Specialist, Product Management

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200 countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Specialist, Product Management Role Overview This role sits at the heart of Mastercard’s European SME organisation and is designed for a high potential, MBA calibre individual with strong analytical horsepower and strategic instinct. The Senior Analyst will own competitive analysis, strategic insight, and priority project support across the SME product and commercial agenda. Working closely with senior leaders across Product, Sales, Strategy, and Regional Management, this individual will help shape where Mastercard plays, how it wins, and how quickly it scales in the European SME payments ecosystem. This is a developmental, fast track role intended for individuals with the capability and ambition to progress rapidly into broader leadership positions within the organisation. Key Responsibilities Competitive Intelligence & Market Insight • Own and continuously evolve a European SME competitive intelligence framework, covering fintechs, banks, networks, and alternative payment providers. • Track competitor strategies, pricing, propositions, partnerships, and go to market models, translating insight into clear executive ready implications. • Develop structured points of view on market trends (e.g. embedded finance, working capital, digital payments, platform plays) and their relevance to Mastercard SME. • Support senior stakeholders with concise, high impact materials for leadership forums, strategy reviews, and external engagements. Strategic Project Support • Act as a trusted problem solver on high priority strategic initiatives sponsored by SME and regional leadership. • Structure ambiguous problems, develop hypotheses, run analysis, and synthesise findings into clear recommendations. • Support strategy development across topics such as portfolio prioritisation, product expansion, partnership strategy, and geographic focus. • Coordinate cross functional inputs (Product, Sales, Finance, Marketing) into coherent strategic outputs. Executive Communication & Decision Support • Prepare sharp, data driven presentations and briefing materials for senior management. • Translate complex analysis into clear stories and decisions, tailored to executive audiences. • Contribute to business reviews, strategic planning cycles, and investment discussions. All About You Experience & Background • MBA or equivalent postgraduate degree strongly preferred. • Experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, fintech, payments, or commercial analytics. • Strong grounding in market analysis, competitive strategy, and business case development. • Exposure to payments, financial services, or B2B / SME ecosystems is an advantage but not a prerequisite. Skills & Capabilities • Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to structure complex, open ended problems. • Strong commercial judgement and strategic curiosity. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to influence without authority. • Comfortable working with senior leaders and navigating a matrixed organisation. • Highly motivated, intellectually curious, and eager to take on increasing responsibility. Mindset & Potential • Demonstrated ambition and capacity to progress quickly into broader strategic or leadership roles. • Proactive, ownership oriented, and comfortable operating with limited direction. • Team oriented, collaborative, and trusted by stakeholders. Why This Role • High visibility with senior SME and regional leadership. ... (truncated, view full listing at source)