Job description

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Strategic Projects to lead the identification, development, and execution of long-term strategic partnerships that unlock new revenue streams for the bank. This is a high-impact, entrepreneurial role at the intersection of strategy, business development, and product innovation - owning the pipeline from opportunity scouting through partnership structuring, negotiation, and launch.

You'll work closely with the executive team, product, risk, legal, and technology functions to build a partnership ecosystem (fintechs, platforms, embedded finance players, marketplaces, and non-bank brands) that extends the bank's reach, diversifies income beyond traditional lending/deposit margins, and positions the bank as a partner of choice in the digital finance landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Opportunity Identification

• Scan the market continuously for emerging trends (embedded finance, BaaS, open banking, fintech ecosystems, adjacent industries) that could translate into new revenue opportunities

• Build and prioritize a pipeline of partnership and growth opportunities aligned with the bank's strategic goals and risk appetite

• Develop business cases, market sizing, and revenue models to evaluate opportunity attractiveness

Partnership Development & Management

• Originate, structure, and negotiate long-term strategic partnerships (co-branded products, revenue-share arrangements, distribution deals, API/BaaS partnerships, etc.)

• Own the full partnership lifecycle: sourcing, due diligence, commercial structuring, contracting, and post-launch performance management

• Build and maintain a network of relationships with fintechs, platforms, investors, and industry stakeholders to stay ahead of deal flow

Cross-Functional Execution

• Act as the internal quarterback across product, engineering, risk, compliance, legal, and finance to bring partnerships from concept to launch

• Define success metrics and governance frameworks for each partnership, and track performance against revenue and strategic KPIs

• Represent the bank externally at industry events, forums, and partner discussions

Strategic Planning & Reporting

• Contribute to the bank's broader corporate strategy and growth roadmap

• Prepare board- and exec-level materials on partnership pipeline, performance, and strategic recommendations

• Monitor competitor and market activity to inform positioning and new opportunity identification

Job Requirement

Experience

• 10+ years in strategy, business development, corporate development, or partnerships - ideally within digital banking, fintech, payments, or financial services

• Demonstrated track record of originating and closing complex, revenue-generating partnerships or deals

• Experience navigating regulated environments and working alongside risk/compliance/legal functions

Skills & Attributes

• Strong commercial acumen - able to build financial models, evaluate deal economics, and translate ideas into viable business cases

• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills, with credibility engaging C-suite stakeholders both internally and externally

• Comfortable operating with ambiguity in a fast-moving, growth-stage environment

• Strong storytelling and communication skills - able to influence senior stakeholders and boards

• Analytical, structured thinker with a bias toward execution, not just strategy on paper

Nice to Have

• Existing network within the fintech, embedded finance, or digital banking ecosystem

• Experience with Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), open banking APIs, or platform partnership models

• Prior experience in a startup or scale-up environment