Card Scheme Manager (Issuing) - Relocation to Cyprus (Hiring Immediately)

payabl. empowers businesses to grow through payments innovation and banking services. Our ambition is to expand our strong portfolio of global financial services we provide to businesses and make them all available in one place on our platform we call payabl.one. As a licensed financial company with principal membership with card schemes, we specialize in global payments and providing businesses with multi-currency accounts.

As a Card Scheme Manager (Issuing) , you will play a critical role in building and managing our card issuing capabilities from the ground up. You will be responsible for card scheme relationships, scheme compliance, and the successful delivery of card issuing projects across multiple stakeholders, including schemes, processors, and technology partners.

This is a highly autonomous, project-driven role suited for a hands-on professional with strong issuing expertise, technical fluency, and a deep understanding of the card payments ecosystem. You will work closely with Product, Technology, Operations, Risk, and external partners to ensure scalable, compliant, and high-quality card issuing solutions.

Responsibilities:

Card Scheme Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with card schemes (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) and ensure full compliance with scheme rules and requirements.
• Monitor scheme mandates, rule changes, and new initiatives, coordinating internal implementation across relevant teams.
• Lead scheme certifications, audits, reporting obligations, and ongoing compliance activities.
• Manage BIN sponsorship activities, including applications, certifications, implementation, and lifecycle maintenance.
• Act as a primary point of contact for scheme-related queries, escalations, and initiatives.

Vendor & Partner Coordination

• Serve as the main liaison with card processors, technology vendors, and personalization partners.
• Coordinate external partners during new programme launches, system upgrades, and maintenance activities.
• Monitor vendor performance, SLAs, and service quality, managing escalations where required.
• Support commercial discussions, contract reviews, and vendor evaluations.

Project & Implementation Delivery

• Lead card issuing and scheme-related projects from initiation through delivery in a project-based environment.
• Coordinate new card product launches, BIN implementations, and enhancements across internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with Product, Technology, and Engineering teams on technical integrations and system changes.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in line with operational and compliance standards.

Operational Oversight

• Act as a super user for card processing platforms and card management system (CMS) interfaces.
• Support system configuration, product setup, parameter management, and troubleshooting.
• Oversee the card issuing lifecycle, including setup, optimization, and operational controls.
• Support risk assessments, fraud controls, velocity limits, and compliance initiatives in collaboration with Risk and Compliance teams.
• Maintain accurate documentation, procedures, and operational guidelines.

What we need:
Experience & Background

• 4–6+ years of experience in the card payments industry, with hands-on card issuing experience .
• Proven experience working directly with card schemes and scheme compliance requirements.
• Background in a bank, EMI, fintech, or card processing/vendor environment.
• Demonstrated experience delivering card issuing or payments-related projects end to end.

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the full card issuing lifecycle, from BIN setup to cardholder delivery.
• Hands-on experience with card management systems and administrative UIs.
• Understanding of authorization, clearing, settlement, and reconciliation processes.
• Familiarity with PCI DSS, AML, and regulatory requirements relevant to card issuing.
• Exposure to fraud management, dispute handling, and risk controls.
• Comfort working with API documentation and technical concepts (implementation not required).

Skills & Personal Attributes

• Strong ownership mindset and ability to work independently in a project-based role.
• Excellent attention to detail and operational accuracy.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Com]]>