About the job

Term: 12 months
Location: Bahrain
Division: Retail Banking / Cards & Payments
Relevant experience: 10-15 years cards product / portfolio management, card product launches, process / policy revamp

Mandatory requirements

Experience of product launches, CVP development, SAMA regulations knowledge. Knowledge of cards (debit, credit, and prepaid), profitability, and key metrics.

Purpose of the project

The Cards Product Management Specialist is responsible for driving the strategic development, commercialization, and lifecycle management of card products. This includes overseeing product launches, optimizing portfolio performance, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The role is pivotal in enhancing customer engagement, profitability, and operational efficiency across the card business. The specialist will guide and support in executing strategies aimed at generating revenue through products in alignment with consumer banking strategy, with a focus on the whole bank value which is not limited to card launches and ongoing product management.

Key activities

Core responsibilities and accountabilities

• Lead the design and rollout of innovative card products tailored to market needs.
• Define product value propositions (CVPs) and pricing strategies.
• Create a Bin Sponsorship program and lead discussions for white label solutioning and processing capabilities discussions with new clients.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, operations, compliance) to ensure successful product launches.
• Guide and support in executing strategies aimed at generating revenue through products in alignment with consumer banking strategy.
• Support the commercialization of new products and launch of new products and solutions, by recommending pricing, providing sales tools, and training the sales team to ensure knowledge transfer resulting in successful sales in partnership with acquisitions.
• Support the client in profit and growth for cards, including revenue, credit costs, and direct/allocated costs.
• Manage product management for cards, audit, compliance matters, and complaints support.
• Provide guidance and support to client-facing professionals and sales teams to solve complex client needs through products.
• Support sales teams with training, tools, and product knowledge to drive acquisition and usage.
• Recommend promotional campaigns and tactical plans to boost card performance.
• Support monitoring of product performance post roll-out and help resolve product or sales issues to ensure continuous product improvement.
• Support in delivery of large programs for clients from initiation to benefit realization.
• Successful execution of projects across different clients / businesses, identifying and mitigating risks, solving issues, developing plans and ensuring they are implemented in line with agreed timescales, budgets, and quality criteria, including examples of re-aligning scope and objectives during a program to ensure maximum value extraction.
• Develop strong bonds with clients that endure beyond a particular assignment, serve as a go-to resource for client staff, and are sought out for knowledge of industry and firm.
• Identify new business opportunities to support clients with solutions.
• Manage integration with card processing systems, switches, and vendors.
• Provide technical support for card applications and resolve operational issues.
• Ensure seamless delivery of regulatory changes and compliance adherence.

KPIs

• Sales and acquisition growth.
• Spend, ENR, and revenue growth from card products.
• Number of successful card launches and time to market.
• Reduction in credit costs and profitability optimization.
• Successful execution of marketing campaigns.
• Customer satisfaction and superior customer experience.
• Timely and effective product roll-out and commercialization.

Knowledge and experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, or related field.
• Strong understanding of card payments, processing systems, and regulatory environments.
• 6 to 8 years of proven experience in product development, portfolio management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.