institutional, and Technology teams to enable smooth execution.

Data, Insights & Programme Optimisation

• In partnership with the programme’s Data Analyst, use customer data to identify behavioural trends and priority segments.
• Translate insights into targeted optimisations (offers, mechanics, journeys), track impact, and iterate to lift engagement and ROI.
• Use this insight to support, inform and build a pipeline of potential merchants and offers with Visa.
• Embed analytics, experimentation, and reporting into day‑to‑day Programme operations to drive continuous improvement.

Risk, Legal, Compliance & Controls

• Ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory, legal, and risk requirements, maintaining clear documentation, controls, and audit‑ready governance artefacts.
• Proactively identify, escalate, and mitigate risks.

Why this is important to Visa

This role supports a strategic and multi-dimensional client in New Zealand as a key member of Visa’s growing team. By leading the loyalty programme, you will help strengthen Visa’s client partnerships, drive innovation in customer engagement, and contribute to the ongoing success of Visa’s advisory and implementation services in New Zealand.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Key Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess over eight years of robust experience in Product or Programme Management, in addition to meeting the following qualifications.

Stakeholder Engagement & Programme Delivery

• Skilled in influencing, aligning, and communicating with internal stakeholders (e.g., marketing, technology) and senior leadership.
• Strong project management skills, with a track record of delivering initiatives on time and within scope.
• Experience managing risk, compliance, and legal considerations in merchant-funded programmes.
• Familiarity with financial services governance frameworks.

Strategic & Commercial Acumen

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute partnership strategies that deliver mutual value for all parties.
• Commercial understanding of cards P&L, scheme networks, and loyalty levers (advantageous but not essential).

Collaboration & Merchant Partnership Expertise

• Proven ability to collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., Institutional and Commercial teams) to grow and manage merchant relationships.
• Skilled in using third-party platforms or offer networks, such as Card-Linked Offers platforms.
• Experience working with a diverse range of merchants (retail, hospitality, online, etc.), building and sustaining strategic partnerships.

Customer Proposition & Data Fluency

• Deep understanding of customer needs and behaviours, ideally in the context of rewards and offers.
• Understanding of segmentation, targeting, and personalisation strategies to optimise programme effectiveness.
• Comfortable working with data teams to analyse offer performance, customer uptake, and ROI, using insights to drive continuous improvement.

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.