Director Head of Acquisition (m|f|x) Frankfurt

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.
Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

How will you make an impact in this role?

This Director role is responsible for designing and executing the sales strategy for the German market, covering all acquisition channels – both internal (e.g. Strategic Sales, Telesales) and external (e.g. bank partners).

The successful candidate will lead a team of 10 experienced acquisition professionals, take a hands-on role in key negotiations, establish and manage senior partner relationships and drive profitable business growth in the market. They will analyze market trends, the competitive landscape, regulatory developments, adapting strategy accordingly, implementing new initiatives and identifying emerging opportunities.

Reporting to the General Manager and Head of Merchant Services Germany & Austria, the Director will work closely with the issuing business in Germany, with acquisition leaders across the region and with the full range of Merchant Services support functions - including Marketing, Pricing, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Control Management and Payment Consulting - to accelerate coverage growth.

Tasks

• Design and execute the German strategic sales plan to expand merchant coverage and deliver against business metrics.
• Lead negotiations on merchant acceptance, ensuring portfolio retention while driving profitable coverage growth.
• Leading and driving all activities to further develop our partnership models in order to increase coverage in the SME segment.
• Oversee new merchant acquisition through the dedicated new business team.
• Collaborate with Telesales teams in Madrid to define strategic direction and key objectives for the market.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with acquisition partners.
• Ensure full compliance with governance, risk and regulatory requirements.
• Position American Express to maximize its long-term growth opportunities in Germany.
• Represent Merchant Services Germany within the wider American Express organization.
• Set ambitious growth targets and ensure consistent delivery

Profile / Your qualification / Your personality

• Proven senior leader with a track record of developing and executing successful sales strategies, ideally in the payments sector.
• Outstanding people leadership skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and develop teams while role-modelling strong leadership behaviors.
• Growth mindset with proactive, innovative and decisive thinking.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, capable of translating business strategy into actionable plans that drive measurable growth.
• Exceptional communicator and senior relationship manager, able to influence and engage stakeholders up to board level.
• Experienced negotiator with a history of delivering results in complex, highly competitive markets.
• Demonstrated success in operating within a matrixed, regional, and/or global environment.
• In-depth knowledge of the European acquiring and payments landscape.
• Strong understanding of European payments legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English language skills.

That awaits you

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• Competitive base salary
• Bonus incentives
• Support for financial well-being and retirement
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• Healthy Living activities, including insightful health and workout webinars and medical screening
• Healthy Living activities or relaxation programs with showers on site
• Subsidized company fitness membership with "Family Plus 1" at Egym Wellpass
• Integrative and helpful benefits for parents, including first-aid rooms for privacy while breastfeeding, emergency childcare services, and childcare subsidies
• Occupational health consultation for workplace health advice
• Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program
• Career development and training opportunities
  

Amex Flex offers our colleagues flexibility to develop personally and professionally while ensuring that the special benefits of our unique personal culture are preserved. In Germany, we have concluded an agreement with the works council with specific directives on Amex Flex. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues work either on site, in a hybrid model or completely virtually.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

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Contact

Location

Güterplatz 1, D-60327 Frankfurt