Visa Foundation Operations and Strategic Initiatives Manager, Social Impact

As the world's leader in digital payments technology, Visa's mission is to connect the world through the most creative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's dedication to innovation drives the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and fuels the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.

At Visa, your individuality fits right in. Working here gives you an opportunity to impact the world, invest in your career growth, and be part of an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are a global team of disruptors, trailblazers, innovators and risk-takers who are helping drive economic growth in even the most remote parts of the world, creatively moving the industry forward, and doing meaningful work that brings financial literacy and digital commerce to millions of unbanked and underserved consumers.

You're an Individual. We're the team for you. Together, let's transform the way the world pays.

Visa recognizes that operating a successful company is about much more than delivering strong returns to shareholders. We strive to make a positive, and ideally transformative impact on the world, based on the belief that doing well can and should mean doing good, particularly for a global organization like Visa whose business is connecting the world to enable people, businesses, and economies to thrive.

Through our social impact mission to be a force for good that advances inclusive and equitable economic growth for everyone everywhere, we are focused on helping small and micro businesses (SMB) thrive and engaging locally to strengthen communities. Especially in this post COVID19 world, SMBs need support to recover, build resiliency and grow.  By harnessing our capital, our assets, our products/services, our people, and our knowledge, we are focused on helping set millions of SMBs globally on a path to growth. We see small and micro businesses as the backbone of the global economy, and our goal is to empower these enterprises, help them transition into this new world, and improve their livelihoods, ultimately creating a ripple effect throughout their communities.

These efforts build on the strong legacy of social impact Visa has created through corporate giving, financial inclusion, and financial education. We are committed to acting responsibly through environmental, social and governance and our more than 20,000 employees contribute to communities in meaningful ways through volunteering and charitable giving.

Registered in the U.S. 501(c)3 entity, Visa Foundation prioritizes the growth of gender diverse and inclusive small and micro businesses through its grantmaking and investing. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. In April 2020, Visa Foundation launched the Equitable Access Initiative, a five-year, $200 million strategic commitment to support gender diverse and inclusive small businesses around the world with a gender and diversity lens across the capital continuum.

The Operations and Strategic Initiatives Manager, Visa Foundation will be responsible, in partnership with the President, for helping manage the day-to-day operations of the Foundation while supporting key strategic initiatives related to both investments and grantmaking. The role will have primary responsibility for building and managing processes and procedures related to team planning and execution, preparation for Board of Directors and Investment Committee meetings, and financial management including vendor contracts and payments. Working in close partnership with the Grants Manager and Legal Counsel, the Operations Manager will ensure that the Foundation is in full compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and organizational policies. Furthermore, the Operations Manager will work closely in the development of necessary information technology systems related to the Foundation’s grantmaking and investments. 

The successful candidate will be a member of the Visa Social Impact team and will report to the President, Visa Foundation. The position will be based in Visa’s San Francisco or Foster City, California offices. 

Specific responsibilities include:

Team Planning and Execution

Develop and enhance existing processes and procedures to ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the Visa Foundation including meeting and key deliverables schedules such as annual planning and budgeting as well as annual audit and filings.  

Governance Support

Work closely with the President to develop quarterly Board of Directors meeting materials, ensure compliance with Board review policies, and generally support the delivery of relevant and timely information for the Board. In addition, work closely with the Head of Investments to prepare for and document the outcomes of monthly Investment Committee meetings.

Finance and Consultancy Management

Develop and manage Foundation operating budget including forecasting expenses related to consultants, travel, conferences, memberships/dues, etc. Ensure timely reporting to Visa Social Impact regarding corporate budget and expense reporting. In partnership with Foundation team members, develop, execute and manage advisor/consultant relationships. Ensure timely legal review and sign-off.  Ensure strong collaboration with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and other stakeholders. Act as key point person in management of external audit and annual filings.

Investments and Programs Support and Stakeholder Communications

The Foundation anticipates deploying nearly $80m annually in grants and investments globally. As the portfolio of partners grows, the investments and programs teams will need support for critical and strategic initiatives especially where enhanced communication with external and internal partners is necessary. Success will be defined by the optimization of our most strategic initiatives so that both external and internal audiences understand the shared the goals and objectives of our partnerships.

Basic Qualifications
• 5 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 2 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 0 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications
• At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in roles managing projects and initiatives in complex environments; Global or multi-national experience strongly preferred
• Self-starter with a passion to advance projects and bring forward new ideas. Ability to work within a complex and often ambiguous environment, including collaborating with and influencing various stakeholders regardless of reporting and functional lines
• Strong communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Extreme attention to detail required for materials and communications related to Board governance, reporting, etc.
• Team oriented, collaborative, positive, diplomatic, good-humored and flexible; willingness to accommodate schedules across global time zones as needed

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Location & Sponsorship: Work Authorization: Authorization to work in the US is a precondition of employment for this position. Visa will not sponsor applicants for work visas in connection with this position. No relocation will be provided for this position.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.