Head of Cards Business

Department: Retail & Digital Banking

Location: Dar es Salaam, Ilala

Job Purpose

The Head of Cards Business is accountable for the overall commercial and operational performance of the Bank’s card portfolio. The role leads the end-to-end lifecycle of card issuing and acquiring services, drives merchant network expansion, manages relationships with global card schemes, and ensures strong fraud, risk, and compliance frameworks. Working closely with Retail Banking, Digital Products, and other internal teams, the role focuses on growing card revenue, increasing cardholder engagement, and expanding the Bank’s merchant footprint.

Key Responsibilities

Card Issuing & Acquiring

• Drive the strategic growth and profitability of the Bank’s card business across both issuing and acquiring portfolios.
• Manage the full lifecycle of card issuing products (debit and prepaid) and acquiring services (POS, E-commerce, and QR payments).
• Ensure all card products and services comply with regulatory requirements, Bank of Tanzania guidelines, and card scheme standards.
• Lead the design, development, and launch of new card products aligned with market trends and customer needs.
• Deliver seamless and superior experiences for both cardholders and merchants across all card channels.

Scheme Management & Partnerships

• Manage relationships with global card schemes including Visa and Mastercard to ensure compliance and maximize commercial opportunities.
• Negotiate scheme incentives, interchange economics, BIN sponsorships, and partnership agreements.
• Identify and develop co-brand and affinity card partnerships to expand the cardholder base and create new revenue streams.
• Monitor scheme rule changes, regulatory updates, and industry developments to maintain competitiveness and compliance.

Merchant Acquiring & Network Growth

• Develop and execute strategies to expand the Bank’s merchant acquiring network across POS, E-commerce, and QR payments.
• Identify and onboard high-value merchants across key industries.
• Leverage the merchant network to increase transaction volumes, card usage, and fee-based income.
• Strengthen merchant relationships through service excellence and data-driven engagement initiatives.

Performance, Analytics & P&L Management

• Own and manage the Cards business P&L, driving revenue growth, managing costs, and achieving profitability targets.
• Define and track key performance indicators including active cards, merchant growth, transaction volumes, approval rates, and fraud ratios.
• Utilize analytics and market insights to optimize product offerings, pricing strategies, and growth initiatives.
• Prepare and present performance reports and strategic recommendations to senior management.

Fraud & Risk Management

• Establish and oversee effective fraud prevention, monitoring, and response frameworks for card operations.
• Ensure compliance with PCI-DSS standards and Bank of Tanzania regulatory requirements.
• Monitor fraud trends and implement proactive measures to mitigate fraud risks.
• Ensure all card operations meet internal audit and compliance standards.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Cards team while fostering a culture of performance, accountability, and innovation.
• Collaborate with Retail, SME, and Branch teams to drive card adoption and cross-selling opportunities.
• Work closely with ICT and Operations teams to ensure system stability, integrations, and effective incident resolution.

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies

• Strong expertise in card product design, launch, and lifecycle management.
• Deep knowledge of card issuing and acquiring operations including debit, prepaid, POS, E-commerce, and QR payments.
• Strong understanding of global card scheme standards (Visa, Mastercard) and PCI-DSS compliance.
• Proven experience managing card business P&L, pricing strategies, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Expertise in fraud risk management and prevention frameworks.
• Experience in merchant acquiring strategy and network development.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and partnership development skills.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• MBA or master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in cards, payments, or financial services, with at least 5 years in a senior cards management or leadership role.
• Proven track record managing card issuing and/or acquiring portfolios with demonstrated P&L responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of card scheme rules, PCI-DSS compliance, and payment infrastructure.
• Experience negotiating with card schemes, processors, and technology vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to grow merchant acquiring networks and cardholder bases.