This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Payment Risk Operations based in the United States.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced payments and risk professional to build and scale a critical function within a fast-growing technology environment.
The role combines strategic ownership with hands-on execution, giving you responsibility for shaping risk frameworks, operational processes, and scalable systems.
You will lead payment risk strategy across underwriting, fraud prevention, compliance, and transaction monitoring while supporting sustainable business growth.
Working closely with executive leadership, you will influence key decisions and serve as a trusted advisor on risk, payments, and operational excellence.
This position offers the opportunity to build a high-performing team, improve infrastructure, and create solutions that support a rapidly expanding payments platform.
The ideal candidate is a strategic builder who thrives in dynamic environments and enjoys turning complex risk challenges into business opportunities.
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Payment Risk Operations based in the United States.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced payments and risk professional to build and scale a critical function within a fast-growing technology environment.
The role combines strategic ownership with hands-on execution, giving you responsibility for shaping risk frameworks, operational processes, and scalable systems.
You will lead payment risk strategy across underwriting, fraud prevention, compliance, and transaction monitoring while supporting sustainable business growth.
Working closely with executive leadership, you will influence key decisions and serve as a trusted advisor on risk, payments, and operational excellence.
This position offers the opportunity to build a high-performing team, improve infrastructure, and create solutions that support a rapidly expanding payments platform.
The ideal candidate is a strategic builder who thrives in dynamic environments and enjoys turning complex risk challenges into business opportunities.
Accountabilities:
- Define and own the payment risk strategy, risk appetite, and policy framework in partnership with executive leadership.
- Lead the full payment risk function, including underwriting, transaction monitoring, fraud management, dispute management, and compliance operations.
- Oversee merchant onboarding processes, credit risk decisioning, KYC/KYB standards, and risk thresholds throughout the merchant lifecycle.
- Develop and enhance fraud prevention strategies, monitoring tools, escalation processes, and operational controls.
- Manage compliance with card network requirements, sponsor bank expectations, payment regulations, and industry standards.
- Build scalable systems, automation, reporting frameworks, and operational playbooks to support significant payment volume growth.
- Serve as a strategic risk advisor to executive leaders, financial partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Lead, mentor, and expand a growing risk operations team while establishing an effective organizational structure.
- Partner cross-functionally with product, sales, customer success, partnerships, and finance teams to enable responsible business growth.
- Use data and analytics to identify trends, measure performance, and continuously improve risk management practices.
- 8+ years of experience in payments, risk management, financial services operations, or related fields.
- 3+ years of experience leading payment risk, fraud, underwriting, or operations teams or functions.
- Proven experience owning a risk function or major risk domain, including strategy, policies, and operational frameworks.
- Hands-on expertise in underwriting, credit risk, fraud prevention, and transaction monitoring.
- Experience with embedded payments, PayFac models, payment platforms, or similar environments preferred.
- Strong understanding of card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, NACHA standards, and payment processing systems.
- Experience scaling processes, systems, and teams within a high-growth environment.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, reporting tools, and data-driven decision-making.
- Experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce or similar tools is a plus.
- Executive-level communication skills with the ability to present effectively to leadership teams, partners, and technical audiences.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Builder mindset with the ability to create structure, improve processes, and operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
- Competitive compensation package.
- Fully remote work environment within the United States.
- Opportunity to own and shape a strategic business function with high executive visibility.
- Direct partnership with senior leadership on critical risk and growth decisions.
- Ability to build and scale a team within a rapidly growing technology organization.
- Opportunity to design systems, processes, and frameworks that support long-term business expansion.
- Collaborative culture focused on transparency, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Inclusive workplace environment that values diverse perspectives and contributions.
The Director, Payment Risk Operations will own the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of payment risk operations. This role requires balancing strong risk management practices with business growth objectives while building scalable processes, systems, and teams.
Requirements:
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in payments risk management combined with experience operating in technology or SaaS environments. They should be comfortable building functions from the ground up, influencing executives, and creating scalable solutions in fast-changing markets.