Manager, Products and Solutions, Acceptance

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 Manager, Products and Solutions, Acceptance Overview Mastercard is driving the expansion of digital payments across Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa (FSSA) to enable inclusive, scalable acceptance solutions. This role is pivotal in developing and executing an accelerated acceptance strategy while building a sustainable acquiring ecosystem. Reporting to the Customer Solution Center Lead in Casablanca, the Acceptance Lead will collaborate with key stakeholders—including PSPs, PayFacs, Acquirers, Fintechs, and MNOs—to enhance Mastercard’s market presence, optimize acceptance economics, and boost transaction growth across priority markets. Key Responsibilities Scaling Digital Acceptance: Drive acceptance expansion across Francophone Africa, deploying Tap On Phone, contactless, and emerging payment technologies to broaden merchant enablement. Acquiring Ecosystem Development: Strengthen acquiring partnerships with banks, PSPs, and PayFacs to ensure seamless merchant onboarding and sustainable transaction growth. Cross-Border Enablement: Lead initiatives to optimize cross-border payment flows, maximizing Gross Acceptance Volume (GAV) across FSSA. Market Engagement & Partnerships: Forge strategic alliances with Fintechs, MNOs, and retailers to deepen digital adoption and minimize cash reliance. Regulatory & Policy Advocacy: Engage with policymakers to shape favorable acceptance environments, including interchange structures that encourage digital payment adoption. Merchant Value Proposition: Deliver tailored acceptance solutions that align with merchant business models, driving transaction volume and engagement. Innovation & Scalable Solutions: Identify, pilot, and scale high-impact digital payment use cases to accelerate sustainable adoption. Major Accountabilities Serve as Mastercard’s acceptance expert for Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, driving country-specific strategies aligned with global business objectives. Design and implement scalable acquiring models to enhance merchant acceptance and optimize Mastercard’s P&L. Foster cross-functional collaboration, unlocking new digital payment opportunities to establish Mastercard as the leading enabler of acceptance growth in the region. Qualifications & Experience Extensive expertise in digital payments, acquiring, and acceptance, preferably in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Proven experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and payments industry sales. Strong understanding of merchant acquiring, processor dynamics, and digital enablement strategies. Exceptional negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, with a strategic mindset for market expansion. Self-driven leader with a results-oriented approach, adept at managing complex regional initiatives. Location & Strategic Justification The role is based in Côte d’Ivoire, ensuring proximity to key stakeholders and markets. A deep understanding of traditional and emerging digital acceptance models is essential for building an adaptable and scalable strategy. 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.