Job Objectives
As the Head, Merchant Services, you will lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with technology, product, and compliance units to ensure seamless and value-driven merchant experience while advancing the company's market positioning as a leading fintech provider of payment and commerce solutions.
The ideal candidate will be responsible for driving the vision, strategy, operations, and growth of our merchant acquiring and servicing business.
This includes expanding merchant acquisition, enhancing onboarding and retention processes, and optimizing product offerings across retail, SME, and enterprise segments.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Planning:
Define and execute the department's short and long-term strategies to drive merchant acquisition, activation, and revenue growth.
Develop strategic partnerships with key players in retail, hospitality, e-commerce, logistics, and other high-volume transaction sectors.
Expand the merchant base through direct sales, channel partnerships, aggregators, and digital acquisition tools.
Business Development & Client Engagement: Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality service and support to existing merchants.
Operations & Performance Management: Collaborate with product and engineering teams to tailor payment solutions (POS, online payments, QR, SoftPOS, etc.) that meet diverse merchant needs.
Team Leadership & Development: Build and lead a high-performing Merchant Services team, including sales, account management, support, and field operations.
Set performance targets and KPIs, manage departmental budgets, and provide coaching for team development. Staff Attraction, Motivation, and Retention:
Fill vacant roles within the department in a timely manner and provide opportunities for growth and development.
Provide training, mentorship, and upskilling programs.
Recognize and reward individual and team achievements and contributions.
Encourage open communication and feedback.
Give employees autonomy and ownership of their work to motivate them.
Foster a positive work culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
Regularly engage direct reports to understand their needs and concerns.
Foster a diverse and inclusive work environment that values different perspectives and backgrounds.
Job Requirements
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree is a plus).
Experience: Minimum 9 years of relevant experience in fintech, banking, or payments, with at least 3 years in a senior or departmental leadership role. Post NYSC experience.
Knowledge / Experience:
Demonstrated success in merchant acquisition, channel development, or payment processing strategy.
Strong understanding of POS, online payments, settlement processes, and merchant APIs.
Proven ability to drive commercial performance and manage complex stakeholder relationships.
Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce), and reporting/analytics tools.
Prior work experience with a PSP, acquiring bank, aggregator, or digital payments platform.
Familiarity with the Nigerian merchant ecosystem (SMEs, retail, e-commerce).
Experience with emerging payment technologies such as SoftPOS, QR payments, tap-to-pay, etc.