Director - Head of Visa Government Solutions, Eastern and …, Soweto

Job Overview Visa is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of VGS Eastern and Southern Africa, and South Africa (SEA) to support the growth of Visa Government Solutions across the region. This strategic, client-facing role will help drive public sector business development by originating and advancing high-value opportunities, strengthening senior stakeholder engagement, and positioning Visa as a trusted partner in public sector payments and digital transformation. The successful candidate will bring strong working experience with the public sector, consultative sales, payments, and stakeholder management, together with a solid understanding of public sector institutions, procurement, and government decision-making. They will also bring a strong network across government stakeholders, with the credibility to open doors, build senior relationships, and unlock strategic opportunities across SEA.

As part of Visa’s CEMEA Government Solutions team, this role will work with internal and external stakeholders to support regional priorities, shape market opportunities, and advance solutions that deliver both commercial value and measurable public impact. This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 3 days in the office; the exact number of office days will be confirmed by the hiring manager.

Responsibilities

Support execution of Visa Government Solutions’ growth agenda across SEA, identifying priority markets, clients and revenue opportunities, driving regional prioritisation and alignment to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities across SEA.

Coordinate strategic opportunities across SEA to build and advance a strong public sector pipeline, including account planning, business cases, pursuit strategy and value proposition development; identify and accelerate opportunities in government payment flows, including digital disbursements, wallets, public finance digitisation, acceptance and related solutions; build relationships with government stakeholders, ministries, regulators and public institutions, using credibility and network to open doors and advance opportunities; engage ecosystem partners including issuers, acquirers, processors, fintechs, program managers and technology providers to strengthen Visa’s offering.

Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders across VGS Centre of Excellence, VGS CEMEA Commercialisation and Go‑to‑Market, Government Affairs, Product, Solutions, Marketing, Communications, Client Services and regional and country teams to align on outreach, opportunity development, market education and proposition roadmaps.

Support cross‑regional strategic pursuits, including major bids, partnerships, leadership engagements, pipeline governance and multi‑market initiatives.

Monitor the SEA market landscape, recommend commercially viable opportunities and represent Visa with professionalism, sound judgment and strong execution discipline.

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Technology, International Relations or a related field required; MBA or Master’s an advantage.

10–15 years’ relevant experience in business development, enterprise sales, account management, government solutions, public sector engagement or regional market development, ideally in payments, financial services, fintech, technology or the public sector; public sector payments infrastructure experience is an advantage.

Strong experience across SEA, with a solid understanding of regional dynamics, public sector institutions, procurement and government decision-making, plus the network and credibility to engage senior stakeholders and advance strategic opportunities.

Strong consultative sales, relationship management, business case development and commercial acumen, with the ability to articulate Visa’s value and link payments solutions to commercial and public sector outcomes.

Experience in payments, digital finance, digital disbursements, wallets, public finance digitisation or related infrastructure, including partnership development with issuers, acquirers, processors, fintechs, GovTechs, programme managers or other ecosystem partners, strongly preferred.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrixed, cross‑functional, regional environment, with strong execution discipline, sound judgement and the ability to lead through influence and drive alignment without direct reporting authority.

Excellent written and spoken English required; French is an advantage.

Legal Disclaimer Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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