Manager, Merchant Business Development - job 19 of 20

The Manager, Merchant Business Development at Visa is responsible for planning and executing marketing strategies and partnership initiatives aimed at growing Visa’s business with merchant and cobrand clients. This includes delivering marketing solutions, managing client relationships, and leading marketing projects that leverage Visa’s resources and expertise. You'll also provide thought leadership, utilize data-driven marketing approaches, and ensure best-in-class marketing plans are being executed across multiple stakeholders.

To thrive in the Manager, Merchant Business Development position at Visa, candidates typically need a robust background in marketing and business development, along with strong analytical skills. A bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field is often required, and extensive experience in client-facing roles, especially within financial services, is highly beneficial. Proven project management skills and a track record of collaboration across cross-functional teams are essential as well.

The Manager, Merchant Business Development collaborates closely with various teams at Visa, including Sales, Product, Legal, and Analytics. This collaboration is integral to developing and implementing marketing initiatives that cater to client needs and business goals. You'll work cross-functionally to manage marketing projects, ensuring alignment on strategies and resources, as well as delivering marketing evaluations and insights that fuel client business growth.

The Manager, Merchant Business Development will oversee a range of marketing projects at Visa, including lifecycle marketing engagements, sponsorships, and digital marketing initiatives. You’ll be tasked with leading the execution of promotional campaigns, product launches, and significant events, such as the NFL or Olympics promotions. Your role will consist of managing timelines, stakeholder priorities, and budgets to ensure the successful delivery of these marketing strategies.

The Manager, Merchant Business Development position at Visa is a hybrid role, meaning it combines both in-office and remote work. The specific expectation for in-office days will be determined by your hiring manager, allowing for flexibility while ensuring effective collaboration with team members and stakeholders.

In preparing your answer, focus on specific instances where you've developed marketing strategies in previous roles. Highlight your ability to analyze market data, define target audiences, and craft campaigns that address client needs, similar to what you'd do at Visa. Discuss results and metrics to showcase your impact.

Discuss the importance of open communication and established processes with cross-functional teams. Provide examples of how you’ve previously navigated team dynamics, coordinated efforts on marketing projects, and aligned strategies to achieve common goals effectively.

Prepare by researching Visa's marketing technologies and platforms. Explain how these tools can help analyze customer insights and drive marketing strategies. Discuss any experience you have with similar technologies and how you would utilize them to benefit Visa's business development efforts.

Select a specific challenge you faced in your career, explaining the issue, your thought process, and the steps you took to solve it. Highlight your analytical skills and creativity in finding a solution that positively impacted your project or organization.

Detail your conflict resolution skills. Describe your strategy for facilitating discussions, considering stakeholders’ perspectives, and leveraging data to guide decision-making. Emphasize your focus on collaboration and finding common ground.

Discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to Visa's business, such as ROI, customer engagement rates, or conversion rates. Explain how you would track these metrics and use insights to optimize future campaigns.

Explain your project management strategy, emphasizing tools or methods you use to maintain organization, such as Gantt charts or project management software. Discuss how you adjust priorities based on urgency and impact on business goals.

Share insights on current industry trends, such as evolving consumer behavior, the role of technology in marketing, or competition. Discuss how understanding these challenges can shape Visa's marketing strategies to achieve greater success.

Emphasize the critical role of data analysis in crafting effective marketing strategies. Provide examples of how you have successfully used data insights to guide decisions and improve campaign performance in previous roles.

Craft your answer to reflect your interest in Visa's mission and values. Discuss how your skills and experiences align with the company's goals, and express your enthusiasm for contributing to the growth of its merchant and cobrand relationships.