Head of Cards Portfolio Management I S4 I Cards & Payments I Milton Keynes I Internal Mobility

Head of Cards Portfolio Management I S4 I Cards & Payments I Milton Keynes I Internal Mobility

Country: United Kingdom

IT STARTS HERE

Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.

This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Retail & Commercial Banking is a global business integrating all our retail and commercial banking activities to better serve our customers, improve efficiency and drive value creation.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Santander UK is looking for a Head of Cards Portfolio Management based out of Milton Keynes.

This is a unique opportunity at the heart of a rapidly scaling Cards business. You’ll lead the commercial and customer performance of Santander UK’s Cards portfolio with clear accountability for sustainable, risk adjusted growth within the existing debit and credit card book. Reporting to the Head of Cards & Payments Proposition, the role is a key member of the Cards leadership team, owning portfolio strategy and lifecycle optimisation.

Success will mean delivering growth in portfolio profitability, customer engagement, card usage and retention whilst achieving consistently good customer outcomes in collaboration with the wider Cards business, Credit Risk, Finance, Marketing, Technology and Digital teams.

As part of a Global Cards business, you’ll work closely with Global Cards leadership, bringing energy, curiosity and strong commercial judgement to turn opportunities into action and help shape the next phase of our growth journey.

Key Responsibilities

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will

• Own commercial performance for the existing cards portfolio including income, balances, spend, customer yields, back book pricing, risk adjusted returns and delivery against budget.
• Grow customer value and share of wallet by increasing card usage, spend, balances and top-of-wallet behaviour.
• Strengthen engagement, loyalty and retention, creating compelling reasons for customers to choose and stay with Santander.
• Improve existing customer experience and NPS, using insight and feedback to strengthen communications, servicing and partnering with Cards Acquisition on proposition development.
• Lead portfolio and lifecycle management, optimising portfolio pricing, credit limits, customer journeys and customer segment led treatments.
• Have joint accountability with Credit Risk to manage credit quality, affordability, impairment, portfolio monitoring and remediation decisions.
• Deliver good customer and regulatory outcomes, including Consumer Duty, persistent debt and support for customers in financial difficulty.
• Lead a high-performing Cards Portfolio team of 5 colleagues and a cross-functional agenda, collaborating with Cards Acquisition and Servicing Teams, Cards Global team, Finance, Risk, Analytics, Digital, Marketing and Operations to turn opportunities into results.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring.

The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• Significant credit cards experience, with a strong understanding of card economics, portfolio management and customer behaviour. (Required)

• Proven P&L and commercial leadership, including portfolio segmentation, pricing/yield optimisation, balance-sheet management and risk-adjusted returns. (Required)

• Experience developing and executing portfolio and lifecycle strategies including customer segmentation, retention and customer treatments. (Preferred)

• Strong understanding of credit risk and regulatory governance, including affordability, impairment, Consumer Duty and responsible lending. (Required)

• Track record of delivering material customer and commercial change in complex cross-functional environments. (Required)

• Senior leadership experience leading high performing teams and influencing stakeholders across functions to deliver in an agile way. (Preferred)

Education

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing, or a related discipline. (Preferred)
• Professional qualifications relating to Product Management, Marketing, Banking or Financial Services. (Preferred)
• MBA, CIM qualification or other relevant advanced professional qualification. (Preferred)

Languages

• English business communication skills, both written and verbal. (Required)

Skills & Capabilities

• Commercial and strategic leadership – strong proposition and portfolio management capability, balancing long-term strategy with near-term commercial performance and customer outcomes. (Required)

• Highly analytical and data-driven – able to interpret complex customer, financial and market data to identify opportunities and make clear commercial decisions.(Required)

• Strong financial capability – experienced in business cases, financial analysis and translating insight into actions that improve portfolio performance and returns.(Required)

• Senior leadership and influence – able to lead teams, navigate complex organisational structures and mobilise stakeholders around shared outcomes.(Required)

• Executive communication and challenge – able to simplify complex issues, present compelling recommendations and constructively challenge and influence senior decision-makers.(Required)

• Curious, customer-focused and adaptable – commercially minded, comfortable operating at pace and through ambiguity, with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement.(Required)

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return.

Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

Salary Range:
£74,144.00 - £111,216.00 per annum (depending on experience)

This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.

• Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.
• Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
• Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.
• Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.
• Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.

Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation.

We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates.

We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.

To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles).

When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).

We welcome applications on the understanding that, should you be offered this role, there may be no relocation package available. Santander will pay the employer mandatory government fees that are required to pay in connection with visa sponsorship. You may be liable for your own personal employee immigration and relocation costs

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS:

If you are currently employed by Santander UK plc on TSB Legacy terms or by TSB and choose to apply for this Santander vacancy, please be aware that, if successful, you will move onto full Santander terms and conditions of employment and will no longer be part of the TSB Legacy population with effect from the start date of your new role. 

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.

For further Guidance please visit Internal Mobility - Candidate Guidance.

If you want to know more about the opportunity:

Please contact Kiran Abrar

Email: Kiran.Abrar@santander.co.uk

The Santander Way

Santander is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.

This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Ready to make it happen?

It starts with you. It starts here.