Head of ISO

About the Mission

We are building an AI-driven payments ecosystem designed to transform a $50B industry still dominated by slow, legacy processors. As Head of ISO, your mission is to architect, lead, and scale our merchant acquisition engine. You will set the commercial direction, build high-performing processes, and drive measurable revenue impact - first through hands-on execution, and then by leading automated, scalable systems you help define.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and launch the ISO function end-to-end: strategy, operating model, tooling, and execution;
• Own the full merchant pipeline: prospecting → qualification → underwriting coordination → negotiation → closing → onboarding/activation;
• Define and refine commercial fundamentals: pricing strategy, merchant segmentation, and offer frameworks aligned with risk and margins;
• Build scalable operational workflows and enforce portfolio health ratios (chargebacks, fraud, dispute rates), in close coordination with Risk/Compliance and Processing partners;
• Map and manage banking/acquiring coverage (“bank mapping”) and route merchants to the right partners based on vertical, geography, and risk profile;
• Build and maintain relationships with PSPs, acquirers, and key commercial partners to unlock approvals, improve conversion, and expand capacity;
• Standardize playbooks, scripts, and governance, ensuring every opportunity is tracked, advanced, and optimized for conversion;
• Drive process automation with Product & Engineering: convert manual tasks into AI-powered workflows across outreach, qualification, CRM hygiene, and reporting;
• Recruit, develop, and lead the ISO team, creating a high-performance culture centered on consistency, accountability, and results;
• Deliver advanced reporting, forecasting, and KPIs to leadership; act as a senior commercial partner shaping revenue strategy and growth targets.

You’re a Strong Fit If

• You’ve built or scaled an ISO/merchant services function and know what “from zero to repeatable engine” looks like;
• You have strong domain understanding of underwriting, processing economics, risk, and portfolio management;
• You are equally comfortable leading and executing - entrepreneurial, hands-on, and operationally rigorous;
• You thrive in fast-changing environments, build structure quickly, and drive predictable outcomes at scale;
• You operate with urgency, handle high-stakes initiatives, and take full ownership of results.

Required Skills

• Extensive experience in ISO / merchant services / payment processing, ideally with proven ISO build/launch exposure;
• Track record of closing complex merchant deals and managing merchant portfolios with strong risk awareness;
• Ability to define pricing/segmentation and align commercial execution with underwriting and partner constraints;
• Strong operational discipline: scalable workflows, CRM governance, forecasting, and KPI-driven management;
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management; leadership maturity and resilience.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience in fintech, SaaS, or payment technology environments;
• Familiarity with CRM systems, outbound engines, or automation workflows;
• Background in building or managing distributed commercial teams.

Why This Role Matters

• Shape the commercial backbone of a fast-moving, high-impact payments ecosystem.
• Direct access to founders and leadership, with zero bureaucracy and high decision velocity.
• Full ownership and autonomy: you build the system, the team, and the results from scratch.
• Competitive compensation with significant performance-based upside.
• A rare opportunity to lead innovation in one of the most lucrative and underserved segments of fintech.