Director of Strategic Clients & Partnerships, Americas

Great to Meet You! We are AscendaAscenda powers the growth of leading financial services brands worldwide with premium rewards programs that differentiate their products, drive profitable customer behaviors, and create sustained engagement.We are behind the world-class rewards propositions of major banks and fintechs around the globe, including brands like American Express, Capital One, Brex, Robinhood, Ramp, HSBC, Virgin Money (Australia), SMBC (Japan), ICBC (China), Bradesco (Brazil), ANZ (Australia), HDFC (India) and many others.We are a thriving global Loyalty as a Service company and experiencing rapid expansion. Join our dynamic finance team as one of its earliest leaders, contributing to the development of our financial planning strategies as we strive for hypergrowth. Our team spans 20 cities worldwide, with dual headquarters in Singapore and New York, totaling 200 team members.The RoleAs the Director of Strategic Clients & Partnerships, Americas, you will report to the VP of Strategic Clients & Partnerships, Americas, and play a critical role in driving revenue growth across the region. Your focus will be on strategically managing and expanding relationships with key financial services clients and rewards partners as Ascenda scales its global marketplace.You will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of Ascenda's strategic clients as well as existing redemption content partners across travel categories (such as airlines and hotels). You will work closely with these brands to help them grow their revenue and loyalty by accessing Ascenda's financial services customer base, while simultaneously ensuring our bank clients maximize the engagement and value of their loyalty programs. In addition, you will define and execute the strategy for acquiring new content partners and unlocking innovative new redemption categories that resonate with tomorrow's consumers.Your ImpactDrive growth and own the strategy for a portfolio of Ascenda's key travel partners and strategic financial services clientsActively engage with complex clients and partners on a regular basis to develop and execute innovative growth and marketing strategiesCollaborate closely with the Senior Leadership team, Business Development, and Product to define the future of rewards content and drive the addition of new categoriesExecute rapidly by solving problems, removing obstacles, and showcasing business resiliency to navigate complex situations and workstreams for both partners and clientsMeasure and analyze portfolio performance, presenting problem statements, context, and recommendations to leaders and peers to drive a continuous innovation agendaLead, coach, and develop a small team, independently defining success, setting goals, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring strong executionConduct in-depth market analysis of the U.S. loyalty landscape (e.g., airlines, banks) to uncover trends, effectively "matchmaking" new partners to client needs and identifying new strategic opportunitiesRepresent Ascenda at industry conferences and events by delivering high-impact speaking engagements that elevate our brand visibility and position the company as a thought leaderWho You Are10+ years of experience in loyalty & partnerships and/or business developmentSignificant exposure to loyalty programs, especially in a financial services contextProven ability to build and commercialize external relationships with large merchants and complex clientsEmpathetic coach who sets individual goals, conducts performance reviews, and actively supports team member developmentDisciplined execution and project management skills, with an ability to "connect-the-dots" across business dependencies to progress the business forwardStrong analytical skills to make fast, well-grounded decisions, backed by specialist knowledge of the industryThrives in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment; hands-on, resourceful, and able to drive impact amid ambiguityExcited by ambitious goals, rapid growth, and breaking new ground in the American marketStructured thinker and communicator who presents ideas in a simple, actionable mannerStrong alignment with Ascenda's core values of growth mindset, hands-on ownership, supportive collaboration, and radical simplicityWhy Join Ascenda?Ascenda offers the unique opportunity to lead in the loyalty ecosystem space, shaping the future of rewards programs. We are passionate, we keep things simple, we focus on results, we work together & we innovate!We have a rewarding working place that provides:High growth environment & exponential career developmentMobile & flexible work environmentWFH office equipment allowanceMedical insurance coverage401K program with company matchEmployee recognition programsCompetitive compensationTravel perks & Employee rewardsAscenda is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds. Join us on our mission to make loyalty simple and rewarding for everyone, everywhere.The salary range for this position is between $150,000-$250,000 per year, depending on experience and location.