Strategic Partnerships Relationship Manager

Velera is the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO) and an integrated fintech solutions provider. The company serves more than 4,000 financial institutions throughout North America, operating with velocity to help our clients keep pace with the rapid momentum of change and fuel growth in the new era of financial services. Our purpose: We accelerate partners’ success through innovative financial technology solutions and inspired service.

The Strategic Partnerships Relationship Manager manages and governs the business and contractual relationships with Velera’s largest card issuer processing vendors and payment network partners. Candidate will develop, influence and direct vendor-partner strategy to align with Velera goals and priorities, and will be accountable for the negotiation, governance and ownership of multi-million-dollar vendor contracts, holding assigned vendor-partners accountable for performance and delivery, and minimizing enterprise risk. Candidate will foster in-depth and productive vendor-partner relationships, with the goal to strategically position Velera as a partner of choice. Candidate will identify strategic opportunities, participate in strategic planning, and take broad perspective delivering relevant payment, card, and ecommerce industry expertise.

• Direct and manage vendor-partner relationship by ensuring partner focuses on growing Velera’s business and providing quality execution for our members, including but not limited to directing and establishing priorities, communicating strategic needs and objectives, and negotiating through challenges to ensure the most desirable result for Velera.
• Collaborate with all levels across the company to optimize vendor-partner relationship, with the objective to maximize the level of priority our business partners offer to our employees and member credit unions.
• Review, monitor, and report vendor-partner performance against contractual SLAs and enterprise wide delivery expectations; Direct and hold partner accountable for corrective action and process improvements, collaborating with internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Maximize value through negotiation of vendor contracts for products and services; Identify negotiation strategy, price, rebates, incentives, and penalties; Define delivery expectations, risk considerations, business issues, gaps and business opportunities; Coach business owners on strategy and positioning throughout the product review process.
• Serve as point of contact for presentation and negotiation of all financial related requests outside of established contract, including new business incentives, fee waivers, and reimbursements.
• Work directly with key internal stakeholders, executives, and senior partner executives to negotiate, escalate, and resolve issues; Direct and establish priorities with partner to ensure focus on most critical issues and member needs.
• Monitor multi-million dollar vendor partner expenses ensuring contractual compliance of pricing, rebates, incentives and penalty payments.
• Identify internal gaps impacting vendor performance; Influence internal stakeholders to implement process improvements and processes to maximize vendor performance and positive impact.
• Provide ongoing education and communication to all levels of partner support to communicate Velera mission, goals, objectives and priorities.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required in Business or related field, MBA Preferred, or combination of education and experience required.
• Ten (10) years of experience in business development, product management, partner management, or strategic account management within the card issuing ecosystem.
• Direct experience working with or managing relationships involving Fiserv, FIS, Visa or Mastercard (or comparable processors/networks) preferred.
• Ten (10) years of experience negotiating complex commercial agreements, including processor services agreements, network incentive agreements, pricing schedules, and SLAs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead negotiations as an individual contributor, including the ability to coordinate with internal legal, finance, product and procurement teams.
• Deep understanding of issuer processing platforms, card networks, and the associated services provided to financial institutions.
• Experience creating and executing joint business plans, performance reviews and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).

About Velera

At Velera, inclusion isn’t an initiative – it’s how we work. Guided by a people‑helping‑people philosophy, we cultivate a culture where every employee feels valued, respected and empowered to do their best work. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering meaningful connection across our teams. Through a remote‑first, flexible environment, we prioritize psychological safety, wellbeing and belonging so individuals and teams can collaborate to thrive. Together, we’re shaping a new era of secure, innovative solutions for the clients and communities we serve. Learn more about what it’s like to work at Velera.

Pay Equity

Actual Pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Great Work/Life Benefits!

• Competitive wages

• Medical with telemedicine

• Dental and Vision

• Basic and Optional Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Maternity, Parental, Family Care

• Community Volunteer Time Off

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Company Paid Disability Insurance

• 401k (with employer match)

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with company provided contributions

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Supplemental Insurance

• Mental Health and Well-being: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Wellness program

• Benefits are subject to generally applicable eligibility, waiting period, contribution, and other requirements and conditions

Velera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local law.

Velera is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth in the following "EEO is the Law" Poster. Velera will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information.

Velera is an E-Verify Employer. Review the E-Verify Poster here.  For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here.

This role is currently not eligible for sponsorship.

As an ongoing commitment to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities please contact a recruiter at [email protected] for assistance.