The posting
About Us Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.
Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.
Job Description
The Analyst, U.S. Merchant Business Development supports the growth and management of Visa's Light Touch Merchant Portfolio, a portfolio of approximately 300 merchant relationships across multiple industries.
This role works directly with the Senior Director, U.S. Merchant Business Development to strengthen merchant relationships, identify sales opportunities, expand Visa's relationship footprint, and improve portfolio coverage through scalable and data-driven outreach programs.
The Analyst will play a central role in helping Visa build and maintain relationships across a broad portfolio of merchants while proactively identifying opportunities that can generate future revenue growth. Through direct partnership with the Senior Director, the Analyst will gain exposure to account strategy, relationship development, prospecting, opportunity management, debit routing initiatives, co-brand opportunities, Value-in-Kind (VIK), value-added services, and other strategic growth initiatives.
This position is ideal for someone interested in developing a career in strategic sales, business development, account management, or payments. The role is designed as a developmental pathway into front-line business development and account management leadership within Visa's Merchant organization. It is well suited for both commercially minded professionals seeking to strengthen their selling skills and operational professionals looking to transition into a revenue-generating, client-facing role.
The role requires a highly organized, proactive, and commercially curious individual who enjoys solving problems, building relationships, leveraging AI-enabled productivity tools, and turning data into action.
Essential Functions
The Analyst will:
- Partner directly with the Senior Director, U.S. Merchant Business Development to support the management and growth of a portfolio of approximately 300 merchant accounts.
- Execute and continuously improve outbound merchant engagement communications designed to maintain Visa visibility and generate commercial opportunities.
- Source, draft, coordinate, and distribute merchant-facing communications, including thought leadership, product updates, sales campaigns, and relationship development content.
- Build, maintain, and continuously improve merchant contact databases, including identifying replacement contacts when existing stakeholders leave a client organization.
- Expand Visa's merchant relationship footprint by identifying new contacts, influencers, decision makers, and organizations relevant to Visa's strategic priorities.
- Research and recommend new merchants for portfolio inclusion based on referrals, industry developments, market intelligence, emerging opportunities, and strategic alignment.
- Maintain datasets tracking client engagement, outreach activity, contact coverage, opportunity status, relationship development, and other key portfolio metrics.
- Support the Senior Director in managing Visa's relationships and participation within key merchant industry organizations and sponsorships, including the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), while identifying and evaluating opportunities to expand Visa's engagement within additional merchant-focused organizations such as the Merchant Risk Council (MRC) and other relevant industry associations.
- Actively monitor assigned merchants for commercial signals and emerging opportunities involving debit routing, co-brand programs, acceptance solutions, Value-in-Kind (VIK), data solutions, consulting services, risk products, and other Visa capabilities.
- Prospect, qualify, and develop sales opportunities through research, outreach, relationship development, and internal collaboration.
- Independently manage and advance smaller and lower-complexity opportunities when appropriate, while partnering with the Senior Director, Director, and Senior Managers to identify, develop, and execute larger strategic opportunities.
- Maintain a structured pipeline of identified opportunities and recommend next steps.
- Develop recommendations on account prioritization, relationship strategy, and opportunity pursuit based on quantitative and qualitative account intelligence.
- Utilize AI-enabled tools, automation, CRM platforms, and analytics to improve prospecting, relationship management, portfolio visibility, and overall sales productivity.
- Coordinate with Product, Marketing, Consulting, Acceptance Solutions, Risk, Co-brand, Debit Routing, and other Visa teams to support client initiatives and commercial objectives.
- Develop a broad understanding of the payments ecosystem, Visa capabilities, merchant business models, commercial negotiations, portfolio management, and sales methodologies through direct partnership with senior business development leaders and hands-on participation in client and opportunity management activities.
- Travel up to 10% of the time.
Why This Role Is Unique
Unlike traditional analyst roles focused primarily on reporting or operations, this position sits at the intersection of sales, relationship management, portfolio strategy, and opportunity development. The Analyst will be expected not only to support the business development process, but to actively contribute to Visa's merchant growth strategy by identifying, qualifying, and advancing commercial opportunities.
This role provides a unique opportunity to develop both analytical and selling skills while working directly with senior commercial leadership and some of Visa's most important merchant relationships.
Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- 2 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD, or PhD)
Preferred Qualifications
- 3 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or more than 2 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD)
- Experience in sales, business development, account management, customer success, consulting, analytics, operations, marketing, or related business functions.
- Strong interest in developing a career in strategic sales, relationship management, account management, or business development.
- Demonstrated ability to identify commercial opportunities through research, analysis, and client engagement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational and project management capabilities with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and develop actionable recommendations.
- Experience using CRM, sales management, marketing automation, or analytics tools is a plus.
- Experience leveraging AI-enabled productivity tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness is a plus.
- Collaborative, curious, self-motivated, and eager to learn.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Copilot/AI, Microsoft Dynamics (MSD), and related business applications.
- Familiarity with payments, fintech, retail, e-commerce, marketing, or financial services industries is a plus.
Information for US Applicants
For roles located in the US, the estimated salary range for this position is $93,500 to $171,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity.Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.
Work Hours
Varies upon the needs of the department.
Travel Requirements
This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.
Mental/Physical Requirements
This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.
Visa is an EEO Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protect veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the EEOC guidelines and applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.
