Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships
Cash App · San Francisco Bay Area
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $185,000 / year
- San Francisco Bay Area
Job highlights
- Manage issuer and processor relationships end-to-end.
- Drive partner onboarding and product launches.
- Connect product, engineering, and compliance teams.
- Own and execute the Issuing roadmap.
- Build and maintain partner operating mechanisms.
About the role
About Cash App
It all started with an idea at Block in 2013. Initially built to take the pain out of peer-to-peer payments, Cash App has gone from a simple product with a single purpose to a dynamic ecosystem, developing unique financial products, including Afterpay/Clearpay, to provide a better way to send, spend, invest, borrow and save to our 50+ million monthly active customers. We want to redefine the world’s relationship with money to make it more relatable, instantly available, and universally accessible.
Today, Cash App has thousands of employees working globally across office and remote locations, with a culture geared toward innovation, collaboration and impact. We’ve been a distributed team since day one, and many of our roles can be done remotely from the countries where Cash App operates. No matter the location, we tailor our experience to ensure our employees are creative, productive, and happy.
The Role
We’re looking for a senior individual-contributor program manager to help scale Block’s Issuing programs through best-in-class partner management. Sitting within the Issuing team and reporting to an Issuing leader, you will operate independently as the DRI for a portfolio of our issuer and processor relationships (bank partners, BIN sponsors, and card processors). You’ll set program direction, own outcomes from partner onboarding through launch and into steady-state operations, and partner closely with Product, Engineering, Compliance, Legal, and Operations to deliver compliant, performant, and scalable card experiences for Block’s customers. This is a high-autonomy role: you’ll be expected to navigate ambiguity, make consequential decisions with limited oversight, and engage executive counterparts at our partners and internally.
You Will
- Independently own a portfolio of issuer and processor relationships end-to-end: program governance cadences, escalations, contract negotiations and amendments, change requests, and quarterly business reviews—acting as the primary point of contact with partner executives.
- Drive partner onboarding and product launches: coordinate diligence, technical integration, BIN setup, network and bank approvals, pilot scope, and GA launch readiness across all stakeholders.
- Be the connective tissue across Product, Engineering, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations, and Finance: translate partner requirements (network rules, bank policies, local regulatory obligations) into actionable internal plans and accelerate decisions.
- Set and drive program execution against the Issuing roadmap: define milestones, surface and resolve risks early, make calls on tradeoffs, and keep partners and internal stakeholders aligned on timelines and dependencies without needing day-to-day direction.
- Build durable partner operating mechanisms: SLAs, oversight reporting, incident and SEV handling protocols, MSA-driven obligations, and audit-ready documentation that meet partner, network, and internal policy standards.
- Be a go-to expert on the issuing ecosystem at Block: stay current on regulatory developments, network mandates, and partner ecosystem changes; shape program strategy and advise senior leadership on partner selection, sequencing, and tradeoffs.
- Communicate with clarity and apply AI for leverage: deliver concise, action-oriented updates to executive stakeholders; escalate risks early with data-backed options; and use AI/LLM-powered tooling for partner reporting, diligence workflows, and document review to reduce cycle time.
You Have
- 8+ years of program or product operations management in fintech, issuing, banking, or payments, with direct experience independently owning bank partner and/or card processor relationships at a senior level.
- Working knowledge of card issuing economics, BIN sponsorship models, network rules (Visa/Mastercard), and the regulatory landscape for consumer card products.
- Demonstrated track record of independently leading complex cross-functional programs through significant ambiguity—from partner onboarding through launch—with full ownership of strategy, timelines, scope, and risk.
- Experience independently designing and standing up scalable program operating mechanisms (governance forums, SLAs, oversight reporting, incident response, playbooks) in a regulated environment.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills; adept at influencing without authority across executive partner counterparts and internal product/engineering/compliance teams.
- Track record of building partner trust at the executive level and operating with discretion and sound judgment across sensitive commercial and regulatory matters.
- A builder’s mindset paired with senior judgment—comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and hands-on execution in a 0-to-1 product environment without needing structured direction.
Nice to Have
- Experience launching consumer financial products with multiple bank or processor partners; deep familiarity with at least one Tier 1 issuing bank or processor.
- Background in compliance program management (KYC, AML, BSA, sanctions) or partner oversight in a regulated fintech.
Key skills/competency
- Program Management
- Issuer Partnerships
- Fintech
- Banking
- Payments
- Card Issuing
- Regulatory Compliance
- Stakeholder Management
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Risk Management
Skills & topics
- Program Manager
- Issuer Partnerships
- Fintech
- Payments
- Card Issuing
- Partnership Management
- Product Operations
- Financial Services
- Relationship Management
- Program Management
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 8+ years in fintech, issuing, or payments, emphasizing direct experience with bank/processor relationships and program operations.
- Showcase your skills: Quantify achievements in leading cross-functional programs, managing ambiguity, and implementing scalable operating mechanisms in regulated environments.
- Demonstrate impact: Provide examples of building partner trust at the executive level and influencing without authority.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your approach to navigating ambiguity, making decisions with limited oversight, and driving complex projects to completion.
Technical preparation
Review card network rules (Visa, Mastercard).,Understand BIN sponsorship models.,Familiarize with issuing economics.,Study regulatory landscape for consumer cards.
Behavioral questions
Describe navigating complex ambiguity.,How do you influence without authority?,Share an experience building executive trust.,How do you drive execution with autonomy?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical career progression for a Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships at Cash App?
- While specific paths vary, a Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships at Cash App can progress to senior leadership roles within the Issuing team, potentially leading larger portfolios, managing multiple programs, or moving into strategy or operational leadership positions within the broader Block organization. Your demonstrated ability to handle ambiguity and drive outcomes will be key.
- How does Cash App support remote work for Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships roles?
- Cash App has a strong remote-first culture and many roles, including this Program Manager position, can be done remotely from countries where Cash App operates. The company focuses on ensuring remote employees are creative, productive, and happy, with tailored experiences regardless of location.
- What are the key performance indicators for a Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships at Cash App?
- Key performance indicators would likely revolve around the successful onboarding and launch of new issuer and processor partners, the performance and scalability of card experiences, the effective management of partner relationships (including contract negotiations and QBRs), and the ability to mitigate risks and drive execution against the Issuing roadmap.
- How does Cash App utilize AI in its hiring process for roles like Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships?
- Cash App may use automated AI tools to evaluate job applications for efficiency and consistency, ensuring compliance with local regulations and bias audits. All personal data is handled in accordance with state and local privacy laws.
- What kind of decision-making authority does a Program Manager, Issuer Partnerships have at Cash App?
- This role offers high autonomy. You will be expected to navigate ambiguity, make consequential decisions with limited oversight, and engage executive counterparts at partners and internally. You will own outcomes and drive program execution, including making calls on tradeoffs.
- What is the expected level of interaction with executive leadership, both internal and external, for this role?
- You will frequently engage with executive counterparts at partner organizations and internal senior leadership. This includes acting as the primary point of contact with partner executives, advising senior leadership on program strategy, and delivering concise, action-oriented updates to executive stakeholders.