Sr Manager/Assoc Director, Merchants & Payments

About Soda Health 

Soda Health is a technology company that administers Smart Benefits to connect people to products and services they need, when they need them, so they can live healthier lives. We partner with payers and retailers to deliver expansive benefits for things like healthy foods, OTC medications, or transportation. Soda Health is reinventing benefits administration so that everyone benefits with more value for each and better outcomes for all. Soda Health is a Series B stage company, backed by leading investors including General Catalyst, Define Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Pinegrove Capital Partners, and Qiming Venture Partners. 

The Job at a Glance 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Merchants & Payments, you will own the success of our new market ventures with our issuing banks, payment processors, and card networks. You will serve as a trusted thought partner to both internal and external stakeholders as we work to execute new integrations and open new market opportunities. On behalf of our clients (primarily health plans and government entities), you will navigate the rules and procedures of both the issuing banks and the payment networks. You will ensure that all processor integrations and card programs are delivered on time and with exceptional quality, and you will have primary accountability for managing these projects/programs and their ongoing operations on a day-to-day basis. 

NOTE: This role will be leveled as either Senior Manager or Associate Director based on candidates’ skills and experience. 

What You Will Do 

Working within an organization created at the intersection of financial technology, healthcare, and retail, no two days will look the same.  Typical responsibilities of the role include:  

• Own the day-to-day relationship between Soda Health and both our issuing bank and our payment processor, acting as their primary point of contact for all matters. 
• Execute highly strategic large-scale financial integration projects that involve multiple high-profile external partners. Ensure all relevant stakeholders both internally and externally receive timely and accurate information regarding project status, risks, timelines, etc. 
• Own critical pieces of implementation for new card programs, including: 
  • Conducting Know Your Business (KYB) / Due Diligence for new programs and ensuring Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance. 
  • Establishing payment flows (some novel) for new programs and ensuring all necessary configurations and documentation are in place with our bank and processor. 
  • Navigating agency review processes for government programs. 
  • Obtaining all necessary approvals for program launch 
• Manage external relationships with clients and vendor partners at an A+ level and maintain flawless execution of ongoing operational functions, including: 
  • Vendor / Issue Management 
  • Fraud Investigations 
  • Dispute Management 
  • Collections and Recovery 
  • Collateral Review 
• Maintain crisp internal and external process documentation, as well as hyper-organized client documentation (collateral, regulatory forms, approvals, etc.). 
• Establish strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including Product, Engineering, Account Management, Implementation, Legal & Compliance, Finance, and other key business partners. Act as a liaison between these groups and ensure comprehensive and timely communication of projects to all relevant stakeholders. 
• Gain a deep understanding of Soda Health’s existing tools and program management infrastructure, which will allow you to develop strategies to improve our program efficiency, drive the implementation of new solutions, and ensure updated processes are aligned with internal stakeholders and external partners.  
• Act as a key thought partner with Product and Engineering to ensure new roadmap items are scoped appropriately with buy-in from our bank and processor to enable operational excellence when delivered. 

About You 

While every candidate brings a unique resume and prospective, an ideal candidate will include:  

• 7-10+ years of experience working in fintech, banking, finance, payments processing, or a related field. Experience managing government financial programs is a plus. 
• Ability to get up to speed quickly and execute with quality and autonomy within your first 1-2 months. 
• Relentless pursuit of pr