Global Payment Network SME

Infinitive•McLean, VA

10h

About The Position

Infinitive is a data and AI consultancy that enables its clients to modernize, monetize and operationalize their data to create lasting and substantial value. We possess deep industry and technology expertise to drive and sustain adoption of new capabilities. We match our people and personalities to our clients' culture while bringing the right mix of talent and skills to enable high return on investment. Infinitive has been named “Best Small Firms to Work For” by Consulting Magazine 8 times, most recently in 2025. Infinitive has also been named a Washington Post “Top Workplace”, Washington Business Journal “Best Places to Work”, and Virginia Business “Best Places to Work.” We are seeking a high-caliber Global Payment Network SME to lead the strategic design and implementation of a Risk Office. This is a "build" role for a visionary leader who understands the intricate plumbing of international payment rails—specifically Visa, Mastercard, and American Express—and possesses the tactical grit to stand up a robust risk management framework from the ground up. You won't just be managing risk; you’ll be architecting the engine that allows our global expansion to remain both compliant and resilient across the world's major card schemes.

Requirements

10+ years in global payments, with at least 5 years focused on Visa, Mastercard, and/or AMEX network operations.
Proven Track Record: You have successfully "stood up" a Risk Office, Center of Excellence, or similar governance body in a fintech, merchant acquiring, or Tier-1 banking environment.
Scheme Navigation: Deep experience navigating the Visa Core Rules, Mastercard Consolidated Rules, and AMEX Merchant Operating Guides.
Mastery of Chargeback/Dispute Management lifecycles and mitigation strategies.
Expertise in Three Lines of Defense (3LoD) risk models within a card-payment context.
Ability to translate complex network mandates into actionable technical product requirements.

Nice To Haves

Certifications such as CRMP, CAMS, or specific network certifications.
Experience with ISO 20022 and the convergence of card schemes with real-time payment (RTP) rails.
Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

Payment Network Architecture & Strategy Scheme Mastery: Serve as the primary authority on Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), and American Express (AMEX) operating regulations and technical specifications.
Network Optimization: Optimize interchange, scheme fees, and processing routes while ensuring 100% adherence to global network mandates.
Technical Integration: Advise on the implementation of 3D Secure (3DS), tokenization (VTS/MDES), and dispute management workflows (Visa Claims Resolution/Mastercard Collaboration).
Establish the Framework: Define the Risk Office’s charter, governance structure, and reporting lines to ensure independent oversight of the payments ecosystem.
Policy Development: Author and implement comprehensive risk policies covering Operational, Credit, Fraud, and Counterparty Risk specific to high-volume card-not-present (CNP) and card-present environments.
Monitoring & Tooling: Identify and deploy real-time fraud monitoring and automated risk-scoring engines tailored to scheme-specific data elements.
PCI-DSS Oversight: Lead the Risk Office in ensuring all network integrations meet the highest security standards.
Regulatory Liaison: Manage relationships with network auditors and regulatory bodies to ensure the network remains in good standing across all jurisdictions.

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