Director, Merchant Strategy & Ecosystem Enablement

The Director, Merchant Strategy & Ecosystem Enablement will be responsible for designing, scaling, and optimizing the merchant ecosystem to drive adoption of digital payments, enhance merchant experience, and create long-term value for both merchants and the organization. This leadership role requires a strategic thinker with deep expertise in merchant acquiring, payments, fintech, and ecosystem building. The ideal candidate will oversee merchant lifecycle management—from onboarding and engagement to retention and monetization—while enabling new products, partnerships, and value-added services that strengthen the ecosystem. This role will also be responsible for building strategic partnerships with large and enterprise merchants, optimizing payment solutions, and enabling digital adoption across sectors. The Director will collaborate cross-functionally to design scalable merchant propositions, enhance transaction volumes, and strengthen Easypaisa’s position as the preferred digital banking partner for businesses nationwide.Duties and Responsibilities:1. Strategic LeadershipDevelop and execute the overall merchant ecosystem strategy aligned with the bank’s digital growth objectives.Identify and drive new business opportunities within key merchant segments (retail, e-commerce, utilities, etc.).Develop a merchant lifecycle framework covering acquisition, onboarding, engagement, loyalty, and retentionFormulate strategies to enhance merchant acquisition, activation, and retention.2. Ecosystem DevelopmentBuild and expand partnerships with large enterprises, and SME merchants.Foster collaboration with payment networks, FinTech’s, and service providers to strengthen the ecosystem.Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Sales, Operations, Risk, Marketing, Data) to ensure seamless enablement of merchants across segments.Design and implement merchant enablement programs to increase digital payment adoption.3. Product & Solution EnablementWork with product and technology teams to design innovative merchant solutions (POS, QR, API integrations, invoicing, etc.).Ensure seamless onboarding and integration of merchants onto Easypaisa’s digital platforms.Champion value-added services such as loyalty & rewards, BNPL, salary disbursements, vendor payments, and working capital solutions.Build strategic partnerships with banks, fintechs, ISVs, ERP providers, and marketplaces to expand merchant enablementIdentify and incubate new revenue streams through data monetization, embedded finance, and adjacent services.4. Financial & Operational ManagementDrive merchant transaction growth, revenue generation, and cost optimization.Develop and monitor KPIs to assess ecosystem performance and merchant satisfaction.Continuously optimize merchant experience through feedback loops, analytics, and automationManage budgets, forecasts, and business cases for merchant initiatives.5. Stakeholder Engagement & RepresentationCollaborate with regulatory and compliance teams to ensure adherence to financial and data protection standards.Communicate insights and recommendations to senior leadership to inform business decisions.6. Team Leadership & DevelopmentServe as a merchant advocate within the organization, ensuring merchant needs inform product roadmaps and policies.Build and lead a high-performing team focused on merchant strategy and ecosystem growth.Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and customer-centric thinking within the team.Direct Reports: 2-3Role RelationshipInternalProduct & Technology TeamsOperations & Customer SupportFinance & Risk TeamsMarketing & CommunicationsCompliance & LegalSenior Leadership / BoardData & Analytics TeamExternalMerchants & Enterprise PartnersPayment Networks / Card SchemesFintech & Technology PartnersRegulatory AuthoritiesBanks & Financial InstitutionsIndustry Associations & ForumsKnowledge and ExperienceEducation: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, Economics, Data Science, Business Analytics, or related fieldExperience: Minimum 6-8 years Behavioral Skills & Competencies:Strategic Thinking – Ability to see the big picture and plan long-term merchant ecosystem growth.Relationship Management – Building and maintaining strong internal and external partnerships.Negotiation & Influence – Persuasive in securing partnerships and aligning stakeholders.Leadership & Team Management – Inspiring, mentoring, and guiding cross-functional teams.Problem Solving & Decision Making – Analytical approach to address challenges and drive results.Customer-Centric Mindset – Understanding merchant needs and designing impactful solutions.Communication Skills – Clear, concise, and compelling verbal and written communication.Adaptability & Resilience – Thriving in a fast-paced, evolving digital banking environment.Innovation & Creativity – Driving new ideas for products, processes, and merchant engagement.Results Orientation – Focused on measurable outcomes, KPIs, and business impact.