Lead Project Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Lead Project Manager – Cards & Payments to lead and manage strategic card issuing, product launch, and portfolio optimization initiatives for a leading financial institution in Abu Dhabi.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in end-to-end card issuing programmes, credit card product launches, scheme and regulatory mandates, digital wallet integration, and cards portfolio optimization.

This is a hands-on, client-facing role requiring strong project management, technical coordination, stakeholder engagement, and delivery governance skills.

The successful candidate will work closely with business, product, technology, operations, payment networks, processors, and external vendors to ensure successful project execution, regulatory compliance, and product launches.

Key Responsibilities

1. Card Product Launch & Implementation

• Lead end-to-end delivery of new credit card products, from initial planning and product setup through launch and post-launch stabilization.
• Coordinate card product configuration, BIN setup, card production, and digital wallet provisioning readiness.
• Manage product testing, certification, launch preparation, and production deployment.
• Ensure seamless coordination across product, technology, operations, payment networks, and external vendors.
• Monitor card activation, customer adoption, and spend performance following product launches.

2. Project & Programme Management

• Establish and manage a structured Project Management Office (PMO) for cards and payments initiatives.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, dependencies, and delivery schedules.
• Manage RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies) and project governance.
• Prepare steering committee presentations, executive reports, and project status updates.
• Lead cross-functional project meetings and ensure accountability for deliverables.
• Identify project risks, escalate critical issues, and implement mitigation strategies.

3. Scheme & Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate implementation of payment scheme and regulatory mandates within required timelines.
• Work with internal technology teams, processors, payment networks, and vendors to complete technical testing and certification.
• Ensure readiness for digital wallet provisioning, tokenization, and other scheme-related requirements.
• Manage dependencies and ensure timely production sign-off.

4. Card Portfolio Optimization & Customer Journey

• Support initiatives to improve card acquisition, onboarding, activation, and customer engagement.
• Analyze the application-to-issuance journey and identify opportunities to improve conversion rates.
• Work with Credit, Product, and Digital teams to address approval rates, eligibility rules, and onboarding drop-offs.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including activation rates, card usage, and spend per active card.
• Recommend improvements to enhance customer experience and portfolio performance.

5. Card Migration & Digital Payments

• Lead or support card migration, reissuance, and domestic payment scheme initiatives.
• Coordinate customer communication, migration readiness, and post-migration performance tracking.
• Work with technology teams on card management systems, processing platforms, tokenization, and digital wallet integrations.
• Ensure successful testing, certification, deployment, and operational readiness.

6. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Act as the central coordination point between business stakeholders, payment networks, technology teams, and external vendors.
• Manage cross-functional dependencies and ensure timely resolution of delivery challenges.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions and executive-level governance meetings.
• Ensure project deliverables align with agreed timelines, quality standards, and business objectives.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of project management experience, preferably within banking, cards, payments, or financial services.
• Proven experience in end-to-end delivery of at least one card issuing programme, including a product launch, migration, or regulatory mandate.
• Hands-on experience delivering at least one card product launch at an issuing bank.
• Strong knowledge of credit card issuing, card management systems, payment processors, and scheme certification.
• Experience in card product configuration, BIN setup, card production, tokenization, and digital wallet provisioning.
• Strong understanding of card portfolio optimization and the customer journey from acquisition to activation.
• Experience managing large-scale banking or payments transformation programmes.
• Strong PMO management capabilities, including integrated planning, RAID management, governance, and executive reporting.
• Experience coordinating with payment networks, technology vendors, processors, and internal banking teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional fluency in English is mandatory.
• Must be immediately available to start in the UAE.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Engineering, Technology, Business, or a related discipline.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience with Agile or hybrid project delivery methodologies.
• Experience managing card issuing launches, migrations, or scheme mandates across multiple markets.
• Familiarity with digital wallets, tokenization, and payment scheme requirements.
• Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achieve at least 90% of project milestones on or before agreed deadlines.
• Ensure timely delivery of applicable payment scheme and regulatory mandates.
• Monitor card activation rates and spend per active card during the first 90 days following product launches.
• Improve application-to-issuance conversion rates against agreed baselines.
• Maintain effective RAID management, timely issue resolution, and consistent steering committee reporting.

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary and Benefits
• Opportunity to be part of a fast-paced and growing startup. Grow your career with the company
• Ownership - You will own your initiative and be given specific responsibilities
• Continuous coaching & mentoring – You will have the opportunity to interact and work closely with other senior data scientists and AI experts across the globe.
• Dynamic and respectful work environment – we truly value you