Cards Portfolio Manager

Job Title: Cards Portfolio Manager

Employment type: Contract (On-site)

Contract length: 12 months

Location: KSA

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

The Cards Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing, optimizing, and growing the bank's credit, debit, and prepaid card portfolio. The role focuses on driving portfolio profitability, customer engagement, and lifecycle performance through data-driven strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

The position plays a critical role in achieving key business KPIs across acquisition, activation, spend, retention, and risk management.

Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Portfolio Strategy & Performance Management:

• Manage end-to-end performance of the card's portfolio, including credit, debit, and prepaid card products.
• Monitor key KPIs such as activation rates, spend per card, utilization, attrition, and profitability.
• Develop and implement strategies to grow portfolio revenue and optimize customer value.
• Track portfolio trends and provide insights to senior management through regular reporting.
  
  
  

Customer Lifecycle & Campaign Management:

• Design and execute customer lifecycle strategies (acquisition, onboarding, activation, usage, retention).
• Lead targeted campaigns using segmentation and personalization to increase engagement and spend.
• Manage end-to-end campaign execution including planning, tracking, and performance evaluation.
• Drive initiatives to reduce dormancy and improve reactivation rates.
  
  
  

Product Development & Innovation:

• Support development and launch of new card products, features, and value propositions.
• Work closely with payment network partners on product enhancements
• Identify opportunities for innovation (digital payments, e-commerce, cross-border usage).
  
  
  

Data Analytics & Insights:

• Analyze portfolio data to identify customer behavior trends and growth opportunities
• Use insights to optimize pricing, credit limits, and usage strategies.
• Prepare dashboards and MIS reports to monitor portfolio health and campaign performance.
• Provide actionable insights to improve decision-making and business outcomes.
  
  
  

Risk, Compliance & Governance:

• Monitor credit risk indicators (e.g., delinquency rates, loss ratios) and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with SAMA regulations and internal policies.
• Balance growth objectives with risk appetite and portfolio quality.
  
  
  

Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Risk, Marketing, Finance, Operations, IT).
• Liaise with payment networks and external partners to support business initiatives.
• Present portfolio performance, strategies, and recommendations to senior leadership.
  
  
  

Knowledge and Experience:

• 5 - 7 years' experience in portfolio management within cards.
• Proven experience working in Saudi Arabia (knowledge of local market and SAMA regulations preferred).
• Strong knowledge of credit, debit, and prepaid card products and lifecycle strategies
• Experience in GCC banking environment is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Deep understanding of card economics and payment ecosystems.
• Portfolio and lifecycle management expertise.
• Strategic thinking with strong commercial acumen.
• Stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Project, PowerPoint, and advanced Excel skills.
  
  
  

Mandatory Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• Previous experience within Banking, Digital Payment & Card solutions or the FinTech industry.
• Regional experience, including working in a faced-paced matrix organisation.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written, verbal, and presentation); fluency in Arabic is an advantage.
  
  
  

Preferred Skills:

• The ability to analyse data, troubleshoot payment issues, optimize processes, and make data-driven decisions.
• Good understanding of payment systems, digital platforms, system workflows, security basics, and industry technologies.
• An understanding of regional regulations across financial services or payment networks.