Senior Director, Payment Threat Intelligence

Job Description

The Senior Director, Payment Threat Intelligence will lead a team of subject matter experts focused on payment threat intelligence, scams, and cybercrime.

This role is responsible for advancing intelligence capabilities through automation, AI/GenAI, data analysis, case management tools, and technology-enabled process improvements.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative leader with deep payments and threat intelligence expertise, strong technical acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders, clients, partners, and industry audiences.

This is a global role and requires digital fluency, including the ability to work with emerging technologies such as Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) to support everyday work.

Key Responsibilities Lead a team of subject matter experts in the following areas

• payment threat intelligence, scams, and cybercrime. Foster a payment intelligence-led culture, translating raw data into strategic insights that influence business decisions, go-to-market strategies, and product development.
• Identify opportunities to develop new products and services and enhance existing solutions.
• Evaluate, negotiate, and manage third-party vendor solutions to build a scalable and cost-effective technology stack. Streamline manual processes and improve operational efficiency using automation, AI, GenAI, analytics, and available tools.
• Build and maintain relationships with external organizations and committees to further Visa’s commitment to trust and safety and demonstrate thought leadership.
• Develop strong relationships across the regions and lead discussions for payment threat intelligence and risk mitigation.
• Partner closely with product, engineering, and data science teams to conceptualize, test, and scale fraud intelligence solutions.
• Provide guidance to the team regarding investigations, intelligence collection, and extracting actionable information from intelligence sources.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing intelligence team fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and payment intelligence excellence. Oversee all-source analysis of cybercrime and fraud tools, methods, and attacks to communicate these threats to internal Visa partners and external clients.
• Provide presentations on cybercrime and fraud threats impacting the payments ecosystem to global audiences.
• Support the Global Risk organization with intelligence and technical analysis to further protect the payment ecosystem. Perform other duties as assigned. This role is a Hybrid position to be based in either our Atlanta, GA or Foster City, CA office locations, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager. Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 10 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters/MBA /JD/MD), or a minimum of 5 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 12 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, or MD), PhD with 9+ years of experience 12+ years’ experience in payment card or information security industry, all-source cyber intelligence organizations, or investigating payment card cybercrime fraud. Master’s degree in a related field. Deep subject matter expertise in payments, threat intelligence, scams, fraud typologies, and cybercrime trends. 8+ years of senior-level leadership experience managing teams in payment threat intelligence, fraud intelligence, scams, and cybercrime.
• Proven experience using automation, AI, GenAI, analytics, and technology solutions to streamline manual processes and improve operational efficiency. Ability to define clear technical and business requirements for automation, AI, data analysis, GenAI, case management, and intelligence workflow initiatives.
• Experience with case management tools, investigative platforms, or intelligence workflow systems. Demonstrated ability to develop new capabilities, enhance existing products and services, and lead innovation across intelligence operations.
• Strong process improvement experience, including building scalable workflows and helping teams adopt new technologies. Ability to serve as a subject matter expert at conferences, client engagements, and executive discussions.
• Strong collaboration, consensus-building, stakeholder management, and prioritization skills.
• Experience managing third-party relationships, vendor partnerships, budgets, and partner-led solution development. Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while communicating clearly and escalating appropriately.
• Strong technical background with a track record of successfully applying technology to improve intelligence operations and reduce manual effort. Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills with the ability to synthesize information and make clear, concise recommendations to senior leaders, clients, partners, and industry audiences.
• Strong understanding of networks, risk management, network security, digital forensics, and security operations. High level of motivation, initiative, innovation, and passion for the payments and intelligence space.
• Knowledge of transactions, systems processing transactions, and overall transaction processes.
• Familiarity with information security concepts, terms, processes, policy, and implementation.
• Experience with intelligence databases and analytical tools or similar intelligence reporting systems. Analysis of cyber threat intelligence and fraud intelligence. Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CHFI, CEH, GIAC, Security Plus. This role is an opportunity to make a significant impact by leading efforts to protect the global payments ecosystem from cybercrime and fraud. U.S. Applicants Only The estimated salary range for this position is $204,000 to $420,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.
• Work Hours Varies upon the needs of the department. Travel Requirements This position requires travel 5-10% of the time. Mental/Physical Requirements This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers. Visa is an EEO Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law. If you thrive on rapid growth and enjoy working alongside positive, driven teammates, you’ll feel right at home here. Help us to uplift everyone, everywhere. Whether you’re starting your career, pushing your capabilities or are a seasoned professional, learn how we can partner to reimagine the world. Introduce yourself to our recruiters and we'll get in touch if there's a role that seems like a good match. At Visa, we are driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid. Our evolving technology keeps us at the heart of the digital economy, connecting people to 80+ million businesses worldwide. Backed by a resilient, proven model, our expanding network fuels growth—for Visa and for your career. Your journey starts here — discover how we hire Ready to take the next step? Learn more about life at Visa, explore our hiring process and get first-hand insights by hearing directly from our recruiters about what to expect. Apply with confidence today! Learn our recruiting process