Director, Global Banking & Network Partnerships

Responsibilities:

• Network Strategy & Planning: Own the strategic development of EMQ's global payment network, identifying priority markets, infrastructure gaps, strategic partners and redundancy requirements to support the company's growth strategy.
• Strategic Partnerships: Build and own strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across banks, financial institutions, payment providers, and other network partners. Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, FX, settlement structures, service levels and partnership terms.
• Banking & Settlement Infrastructure: Develop and optimize EMQ's global banking and settlement infrastructure, including account structures, funding models, settlement arrangements and partner lifecycle management. Partner closely with the Treasury team to optimize liquidity and funding efficiency while maintaining network resilience.
• Network & Markets Expansion: Lead end-to-end expansion into new markets and payment corridors, from market assessment and partner selection through commercial negotiation, onboarding, integration, and go-live.
• Network Economics & Performance: Own network economics and performance by improving unit economics, margins, pricing competitiveness, service quality, and network resilience.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Lead cross-functional initiatives with Product, Treasury, Compliance, Legal, Operations and Technology to translate network opportunities into scalable payment capabilities and successfully execute complex partner and corridor launches.

Requirements:
Essential

• 8+ years of experience in payments, transaction banking, fintech or financial services, with significant experience in strategic partnerships, network development, correspondent banking, business development or related commercial roles.
• Deep understanding of cross-border payment infrastructure, including settlement models, correspondent banking, payment networks and regulated financial ecosystems.
• Strong understanding of network partnerships, settlement models, correspondent banking, and regulated financial ecosystems.
• Demonstrated commercial understanding of cross-border payment economics: FX pricing, funding and settlement cycles, nostro management, and cost per corridor.
• Advanced commercial acumen, with the ability to negotiate complex partnership terms, pricing, and FX spreads.
• Familiarity with the licensing and regulatory requirements that shape partner selection and market entry, and comfort working alongside Compliance on partner due diligence.
• Strong analytical skills and rigorous attention to detail.
• Full professional fluency in English; professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese strongly preferred.

Preferred:

• Track record building and optimising large-scale partner networks across multiple geographies.
• Established relationships across banks, payment providers or financial institutions in key Asian and global payment markets.
• Experience developing payment networks or strategic network partnerships in LATAM and/or Africa is highly desirable.
• Experience working with local clearing systems, alternative payment methods, or cross-border settlement infrastructure in emerging markets.
• Credibility with senior leaders at banks, fintechs, and payment providers.
• Additional language capability relevant to EMQ's corridors.