Head of Co-Branded Cards
- Dubai
- Permanent
- Full-time
As Head of Co-Branded Cards, you will define the vision, lead execution across commercial, product, and operational workstreams, and manage the overall financial performance of the program. You'll drive strategy and growth at the intersection of Fintech innovation, consumer loyalty, and Everything App engagement.
The role involves close collaboration with internal teams across Product, Engineering, Marketing, Finance, and Legal, as well as leadership of external partnerships with banks, schemes, and third-party providers. From card acquisition and customer engagement to program health and partner strategy, you will shape a flagship product with real impact across the region.Key ResponsibilitiesProgram Strategy & Execution
Own the end-to-end lifecycle of the co-branded card program - from concept to launch, scale, and continuous optimization.
Act as the P&L owner, accountable for growth, customer experience, financial performance, and partner success.
Serve as the primary interface with external partners (issuing banks, networks, processors, vendors) to shape and deliver on the program roadmap.
Lead internal alignment and execution across cross-functional teams including Product, Engineering, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and Support.Loyalty & Value Proposition
Design and deliver compelling rewards and benefits, integrating Careem's loyalty engine and lifestyle partnerships into the card experience.
Source, structure, and manage merchant offers that drive engagement and relevance in everyday use cases.
Collaborate closely with Core Product and Loyalty teams to embed redemptions into the Careem Super App experience.Go-to-Market & Optimization
Lead go-to-market planning across Marketing, Ops, Support, and Analytics to ensure a seamless launch and sustained growth.
Define and monitor KPIs across acquisition, activation, usage, and retention.
Establish post-launch feedback loops and performance reviews to drive continuous product and partnership improvements.Requirements
● 8-10 years of experience in cards, payments, fintech, or program/project leadership roles.
● Deep understanding of the card ecosystem - issuing, processing, scheme economics, and partner dynamics.
● Proven experience owning a P&L and driving business outcomes in a product-led growth environment.
● Strong track record in launching and scaling financial products, ideally involving rewards or loyalty elements.
● Exceptional project management and cross-functional leadership skills.
● Excellent communication and stakeholder influence, both internally and externally.
● Analytical, commercial, and strategic thinker with a bias for action.
● Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related field; MBA is a plus.Preferred Qualifications
● Experience working in the UAE or broader GCC fintech/payments/tech landscape.
● Familiarity with card issuing platforms and loyalty or membership-based business models.
● Exposure to embedded finance or Super App ecosystems.
● Entrepreneurial mindset - comfortable rolling up sleeves and navigating ambiguity.
● Demonstrated ability to lead and scale complex, multi-market programs.What we'll provide youWe offer colleagues the opportunity to drive impact in the region while they learn and grow. As a full time Careem colleague, you will be able to:
- Work and learn from great minds by joining a community of inspiring colleagues.
- Put your passion to work in a purposeful organisation dedicated to creating impact in a region with a lot of untapped potential.
- Explore new opportunities to learn and grow every day.
- Work 4 days a week in office & 1 day from home, and remotely from any country in the world for 30 days a year with unlimited vacation days per year. (If you are in an individual contributor role in tech, you will have 2 office days a week and 3 to work from home.)
- Access to healthcare benefits and fitness reimbursements for health activities including gym, health club, and training classes.