Sr. Strategic Partnership Manager - Networks

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle®, Paze®, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Early Warning follows a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

About the Team

Paze’s Issuer, Network and Digital Partnerships team develops and manages relationships with issuers, payment networks, and big tech/agentic partners, with a remit spanning partner strategy, business development, and sales. Positioned at the intersection of Paze and the broader payments ecosystem, the team activates these relationships to bring Paze’s value proposition to life, translating partner capabilities, priorities, and market developments into opportunities for the business. The team sits within EWS Partnerships and works across the organization and alongside senior leadership to optimize Paze performance and drive adoption, transaction growth, and loyalty – while helping shape what Paze builds, how it scales, and where it invests next.

Overall Purpose

The Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager – Networks manages strategic relationships with payment network partners to support Paze product performance, adoption, and transaction growth. This role develops and executes strategic account plans, maintains relationships with key partner executives and decision-makers, and works closely with Paze Product, Operations, Marketing, and other cross-functional teams to advance shared priorities and deliver partner commitments.

The role maintains deep knowledge of assigned payment network partners, including their organizational structures, strategic priorities, products and capabilities, performance, and relevant market developments. The Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager translates partner capabilities and insights into actionable opportunities for Paze, coordinates internal and external stakeholders to move those opportunities forward, and provides payment network and market perspectives that support business and product decisions. The role is accountable for the health and performance of assigned relationships and for driving execution against established partner and Paze objectives.

Essential Functions

• Develops and maintains trusted relationships with executives, decision-makers, and key stakeholders across assigned payment network partners.
• Manages the health, performance, and growth of assigned payment network relationships.
• Maintains deep knowledge of each partner’s organizational structure, decision-making processes, performance, strategic initiatives, products and services, and broader relationship with the company.
• Develops and manages strategic account plans with clear annual, quarterly, and near-term priorities in coordination with Paze cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Gains alignment on shared priorities and coordinates payment network partners and internal stakeholders to execute commitments, manage dependencies, resolve issues, and deliver results.
• Establishes and monitors applicable partner performance measures and scorecards, evaluates program and account trends, and provides actionable analysis and recommendations to management.
• Identifies partner capabilities, initiatives, and market developments that may improve Paze customer experiences, product performance, adoption, or transaction growth and works with appropriate internal teams to evaluate and advance opportunities.
• Brings relevant payment network, competitive, and market perspectives into Paze by sharing partner insights and emerging industry developments with Product and other cross-functional stakeholders.
• Supports Paze-initiated and partner-generated business development and innovation opportunities, coordinating with Product and other stakeholders to assess business value, requirements, dependencies, and execution plans.
• Supports financial analysis, forecasting, and related analytics for assigned payment network partnerships.
• Monitors competitive activity and changing priorities within assigned accounts and develops recommendations to strengthen engagement and advance Paze priorities.
• Prepares for and facilitates strategic partner meetings and business reviews, ensuring clear objectives, decisions, ownership, next steps, and follow-through.
• Provides subject-matter expertise, guidance, and mentoring to team members and contributes to a collaborative and accountable team environment.
• Develops and fosters positive and collaborative internal working relationships with Product, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Risk, and other key stakeholders.
• Supports the company’s commitment to effective risk management and protects the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and experience typically obtained through completion of a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field.
• Typically, 12 years of experience or demonstrated portfolio consistent with experience required of the role, including progressive experience in partner management, business development, relationship management, sales, consulting, or related disciplines.
• Experience working with financial services or payments products and managing complex strategic partner or customer relationships involving multiple stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and foster effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience developing and executing strategic account or partner plans and coordinating multiple stakeholders against shared objectives and commitments.
• Proven consultative, conceptual, and strategic relationship-management skills with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders and advance decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and advance opportunities that support partner and business objectives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate opportunities from quantitative and qualitative perspectives, monitor performance, identify trends, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience coordinating and facilitating partner meetings, business reviews, presentations, and executive-level communications.
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic environment, manage competing priorities, and deliver results with appropriate attention to risks, dependencies, and commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance, coaching, or mentorship to team members.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.
• Background check and drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at or directly with a payment network(s), card-issuing financial institution, or established payments-centric fintech.
• Experience managing strategic relationships with major payment networks.
• Experience with digital payments, including digital wallets, tokenization, eCommerce payments, NFC payments, or related payment technologies.
• Knowledge of emerging developments in payments and commerce, including agentic commerce.
• Product development or product partnership experience involving consumer financial products.
• Experience managing strategic relationships with major payment networks.
• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.

Physical Requirements

Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers. Employee must be able

The base pay scale for this position in:
New York, NY/ San Francisco, CA in USD per year is: $154,000 - $193,000.

Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits.This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate’s education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes.

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness 

• Healthcare Coverage – Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.

• Paid Time Off – Flexible Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.

• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave

• Maven Family Planning – provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.

And SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process!

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.