Strategic Partnerships Lead

For one of our client in the Fintech Space

We are currently seeking a high-performing Strategic Partnerships Lead to drive and expand cross-border merchant and channel ecosystem . This is a high-impact leadership opportunity with full autonomy to build, scale, and lead our strategic partnerships and international merchant ecosystem for cross-border payments.This role is critical to enabling international payment acceptance and FX settlements for Indian and global merchants. You will work closely with merchant aggregators, PSPs, e-commerce platforms, exporters, and technology partners to unlock new revenue streams and country corridors.

Key Job Responsibilities :

1. Strategic Partner Identification & Onboarding

Identify potential merchant partners (retailers, exporters, D2C brands, aggregators) and channel partners (payment gateways, PSPs, aggregators, banks) for cross-border sales enablement.

Prospect, evaluate, and onboard global and domestic merchants who need access to international customer bases and payment rails .

Work with industry verticals like travel, e-commerce, SaaS, gaming, and remittance platforms.

2. Cross-Border Sales Enablement

Facilitate merchants to accept international payments (via cards, wallets, UPI, etc.).

Help partners tap into new geographies by providing FX (foreign exchange) and settlement solutions.

Ensure integration of multi-currency, multi-country payment acceptance systems into partner platforms.

3. Business Ownership

Own the P&L and growth strategy for the cross-border merchant and channel vertical.

Define the country-wise and corridor-wise expansion roadmap across GCC, SEA, EU, and North America.

Lead commercial modeling and monetization strategies.

4. Team Leadership

Build and lead a team of partnership managers and onboarding specialists.

Define KPIs, mentor the team on sales cycles, compliance, partner management, and merchant GTM execution.

5. Compliance & Regulatory Alignment

Ensure all partnership activities are aligned with cross-border compliance , including RBI guidelines, FEMA, KYC, AML, etc.

Liaise with legal and compliance teams for drafting contracts and conducting due diligence.

Stay updated on international remittance laws and forex regulations .

6. Tech / Payment Integration Support

Work with product / tech teams to enable API integrations , SDKs, and platform compatibility.

Guide partners on payment gateway setups, FX settlement tools, invoice systems , etc.

Candidate Profile :

Must-Have Qualifications :

6–14 years of experience in fintech, cross-border payments, strategic alliances , or merchant acquisition .

Strong understanding of FX conversion , cross-border remittance , and payment gateway integration .

Proven track record of merchant / channel partnerships and GTM execution in fintech or global commerce.

Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice-to-Have :

Experience working with RBI-compliant systems , PSP licenses, or digital exporters.

Familiarity with UPI for cross-border , card schemes (Visa / Mastercard), and B2B invoicing platforms.

Global exposure or experience in enabling Indian merchants for UAE, SEA, US, or EU corridors .