Product Manager

About the business area

Corporate & Investment Banking Group

The Corporate & Investment Banking Group (CIBG) provides a portfolio of corporate banking services, including investment & transaction banking as well as financial market solutions. This sophisticated product suite is powered by efficient digital platforms and distribution channels. It serves a broad range of clients both domestically and across the MENA region, including government entities, financial institutions, to large corporates, and maintains strategic relationships with leading banks globally

We are seeking a highly technical, commercially driven, and strategic International Payments Product Manager to lead the transformation and end-to-end delivery of the bank’s cross-border payments ecosystem. The role requires deep expertise in global payments, SWIFT, correspondent banking, and payment modernization, combined with a strong focus on customer experience, operational excellence and revenue fees growth.

In this role, your key responsibilities include:

• Lead strategic international payments transformation initiatives, including ISO 20022 migration, payment modernization, API enablement, host-to-host connectivity, straight-through processing (STP) optimization, workflow automation and digital channel enhancements
• Serve as the Bank’s subject matter expert for SWIFT and ISO 20022 standards, with deep knowledge of FIN, FINplus, FileAct, pain.001, pain.002, camt.052, camt.053, camt.054, camt.056, camt.058, camt.059, pacs messages, and related payment initiation, reporting, investigation, status, cancellation, and reconciliation standards
• Manage strategic relationships with SWIFT, correspondent banks, clearing systems, regulators, technology partners and vendors, ensuring robust payments connectivity, operational readiness, release management, compliance standards and certifications are in place
• Represent the Bank in industry working groups, regulatory forums, market consultations, and payments-related committees, staying abreast of regulatory developments, market practices and emerging payment trends
• Drive the optimization of correspondent banking networks, payment routing models, settlement processes and Treasury integration to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve client service
• Apply a strong customer-centric and commercial mindset to improve payment speed, transparency, pricing effectiveness, service availability, STP rates, exception management, and overall client experience while identifying opportunities for revenue growth and cost optimization.
• Leverage data analytics and business intelligence tools to identify payment trends, client behaviors, routing optimization opportunities, fee recovery initiatives and operational inefficiencies. Translate insights into actionable recommendations that support product strategy, commercialization and pricing optimization

Ideal candidate should have the following experience:

• Proven experience in Transaction Banking, Payments Product management, Cash Management or Payment Operations.
• Deep expertise in SWIFT, correspondent banking, cross-border payments, payment schemes, clearing systems, and global payment infrastructures.
• Demonstrated experience leading payment modernization, automation, process re-engineering, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong ability to read, interpret, analyze, and troubleshoot XML-based payment messages, including ISO 20022 pain, pacs, and camt message standards, with the capability to identify formatting, validation, mapping, and integration issues across payment channels and systems.
• Hands-on experience coordinating end to end testing across multiple payment channels, including online banking, mobile channels, host-to-host integrations, APIs, SWIFT connectivity, and pain.001-based payment flows.
• Ability to identify automation opportunities, streamline operational processes, and leverage technology to improve efficiency, controls, and customer experience.
• Advanced analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, with the ability to derive actionable insights from payment data, identify revenue opportunities, optimize pricing strategies, and support strategic business decisions.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior management, regulators, vendors, correspondent banks, and internal cross-functional teams.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance customer needs, regulatory requirements, operational efficiency, and revenue growth objectives.
• Extensive experience working with Technology, Operations, and business stakeholders to deliver complex payment solutions and strategic transformation programs