Director, Small Business (Turkey & Azerbaijan)

About the role

Mastercard is hiring a Director, Small Business (SME) based in Istanbul, Turkey. The role covers the Turkey and Azerbaijan markets through regional market research, promotion, representation, communication and coordination, and reports to the Eastern Europe Division Lead. It calls for a strategic, consultative mindset and the ability to act as a trusted advisor to clients.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic advisory support on small business market developments and client needs, offering non-binding market insights and head office-approved recommendations.
• Identify and report market trends, ecosystem developments and areas for further assessment to the relevant head office or commercial teams.
• Support promotion of head office-approved small business solutions and coordinate communications and introductions.
• Provide market intelligence, competitor observations and customer feedback to support regional planning for small business initiatives across Turkey and Azerbaijan.
• Monitor and report small business payment trends, customer needs and market developments.
• Work with clients and internal stakeholders to develop non-binding strategic recommendations and coordinate implementation support across product and market teams.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration, information transfer, governance and continuous improvement across internal stakeholders and partner teams.

Required profile

• Deep knowledge of card products and services, including small business card and solution offerings, with experience in market research, client advisory, ecosystem engagement, promotion or regional coordination.
• Progressive business experience with a strong track record in the payments industry and a solid understanding of commercial and consumer payments.
• Experience in consulting, client advisory or advisory-led client management, with a track record of working directly with customers on site to understand needs, develop recommendations and guide implementation.
• Strong strategic thinking and consulting capabilities, including assessing client needs and communicating with senior stakeholders.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder-management skills, able to drive outcomes with partners who do not report directly to the role.
• High bias for action, with disciplined, results-driven approach and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, writing and presentation skills, with executive presence in client-facing settings.