Engagement details:

• Job Title: Commercial Cards Product Manager
• Client: Global Cards & Payments Firm
• End-client: Global technology and telecommunications group
• Employment type: Initial 12-month contract with strong potential for extension
• Location: Onsite in Dubai,UAE
• Experience level: 8-10 years

Role Overview:

Our client, a global leader in the Cards & Payments industry, is engaged with a leading global technology and telecommunications group in Dubai and is seeking to onboard a Commercial Cards Product Manager. The candidate will support the Head of Cards to design, launch, and scale the SME prepaid proposition for micro and small business customers in the UAE.

The ideal candidate will manage the end‑to‑end product lifecycle from CVP definition and BIN set‑up through go‑live, commercialization, and ongoing portfolio optimization, working closely with internal teams and advisors.

Key Responsibilities:

End‑to‑End Product Ownership – SME Prepaid

• Own the end‑to‑end lifecycle of client’s SME prepaid card / wallet proposition – from CVP design, BIN set‑up, scheme onboarding, configuration and testing through launch, commercialization and post‑launch optimization.
• Translate the agreed CVP into clear business requirements, product features, pricing, and servicing models tailored to micro and small business needs.

Launch Execution & Scheme / Processor Coordination

• Coordinate across client’s technology, operations, risk, finance and marketing teams, as well as Scheme / Advisors, processors and any fintech partners, to ensure all launch dependencies (BINs, card profiles, limits, KYC/AML flows, settlement, fees) are delivered on time and to specification.
• Ensure alignment with scheme pricing, mandates and regulations, and support internal teams on any required certifications or compliance activities.

Customer Acquisition, Onboarding & Activation

• Design and implement SME acquisition strategies for the prepaid proposition across business banking channels (RMs, digital, partners) to drive quality sign‑ups in the micro and small segments.
• Build onboarding and first‑90‑days journeys that maximise activation, first load and early usage, reducing drop‑off and time‑to-first-transaction.

Portfolio & P&L Management

• Monitor portfolio performance across KPIs such as active rate, average load / spend, revenue per active, ENR, churn, and fraud, and recommend actions to improve profitability and sustainability.
• Work with finance and business teams to review P&L lines for the prepaid issuing business (interchange, fees, funding costs, scheme fees) and ensure financial feasibility of the proposition.

Feature Roadmap & CVP Optimization

• Continuously enhance the prepaid CVP (features, limits, rewards, digital capabilities) based on customer feedback, competitor benchmarking, and performance analytics.
• Identify opportunities for segment‑specific propositions (e.g., freelancers, micro retailers, small service businesses) and tailor product variants accordingly.

Stakeholder Management & Training

• Act as the primary product contact for Business Banking / SME, coordinating with RMs, sales, service and operations to ensure strong frontline understanding of the product and its value proposition.
• Design and deliver training sessions and toolkits for internal teams and key partners to support effective selling, onboarding and servicing.

Data, Reporting & Governance

• Develop monthly performance dashboards and insight packs for senior stakeholders at client and Scheme / Advisors, highlighting trends, issues and recommended actions.
• Support governance routines (steering committees, working groups) by tracking and reporting on key milestones, risks, and issue resolution.

Knowledge and Experience

• Full lifecycle experience of card / prepaid product management (ideation, design, launch, scaling, optimization).
• Hands-on exposure to SME or Business Banking propositions in the UAE/GCC.
• Understanding of card issuing, settlement, scheme pricing (interchange, fees) and operational processes.
• Experience in onboarding, activation and spend-stimulation strategies for card or prepaid portfolios.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills (Excel, dashboards; SQL or similar is a plus).
• Proven track record of working with technology, operations, risk, finance and marketing to deliver product changes.
• Experience with micro‑lending / micro‑business propositions or BNPL-style SME solutions.
• Familiarity with card platforms (e.g., TSYS Prime or similar) and digital onboarding tools.
• Exposure to scheme tools and mandates.

Mandatory Skills

• Product strategy & roadmap development for cards / prepaid.
• Campaign design and execution (digital, direct, partner-based) for SME acquisition and usage.
• Portfolio analytics – ability to interpret performance data and translate into actions.
• Pricing and rewards optimization within agreed P&L and risk constraints.
• Stakeholder and partner management, including schemes, processors and fintech partners.
• Project management and ability to drive cross‑functional delivery to deadlines.
• Excellent communication, presentation and training skills.