Strategic Partnership Manager - Card Networks

It all started with an idea at Block in 2013. Initially built to take the pain out of peer-to-peer payments, Cash App has gone from a simple product with a single purpose to a dynamic ecosystem, developing unique financial products, including Afterpay/Clearpay, to provide a better way to send, spend, invest, borrow and save to our 50+ million monthly active customers. We want to redefine the world's relationship with money to make it more relatable, instantly available, and universally accessible.
Today, Cash App has thousands of employees working globally across office and remote locations, with a culture geared toward innovation, collaboration and impact. We've been a distributed team since day one, and many of our roles can be done remotely from the countries where Cash App operates. No matter the location, we tailor our experience to ensure our employees are creative, productive, and happy.
The Role
The Strategic Partnership Team sits within Block's Financial Operations organization and plays a critical role in enabling Block's multi ecosystem strategy. We manage and grow relationships with major card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) Fraud, risk, identity, technology partners, and financial data partners. These partnerships are foundational to powering Square, Cash App, and Afterpay, enabling innovative product experiences, advancing financial inclusion, and unlocking new opportunities for our customers.
We work cross functionally across Block by partnering with Product, Engineering, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to drive alignment with network partners and deliver on initiatives that shape the future of commerce and financial services.
This is a high impact, senior individual contributor role. You will shape and execute Block's network strategy, manage critical relationships, and deliver high priority initiatives. You will influence product direction, negotiate transformative deals, and ensure Block's long term competitiveness in the rapidly evolving payments ecosystem.
You Will

• Manage and expand one of Block's most critical U.S. card network partnerships, driving joint initiatives and launching offerings that enhance value for Block's ecosystems including Square, Cash App, and Afterpay
• Develop long term strategic plans with networks to support Block's product roadmaps across acquiring, issuing, surcharging, debit routing, and new network enabled innovations
• Negotiate and execute complex commercial agreements that enable new capabilities, expand card acceptance and card issuance, and reduce cost to serve while aligning with Block's mission
• Build business cases and drive internal alignment across Block stakeholders including Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, Treasury, and Finance on network strategies and deal execution
• Influence and align network executives by clearly articulating Block's differentiated value proposition and building trusted, long term relationships
• Track, manage and report on strategic plans, key negotiations, and overall partner health with a multi year perspective
• Navigate competing priorities across networks, regulators, and internal teams, driving creative solutions that unlock growth and innovation
• Ensure operational excellence in day to day partner management, including adherence to risk, compliance, and regulatory obligations
• Represent Block at industry forums and partner events, strengthening Block's role as a leader and innovator in the payments ecosystem
• This position requires approximately 25% travel, primarily for: • Client meetings • Conference attendance • Site visits

You Have

• 10+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, corporate development, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in payments, card networks, or financial services
• Deep understanding of card network economics, business models, and the acquiring and issuing landscape
• Proven track record structuring and executing industry shaping partnerships and commercial deals
• Experience negotiating agreements to support product innovation, expand card acceptance and card issuance, and enable new payment flows
• Demonstrated success working in product driven organizations with high cross functional dependency
• Strong executive presence with exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of influencing C level stakeholders internally and externally
• Experience leading large, complex, cross functional initiatives with high business impact

We're working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, and always assess candidates on an individualized basis.
We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we're doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page .
Block will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.
Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S. locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource . If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
Zone A:
$239,600 - $359,400 USD
Zone B:
$239,600 - $359,400 USD
Zone C:
$239,600 - $359,400 USD
Zone D:
$239,600 - $359,400 USD
Use of AI in Our Hiring Process
We may use automated AI tools to evaluate job applications for efficiency and consistency. These tools comply with local regulations, including bias audits, and we handle all personal data in accordance with state and local privacy laws.
Contact us at [email protected] with hiring practice or data usage questions.
Every benefit we offer is designed with one goal: empowering you to do the best work of your career while building the life you want. Remote work, medical insurance, flexible time off, retirement savings plans, and modern family planning are just some of our offering. Check out our other benefits at Block.
Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. TIDAL is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we're helping build a financial system that is open to everyone.