Director, Business Development, Merchant Partnerships & Strategic Growth

Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Director, Business Development, Merchant Partnerships & Strategic Growth
Overview
The Director, Business Development serves as a commercial leader responsible for accelerating Mastercard's market development strategy through strategic merchant partnerships. This role transforms enterprise commercial strategy into scalable revenue growth across a high-value portfolio of strategic accounts and emerging verticals within the payments ecosystem.
The Director will lead the development and execution of end-to-end revenue strategies across multiple industries, including retail, telecom, insurance, restaurants, consumer packaged goods, and emerging digital platforms. Working closely with executive stakeholders internally and externally, this individual will identify new growth opportunities, activate new payment flows, strengthen competitive positioning, and drive long-term enterprise value creation.
As a key member of the Growth Verticals team, the Director will influence Mastercard's product and services roadmap, shape go-to-market priorities, and orchestrate coordinated efforts across Sales, Product, Marketing, Finance, Services, Commercial & New Payment Flows, and the global Market Development community.
This role requires a strategic operator, commercial builder, and influential leader capable of navigating complex partnerships, developing enterprise business cases, and driving transformational growth initiatives.
Role
Strategic Business Development & Revenue Growth
Transform enterprise commercial strategy into scalable revenue growth across Mastercard's partner ecosystem, developing and executing go-to-market strategies across key verticals while identifying new payment flows, acceptance opportunities, and value-added services.
Build and manage a robust pipeline of strategic opportunities, leading initiatives from ideation through commercialization to drive incremental revenue and strengthen Mastercard's market position.
Strategic Partnership Leadership
Own and expand strategic merchant, platform, and fintech partnerships to increase wallet share, customer engagement, and long-term enterprise value while serving as a trusted advisor to executive and C-suite stakeholders.
Lead complex commercial negotiations, account planning, and multi-year partnership strategies that unlock mutually beneficial growth opportunities.
Commercial Strategy & Executive Influence
Influence executive decision-making through data-driven insights, financial analysis, commercial modeling, and board-ready business cases that inform investment decisions and strategic priorities.
Assess market dynamics, competitive trends, and emerging opportunities, partnering with product and innovation teams to shape growth strategies and roadmap priorities
Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead cross-functional collaboration across Sales, Product, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Franchise, and Services teams to execute integrated go-to-market and commercialization strategies.
Drive operational excellence, governance, and strategic initiatives while serving as a connector across Mastercard's regional and global organizations.
All About You
Extensive experience in business development, commercial strategy, enterprise sales, strategic partnerships, or market development within payments, financial services, technology, fintech, consulting, or adjacent industries.
Strong relationship-building capabilities with a demonstrated ability to establish trusted advisor status with customers and partners.
Proven track record developing and scaling strategic partnerships that drive measurable revenue growth and market expansion.
Demonstrated success leading complex negotiations with executive and C-suite stakeholders.
Strong financial acumen with expertise in business case development, commercial modeling, forecasting, and profitability analysis.
Ability to influence without authority and effectively lead large cross-functional teams through complex organizational environments.
Strategic thinker with the ability to connect market insights, customer needs, and Mastercard capabilities into compelling growth opportunities.
Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
Growth-oriented mindset with a passion for innovation, problem-solving, and creating enterprise value.
Proven success managing multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Experience in payments is an asset
Post-secondary education required; MBA or equivalent experience is an asset
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.

In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in Canada, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive pay based on location, experience and other qualifications for the role and may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program. This posting reflects one or more current openings on our team.
Pay Ranges
Toronto, Canada: $138,000 - $221,000 CAD