Role Overview for Head of Payments Product | Digital Banking Platform | Atlanta, GA
As the Head of Payments Product, you will be the single-threaded owner for the entire payments product portfolio. You will be responsible for crafting the vision, strategy, and execution roadmap for all money movement services, including but not limited to ACH, wire transfers, card issuing and processing, peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, and emerging real-time payment rails. This is a highly cross-functional leadership role that requires a deep understanding of the payments landscape, exceptional strategic thinking, and the ability to lead a team to deliver innovative and reliable payment solutions.
You will serve as the primary product evangelist for payments, both internally and externally. Your mandate will be to build a best-in-class payment platform that not only meets the current needs of customers but also anticipates future trends and opportunities. You will be responsible for the P&L of the payments product line, driving revenue growth, and managing costs. This role reports directly to the Chief Product Officer and will be a key member of the product leadership team, influencing the overall direction of the company. You will lead and mentor a talented team of product managers, fostering a culture of excellence, data-driven decision-making, and relentless customer focus.
Key Responsibilities of Head of Payments Product | Digital Banking Platform | Atlanta, GA
Product Vision and Strategy
Develop, articulate, and champion a compelling long-term product vision and strategy for the company’s entire payments ecosystem. Translate this strategy into a prioritized, multi-year roadmap that aligns with overarching business objectives and delivers measurable value to customers and the business.
Roadmap Execution and Delivery
Take full ownership of the product development lifecycle from ideation through launch and iteration. Define detailed product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. Work closely with engineering, design, and program management teams to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of features and enhancements.
Team Leadership and Development
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of payments product managers. Provide coaching and guidance, set clear goals and expectations, and foster a collaborative and innovative team culture. Attract and retain top product talent.
Market Intelligence and Customer Insights
Act as the foremost expert on the payments industry. Conduct continuous market research, competitive analysis, and customer discovery to identify user pain points, unmet needs, and emerging trends. Use these insights to inform the product roadmap and create a competitive advantage.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as the central point of contact for all payments-related initiatives. Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders across Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure seamless product launches and successful go-to-market execution.
Performance Measurement and KPIs
Define, monitor, and analyze key product metrics and KPIs to measure the success of payment products. Use data to make informed decisions, optimize product performance, and report on progress to the executive team. Own the financial performance and P&L for the payments product line.
Compliance and Risk Management
Navigate the complex regulatory landscape of the payments industry. Ensure all payment products are compliant with relevant regulations and standards (e.g., Nacha rules, Reg E, PCI-DSS). Work closely with legal and compliance teams to manage risk and maintain a secure payment environment. Stay current on new technologies like real-time payments (RTP) and their regulatory implications.
Partner and Vendor Management
Identify, evaluate, and manage strategic relationships with third-party payment processors, bank partners, card networks, and other technology vendors. Negotiate contracts and ensure partners are meeting service level agreements (SLAs) and performance expectations.
Requirements for the Head of Payments Product | Digital Banking Platform | Atlanta, GA
Extensive Product Leadership Experience
A minimum of 12-15 years of experience in product management, with at least 8 years in a leadership capacity specifically focused on payments, fintech, or digital banking. A proven track record of shipping successful, large-scale payment products.
Deep Payments Domain Expertise
A comprehensive understanding of the entire payments ecosystem. You must be an expert in various payment rails, including ACH (Same Day, Next Day), wire transfers, card networks (Visa/Mastercard), debit card issuing/processing, digital wallets, and emerging systems like the RTP® network and FedNow.
Proven Team Builder
At least 5 years of direct people management experience, with demonstrated success in hiring, mentoring, and leading high-performing product management teams. You inspire your team to do their best work and create a positive, growth-oriented environment.
Strategic and Analytical Mindset
The ability to think strategically and develop a long-term vision while also being able to dive into the details and execute flawlessly. You are highly analytical and data-driven, using both quantitative and qualitative data to guide your product decisions and measure success.
Technical Proficiency
A strong technical background is essential. You should be comfortable discussing system architecture, API design, and technical trade-offs with senior engineers. Experience working in an agile development environment is required.
Exceptional Communication Skills
Superior verbal, written, and presentation skills. You can effectively communicate complex ideas, product vision, and strategic rationale to a wide range of audiences, from engineers to the board of directors.
Business Acumen
Strong understanding of the business side of payments, including pricing, revenue models, and P&L management. You can build a compelling business case for new initiatives and are focused on driving business outcomes.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is strongly preferred.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client believes in investing in their people and offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the well-being and growth of their employees. As a key member of the leadership team, you can expect:
Competitive Compensation
A highly attractive salary, a significant annual performance-based bonus, and a meaningful equity package in a high-growth company.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents, with a significant portion of the premiums covered by the company.
Retirement Planning
A 401(k) plan with a generous company matching contribution to help you save for your future.
Flexible Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, plus company-paid holidays, to encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Family Support
Comprehensive paid parental leave for all new parents, as well as other benefits to support your family.
Professional Growth
A substantial annual budget for professional development, including conferences, courses, certifications, and workshops to help you stay at the cutting edge of your field.
Work Environment
A modern, collaborative office space in the heart of Atlanta’s tech scene, complete with catered lunches, snacks, and regular team-building events.
Relocation Support
A comprehensive relocation package is available for exceptional candidates who are not currently based in the Atlanta area.
How to Apply
This is a confidential search managed exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a visionary product leader with a deep passion for building the future of digital payments and meet the qualifications outlined above, we strongly encourage you to apply. We are looking for a leader who can make a transformative impact on our client’s business and the industry as a whole.
To be considered for this unique opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience in leading payments product teams and your strategic accomplishments. For more executive opportunities within the financial technology sector, we invite you to explore the roles managed by JRG Partners’ Fintech & Financial Services practice.
Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
