Team Lead, Performance Optimization

This is Adyen

Adyen provides payments, data, and financial products in a single solution for customers like Facebook, Uber, H&M, and Microsoft - making us the financial technology platform of choice. At Adyen, everything we do is engineered for ambition.

For our teams, we create an environment with opportunities for our people to succeed, backed by the culture and support to ensure they are enabled to truly own their careers. We are motivated individuals who tackle unique technical challenges at scale and solve them as a team. Together, we deliver innovative and ethical solutions that help businesses achieve their ambitions faster.

Team Lead, Performance Optimization

We are looking for a Team Lead to build, mentor, and guide a hybrid team of Optimization Managers and Data Analysts. This team is key to driving customer growth, combining consultative merchant engagement with large-scale analytics, experimentation, and automated solutions.

In this role, you’ll lead initiatives that optimize authorization rates, manage risk, and improve cost efficiency, while acting as a trusted advisor to merchants. Success requires a blend of people leadership, technical strategy, commercial insight, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure our products deliver maximum impact.

What you’ll do

• Build, coach, and scale a high-performing hybrid team of strategists and data analysts, setting clear expectations around quality, impact, and technical excellence

• Lead merchant-facing optimization engagements, ensuring recommendations are data-driven, product-aligned, and deliver measurable improvements in risk, fraud, and cost efficiency

• Guide the team in designing and implementing automated data solutions, utilizing Adyen products, big data platforms, and analytics tools to identify risks and opportunities. Champion scalable solutions (e.g., automated processes, dashboards, ETL pipelines) that improve operational efficiency without sacrificing quality

• Own team prioritization across merchant work, upskilling, and strategic initiatives; manage senior stakeholders and communicate clear trade-offs

• Partner cross-functionally with Commercial, Product, Risk, and Operations to translate merchant insights into roadmap influence and position the team as subject matter experts in payments, fraud, and risk

Who you are

• 3+ years of experience bridging Data Analytics/Data Science and payments

• 5+ years of experience in a formal people leadership role, with a proven ability to lead teams that balance technical depth, customer impact, and operational excellence

• Technical expertise in Python, SQL, PySpark, and scalable data processing; hands-on experience with big data platforms and ETL pipelines

• Experience in automation, analytics tooling, and driving scalable solutions in a data-driven organization

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence Product and Commercial partners through data storytelling, structured thinking, and actionable insights

• Clear communicator and confident presenter, able to engage senior external and internal stakeholders

• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong prioritization skills, a high sense of ownership, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, global environment

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion commitments

Our unobvious approach is a product of our diverse perspectives. This diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives is essential in helping us maintain our momentum. Our business and technical challenges are unique, we need as many different voices as possible to solve them - voices like yours. So no matter where you're from, who you love, or what you believe in, we welcome you to be your true self at Adyen.

Studies show that women and members of underrepresented communities apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Even if you don't meet 100% of the criteria, Adyen encourages you to reconsider and apply. We look forward to your application.

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitments

Our unique approach is a product of our diverse perspectives. This diversity of backgrounds and cultures is essential in helping us maintain our momentum. Our business and technical challenges are unique, and we need as many different voices as possible to join us in solving them - voices like yours. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we welcome you to be your true self at Adyen.

Studies show that women and members of underrepresented communities apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Does this sound like you? If so, Adyen encourages you to reconsider and apply. We look forward to your application!

What’s next?

Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable candidate experience is critical for us. We aim to get back to you regarding your application within 5 business days. Our interview process tends to take about 4 weeks to complete, but may fluctuate depending on the role. Learn more about our hiring process here. Don’t be afraid to let us know if you need more flexibility.

This role is based out of our London office. We are an office-first company and value in-person collaboration; we do not offer remote-only roles.