Senior Implementation Manager

About Highnote 

Founded in 2020 by a team of leaders from Braintree, PayPal, and Lending Club, Highnote is an all in one card issuer processor and program management platform. We give digital-first organizations the flexibility to easily issue and process payment cards that accelerate business growth and profitability. 

We’ve raised $145M+ and grown our team to 125+ employees. Headquartered in San Francisco, we’ve managed to build one of the most advanced payments teams in the industry, with team members in 25+ US states. 

Operating through our core values of customer obsession, executional excellence, intentional inclusion, we’re helping businesses grow for the future by creating the payment products demanded by tomorrow, with the ability to solve for use cases that don’t exist yet.

We are fast-moving, hands-on, and strongly believe everyone deserves a seat at the table. We believe we’re unlocking incredible opportunities that can change the future of payments, as long as we have the right people to make it happen. 

Job Description

We are seeking a tenacious, capable and experienced individual with extensive experience in card issuing, program management, and working with sponsor banks and card networks. In this role, you will own the end-to-end management of card program implementations, from initial customer onboarding through successful launch. This position requires a seasoned professional who can navigate complex regulatory requirements, drive alignment with multiple stakeholders, and deliver high-impact results. The ideal candidate will have excellent organizational and communication skills and be able to manage multiple implementations simultaneously and have a solid understanding of payments and bank processes.

What you’ll be doing

• Act as the strategic partner to customers, shaping the program design and ensuring alignment with their business objectives.
• Provide high-level guidance on compliance, regulatory, and operational best practices in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong executive-level relationships, both internally (across Product, Compliance, Operations) and externally (customers, sponsor banks, card networks)
• Develop and execute comprehensive, multi-phase project plans to support the implementation of complex card programs.
• Leverage advanced project management methodologies to anticipate risks, solve issues quickly, and maintain seamless communication
• Collaborate effectively internally and with the bank partner to deliver against committed timelines, manage brand guidelines, and ensure adherence to network regulations.
• Provide expert consultation to customers on policies, marketing materials, and card art, ensuring regulatory compliance and brand consistency
• Configure the Highnote platform to meet complex program specifications, integrating seamlessly with customer systems.
• Offer ongoing operational support post-launch, positioning yourself as a trusted advisor for evolving program requirements
• Take ownership and deliver results in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment
• Identify and champion opportunities to optimize implementation processes, enhancing speed-to-market and customer satisfaction
• Contribute to Highnote’s overall knowledge base by documenting lessons learned and driving strategic discussions around product enhancements

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in card issuing, program management, or a related fintech/payments field.
• Proven track record of successfully launching large-scale card programs with a strong emphasis on risk management and regulatory compliance
• Proficiency with advanced project management tools (such as Jira, Monday.com, Airtable) and frameworks (Agile, Waterfall)
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at driving multiple large-scale initiatives in parallel
• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) with strong executive presence to engage C-level stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration across diverse teams and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Action oriented; no task is too small or insignificant for you
• Outrageous sense of urgency

Why Highnote?

• We’re a startup that allows for our employees to truly build from the ground up and impact every layer of our organization. 
• We’re a team of payments obsessed individuals. While some of us come from the fintech world, some of us don’t. We value the varied backgrounds and the diverse perspectives of our employees. 
• We’re small on hierarchy and big on growth. We’re a flat organization that allows everyone to have direct exposure to our leadership team. We are looking for builders who thrive in ambiguity. 
• We’re backed by Adams Street Partners, Oak HC/FT, Costanoa Ventures, and XYZ Ventures. Angel Investors include Bill Ready (CEO at Pinterest) and Renaud Laplanche (Co-Founder & CEO of Upgrade).

Highnote benefits

• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• 100% healthcare coverage + 75% coverage for dependents
• 401k program
• Paid Parental Leave: Up to 16 weeks paid leave for the birth parent, and up to 6 weeks paid leave for the non-birth parent
• Equity in Highnote
• Stipend to build out your home office; internet and phone reimbursement
• At Highnote we have built a total rewards philosophy that includes fair, equitable, geo-based compensation that is performance and potential based. Our compensation packages are competitive based on robust market research and are a combination of a cash salary, equity, and benefits. In compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the annual salary range for applicants is $160,000-$200,000. 

Please note that positions located in San Francisco are hybrid and include core working days of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in office.  We provide flexible work options based on distance from our downtown SF office. Highnote believes in the power of face-to-face, personal connection. As a result, we prioritize in-person candidates. 

Highnote is a diverse and inclusive company committed to growing a diverse and inclusive team. We invite people from all backgrounds and identities to apply. We do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, pregnancy status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by US federal state or local laws, or the laws of the country or jurisdiction where you work. Additionally, we encourage everyone to share which pronouns you wish for us to use when addressing you (i.e.: she/her, he/him, they/them, etc).