Category Strategy Support Manager - Payments
HybridKuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Job Summary
Support category strategy execution across the Payments portfolio, including card processing, payment networks, and debit routing. Lead a category support team to prioritize work aligned with business objectives, while developing high-quality presentations and reports for stakeholder engagement. Partner with internal teams and suppliers to drive cost optimization, risk management, and value creation through supplier performance reviews and continuous process improvement. Manage procurement buying channels and commercial controls to ensure compliance with contracts and policies. This role operates on a shift basis (Shift A: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM MYT or Shift B: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM MYT) and requires flexibility. The position is a hybrid of office/remote working with no travel expected.
Required Qualifications
- Degree in Business, Procurement, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
- Minimum 8–10 years' experience in Indirect Procurement, Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Supplier Management
- Proven experience managing or supporting Payments-related categories, including one or more of: Card Processing, Payment Networks (e.g., Visa, Mastercard), Debit Routing, Merchant Acquiring, Payment Gateways, Payment Technology Services, Financial Services or FinTech suppliers
- Strong understanding of payment ecosystems, supplier landscapes, commercial models, contracts, and regulatory considerations within payments
- Experience developing category strategies, conducting market analysis, and translating business requirements into sourcing and supplier management initiatives
- Demonstrated ability to manage senior stakeholders and build relationships across global, cross-functional teams
- Strong commercial acumen, analytical capability, negotiation skills, and experience delivering measurable value through supplier partnerships
- Experience leading teams or delivering outcomes through matrix and project-based environments
- Comfortable working in a complex, fast-paced, and globally distributed organisation
- Agility core practices
- Agility tools
- Analytical Thinking
- Business Acumen
- Business Requirements Analysis
- Category spend profiling
- Category Strategy
- Cost modelling
- Digital Fluency
- Negotiating
- Negotiation planning and preparation
- Product and market intelligence
- Supplier Performance Management
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Value creation and management
- Must be flexible to work either: Shift A (ASPAC/EU): 10:00 AM – 7:00 MYT, or Shift B (ASPAC/US): 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM MYT
- This position is a hybrid of office/remote working
Desired Qualifications
- CIPS qualification or working towards membership
- Experience with payment processing platforms, merchant services providers, banking partners, or fintech organisations
- Experience with SAP Ariba, Salesforce, Compass, or similar procurement technologies
- Strong digital fluency and interest in emerging payments technologies and industry trends
- Experience working across international and multicultural environments with remote stakeholder groups
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