About the Role
MasterCard is seeking an experienced Director, Specialist Sales – SME Solutions to lead the West Africa cluster, based in Nigeria and reporting to the Africa Division Lead for SME Commercialization. This is a strategic, client-facing leadership role for a consultative sales professional who can combine high-level business thinking with disciplined execution to unlock growth across the SME payments ecosystem.
The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to Financial Institutions and non-financial institution partners, helping clients identify opportunities, solve complex business challenges, and drive measurable revenue and profitability outcomes through tailored SME solutions.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the development and execution of SME growth strategies, combining sales leadership with strategic advisory support to help clients unlock revenue and profitability.
- Build and manage a strong sales pipeline through hands-on, consultative client engagement, including on-site interactions, needs assessment, opportunity shaping, and solution positioning.
- Identify, originate, and convert new business opportunities while developing SME ecosystem plays and driving commercialization of signed deals.
- Contribute to SME P&L objectives across key customers in the West Africa cluster, aligned with regional sales priorities and business goals.
- Identify product, proposition, and business innovation opportunities across SME payment segments.
- Provide subject matter expertise and advisory leadership, working closely with clients and internal stakeholders to diagnose needs and shape strategic recommendations.
- Lead end-to-end execution across sales, product, and market teams to deliver business outcomes.
- Coach and develop a high-performing team culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Uphold Mastercard's corporate security responsibilities, including safeguarding data confidentiality, reporting security concerns, and completing mandatory security training.
- Deep knowledge of SME products and services, including SME card and solutions offerings, with significant experience in sales and business development within the SME space.
- Progressive business experience with a strong track record in the payments industry and solid understanding of commercial and consumer payments.
- Strong strategic thinking and consulting capabilities, with the ability to assess client needs and translate market insights into actionable, senior-level recommendations.
- Experience in consulting, solution selling, or advisory-led client management, with a proven track record of working directly with customers to shape opportunities and deliver business outcomes.
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills across diverse client and internal teams.
- Opportunity to lead SME strategy for a key growth region within a global payments leader.
- Exposure to high-level strategic advisory work with top Financial Institutions and partners.
- Competitive compensation and career growth within a global organization.
- Collaborative, innovation-driven work culture.