Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships

Job Overview

We’re looking for a senior individual‑contributor program manager to help scale Block’s Issuing programs through best‑in‑class partner management. The role sits within the Issuing team and reports to an Issuing leader. You will operate independently as the DRI for a portfolio of our issuer and processor relationships (bank partners, BIN sponsors, and card processors), set program direction, own outcomes from partner onboarding through launch and into steady‑state operations, and partner closely with Product, Engineering, Compliance, Legal, and Operations to deliver compliant, performant, and scalable card experiences for Block’s customers. This is a high‑autonomy role: you’ll be expected to navigate ambiguity, make consequential decisions with limited oversight, and engage executive counterparts at our partners and internally.

Responsibilities

• Own a portfolio of issuer and processor relationships end‑to‑end: program governance cadences, escalations, contract negotiations and amendments, change requests, and quarterly business reviews; act as the primary point of contact with partner executives.
• Drive partner onboarding and product launches: coordinate diligence, technical integration, BIN setup, network and bank approvals, pilot scope, and GA launch readiness across all stakeholders.
• Be the connective tissue across Product, Engineering, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations, and Finance: translate partner requirements (network rules, bank policies, local regulatory obligations) into actionable internal plans and accelerate decisions.
• Set and drive program execution against the Issuing roadmap: define milestones, surface and resolve risks early, make calls on tradeoffs, and keep partners and internal stakeholders aligned on timelines and dependencies without needing day‑to‑day direction.
• Build durable partner operating mechanisms: SLAs, oversight reporting, incident and SEV handling protocols, MSA‑driven obligations, and audit‑ready documentation that meet partner, network, and internal policy standards.
• Be a go‑to expert on the issuing ecosystem at Block: stay current on regulatory developments, network mandates, and partner ecosystem changes; shape program strategy and advise senior leadership on partner selection, sequencing, and tradeoffs.
• Communicate with clarity and apply AI for leverage: deliver concise, action‑oriented updates to executive stakeholders; escape risks early with data‑backed options; and use AI/LLM‑powered tooling for partner reporting, diligence workflows, and document review to reduce cycle time.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of program or product operations management in fintech, issuing, banking, or payments, with direct experience independently owning bank partner and/or card processor relationships at a senior level.
• Working knowledge of card issuing economics, BIN sponsorship models, network rules (Visa/Mastercard), and the regulatory landscape for consumer card products.
• Demonstrated track record of independently leading complex cross‑functional programs through significant ambiguity: from partner onboarding through launch, with full ownership of strategy, timelines, scope, and risk.
• Experience independently designing and standing up scalable program operating mechanisms (governance forums, SLAs, oversight reporting, incident response, playbooks) in a regulated environment.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills; adept at influencing without authority across executive partner counterparts and internal product/engineering/compliance teams.
• Track record of building partn