Payments Partnership Manager

Kraken Digital Asset Exchange
Summary
Join Kraken's Payments & Blockchain team and help shape the future of global money movement as a Payment Partnerships Manager. You will build and manage relationships with key payment providers, collaborate on high-impact projects like local fiat rails, assess and launch geo-expansion efforts, and represent Kraken at industry events. This role is crucial for unlocking new markets and enhancing client experiences globally. You will report to the Head of Payment Partnerships and work with various internal teams. The position requires a strong payments industry background and a deep understanding of money movement across different rails. Based in Europe, you will support coverage across time zones.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in the payments industry, ideally in business development, partnerships, banking, or fintech
- Strong existing network in the payments ecosystem (banks, card networks, APMs, PSPs)
- Deep understanding of how money moves across rails—ACH, SEPA, Faster Payments, cards, stablecoins, and emerging systems
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills—you’re equally comfortable leading a partner negotiation or presenting internally to execs
- Collaborative by nature, with experience working across cross-functional teams
- Self-starter with a passion for ownership and the grit to move complex projects forward
- Global mindset and excitement for the future of crypto and financial infrastructure
Responsibilities
- Build and manage relationships with top-tier payment service providers, banks, and infrastructure partners across key regions
- Collaborate closely on high-impact projects, including local fiat rails for deposits/withdrawals, card programs, stablecoin settlement, and instant payouts
- Assess, prioritize, and launch geo-expansion efforts, identifying where Kraken should go next and how to get there
- Represent Kraken at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings globally, serving as a trusted voice for our payments roadmap
- Partner with internal stakeholders (Legal, Compliance, Product, Treasury, Finance) to execute complex initiatives
- Provide ongoing partner performance analysis and support negotiations of commercial terms and integration timelines
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with crypto companies or bridging TradFi <> Web3