Director, Product Partnerships & Growth for CPN

About the role

This Director role focuses on expanding the Circle Payment Network (CPN) by leading partnerships with Beneficiary Financial Institutions (BFIs) and payout partners. The work involves managing the entire partnership lifecycle, from identifying potential partners and negotiating commercial terms to overseeing their launch and integration. A key objective is to increase the network's coverage by adding new partners and expanding the scope of existing relationships across different regions and use cases.

A primary responsibility is to drive Total Payment Volume (TPV) growth by ensuring partners actively utilize the CPN. This includes collaborating with growth and marketing teams to implement activation strategies and working with product teams to prioritize features that encourage higher transaction volumes. The role also involves leading the onboarding process for new partners, coordinating efforts across compliance, legal, operations, product, and engineering to ensure a smooth integration and readiness for live operations.

Success in this position is measured by an increase in active BFI partners and sustained growth in TPV. This includes faster partner onboarding, expanding payment corridors, and developing stronger relationships with key partners. The Director acts as the main point of contact for partners, managing performance, resolving operational issues, and identifying opportunities for further growth, while also translating partner needs into internal priorities for product and engineering teams.

The annual salary for this position ranges from $217,500 to $277,500.

Skills that matter here

• payments, fintech, banking, or financial infrastructure partnerships: This role requires a deep background in financial services to effectively manage and expand the Circle Payment Network.
• cross-border payments, settlement flows, and payment rails: A strong understanding of global payment mechanisms is essential for expanding coverage and optimizing transaction flows.
• commercial partnerships and contractual discussions: The role involves leading negotiations and managing agreements with financial institutions to secure and grow partnerships.
• KYC/KYB, AML, and onboarding requirements for financial partners: Familiarity with regulatory compliance is necessary to ensure partners meet legal standards during onboarding and ongoing operations.
• transaction growth, partner activation, or usage expansion: The Director is responsible for driving increased utilization and volume within the payment network.
• payment networks, clearing systems, or stablecoin-based settlement: Experience with these technologies is preferred to contribute to the strategic growth of Circle's payment infrastructure.

Who this role suits

• A candidate who thrives on building and nurturing long-term commercial relationships within the financial sector.
• Someone with a proven track record of driving transaction volume and expanding network reach in a payments-related environment.
• An individual who can effectively coordinate complex projects across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• A person comfortable with frequent business travel and operating in a dynamic, evolving industry.

From the employer

What you'll work on:

• Network Growth & Partnerships: Own CPN’s BFI/payout partner expansion end-to-end, from sourcing and pipeline management to commercial negotiation and launch. Scale coverage by adding new partners and expanding existing partners into additional corridors and use cases.
• TPV Growth & Partner Activation: Drive Total Payment Volume (TPV) growth by increasing partner utilization across priority corridors and flows. Partner with Growth/Marketing and Product to execute activation initiatives and prioritize changes that unlock incremental volume.
• Onboarding & Enablement: Lead partner onboarding and go-live execution by coordinating Compliance, Legal, Ops, Product, and Engineering. Act as the primary point of contact to manage milestones, unblock integrations, and ensure post-launch readiness.
• Partner Performance & Relationship Management: Manage live partner relationships and performance by tracking key health metrics and operational issues. Drive ongoing optimization and growth by resolving blockers and identifying expansion opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Translate partner needs into clear internal priorities and actions across Product Engineering teams, while maintaining alignment with Compliance/Risk and Ops. Keep stakeholders informed on partner status, risks, and opportunities.

What you’ll bring to Circle:

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in payments, fintech, banking, or financial infrastructure partnerships
• Hands-on experience working with banks, PSPs, EMIs, or regulated financial institutions
• Strong understanding of cross-border payments, settlement flows, and payment rails
• Experience managing commercial partnerships and contractual discussions
• Familiarity with KYC/KYB, AML, and onboarding requirements for financial partners
• Demonstrated ability to drive transaction growth, partner activation, or usage expansion
• Strong execution, stakeholder coordination, and problem-solving skills
• An appetite for work travel (30-50% required depending on time of year)
• Impeccable written and verbal communication skills in English

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with payment networks, clearing systems, or stablecoin-based settlement
• Prior experience working in TPV growth or network expansion roles
• Exposure to multiple regions (e.g., APAC, EMEA, Americas) is a plus
• Comfortable operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.

What Success Looks Like

• Increased number of active BFI partners on CPN
• Sustained growth in Total Payment Volume (TPV) across partners and corridors
• Faster and smoother partner onboarding timelines
• Expansion of payment corridors, use cases, and transaction flows
• Strong, productive relationships with key BFI partners
• Effective internal coordination with minimal escalation.