Description
The Business Strategy Manager will serve as a subject matter expert leading the architecture and advisory function for Global Payment Network rules, technical specifications, and network policies.
In this role, you will provide deep payment network expertise, conduct industry and competitive analysis, and offer effective challenge to ensure network governance remains current, consistent, and aligned with industry standards.
While you will partner closely with platform build and project management leads supporting the consolidation and re-architecture of Discover’s Operating Regulations, your primary focus is advising on payment network rules, navigating complex compliance requirements, and shaping strategic rule governance across major payment brands.
Core Responsibilities:
- Advisory & Effective Challenge: Provide independent review, competitive analysis, and effective challenge to proposed rule changes, product initiatives, and network strategies to ensure clarity, durability, and alignment with industry best practices.
- Architecture & Solution Design: Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and unintended consequences in proposed network rules and technical specifications; recommend pragmatic, durable solutions to shape network policy architecture.
- Industry & Competitive Intelligence: Conduct continuous competitive analysis and industry research across card networks, real-time payment systems, processors, and issuers to keep network policies cutting-edge.
- Framework Modernization: Serve as the core policy advisor supporting the modernization and simplification of the Global Payment Network rules framework and the rollout of an Enterprise Operating Rules Management and Publishing Platform.
- Waiver & Policy Governance: Oversee and evaluate Operating Regulation waiver requests, establishing operational frameworks and standardized review processes.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build and maintain strong working relationships across Legal, Risk, Product, Technology, and Operations, translating complex policy and technical specs into clear reports and executive presentations.
- Governance Compliance: Ensure advisory activities comply with Capital One’s project and program management standards.
- Process & Technology Innovation: Leverage advanced problem-solving skills, operational KPIs, and technology to enhance rule quality and consistency.
Basic Qualifications:
- High School Diploma, GED or equivalent certification
- At least 4 years of experience advising on Payment Network Rules and Regulations
- At least 5 years of experience in policy design, contract interpretation and rule-based governance models
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 3+ years of experience in team leadership or direct people management
- Prior experience with card networks, real-time payment networks, card payment acquirers, payment processors or card issuers
- Experience in industry research, competitive analysis and policy architecture for large-scale payment ecosystems
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location: McLean, VA: $151,900 - $173,400 Richmond, VA: $138,100 - $157,700 Chicago, IL: $138,100 - $157,700 New York, NY: $165,700 - $189,200 Riverwoods, IL: $138,100 - $157,700