Manager, Operational Optimization

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Manager, Operational Optimization

Overview
The Global Partnerships team is responsible for cultivating and managing Mastercard’s most strategic relationships with key players across the payments’ ecosystem. The team works with global leaders in technology, e-commerce, and financial services to build and scale solutions across acceptance, issuing and co-brand partnerships, and payments data services. Through a consultative approach—and inspired by Mastercard’s longstanding focus on inclusive growth—we are passionate about working hand in hand with mission-aligned companies to solve real-world problems for people and businesses around the world.

We are recruiting a Manager, Operational Optimization, who will play a crucial role in building and maintaining strong client relationships to drive business growth and customer satisfaction for Global Customers/Partners across the Acceptance & Digital Merchants verticals. The Optimization Manager will work closely with internal teams and external partners, providing technical and strategic support to ensure the successful deployment of Mastercard’s products and services and trusted source for our customers for technical queries. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and business acumen to identify opportunities for optimization within their infrastructure and ensure seamless communication while managing all escalations relating to technical issues.

Additionally, and when required, Optimization Manager will engage with key stakeholders across Mastercard to deliver innovative solutions tailored to complex customer needs.

Role:
• Ensures resolution of day-to-day technical/operational issues, customer issues and/or as related to assigned delivery projects
• Partners with cross functional teams including Sales, Tech, and Product throughout Mastercard supporting the internal development and implementation of any new product and/or technology enhancement
• Establishes close working relationships with key stakeholders within Mastercard and customer's Technology and Operations teams
• Acts as central point of contact for customers on topics relating to Technology and Operations
• Brings ability to enhance customer experience by driving business growth with portfolio optimization, emerging technologies, and find faster ways to get work done with sustained quality
• Analyses and improves customer operational performance and profitability through back-office reviews, ie. chargebacks, authorization, latency, platform stability etc
• Identifies and arranges for training and communication of operational enhancements
• Participates in and contributes to account planning with customer and internal partners to prioritize strategic, mutually shared objectives
• Works with internal colleagues to ensure customer's compliance with all Mastercard technology enhancements
• Executes project initiatives and develops quantitative/qualitative reports
• Improves product offerings by communicating customers' feedback to Product Management and applicable internal teams


All About You:
• Deep technical expertise, proven through prior roles in Technical Operations, Software Development or Technical Project Management
• Demonstrated customer and relationship management skills and ability to build and maintain strong, positive working relationships at all functional levels within customer and internal MasterCard organization is essential
• Experience in payments business with preferred area of experience in credit and debit card operations (issuing and acquiring) - authorizations, clearing, settlement, and fraud & risk management
• Ability to manage complexity and simplifying for customers and key stakeholders
• Demonstrated operational excellence in managing escalations and timely responses
• Ability to grasp technology details and translate them into solutions and/or to address business opportunities
• Strong analytical/problem solving and planning skills
• Ability to quickly learn, explain and bridge the gap between the business, product and technology that supports it
• Ability to thrive and effectively collaborate in a dynamic, fast-paced, team environment that embraces giving, receiving as well as acting on feedback
• Ability and willingness to provide off-hours support to customers if needed
• College/University degree or equivalent work experience with emphasis on business, and information technology and/or bankcard industry experience
• Information technology and relevant industry experience preferred
• Hybrid position with an expectation to be in office on an average 3 days per week

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 12/28/2026. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.

Pay Ranges

New York City, New York: $127,000 - $210,000 USD

About Us

Everyone wants easier ways to pay;

we invent them.

Checkout lines are slow;

we speed them along.

Merchants want more sales;

we give them data and insights.

People need financial access;

we connect them.

Corporate purchasing is complicated;

we make it simple.

Commuters are busy;

we speed them on their way.

Governments need greater efficiencies;

we help create them.

Small businesses are virtual;

we give them access to a world of buyers.

Retailers want to fight fraud;

we provide the tools.