Sr. Director, Practice Management
FIS
Are you curious, motivated, and forward-thinking? At FIS you’ll have the opportunity to work on some of the most challenging and relevant issues in financial services and technology. Our talented people empower us, and we believe in being part of a team that is open, collaborative, entrepreneurial, passionate and above all fun.
About the role / team:
The FIS Professional Services team partners with clients across EMEA to deliver complex consulting programmes, strengthen operational performance and support long-term business growth.
As Senior Director, Professional Services, you will take leadership responsibility for a significant EMEA portfolio of approximately 40 clients and 35 active programmes within the payment’s domain. You will provide strategic leadership across complex payment and financial technology engagements, working within a large, matrixed consulting organisation supporting approximately 259 resources, including direct leadership of delivery managers and consulting teams.
This is a highly visible senior leadership position that brings together consulting strategy, portfolio governance, client delivery and commercial growth. You will collaborate with senior stakeholders across FIS’s global and international lines of business, as well as executive-level contacts within client organisations.
The environment is fast-paced, complex and commercially focused. It offers the opportunity to lead at regional scale, influence the direction of the consulting portfolio and make a measurable impact on client relationships, programme performance and business growth.
What you will be doing:
Lead and develop the overall Professional Services strategy for a complex portfolio of clients and consulting programmes across EMEA.
Take ownership of approximately 40 client relationships and provide direction and oversight across approximately 35 active programmes.
Oversee the successful delivery of large and complex consulting engagements, ensuring programmes achieve strong client, operational and commercial outcomes.
Create new revenue channels via consulting / service offerings and the associated operating models to deliver against the same
Establish and maintain effective portfolio governance, performance management, risk management and escalation frameworks across multiple clients and programmes.
Build trusted relationships with C-suite executives, senior client stakeholders and internal FIS leaders, acting as a strategic partner and providing clear, credible guidance on complex business and delivery matters.
Lead, support and develop a large, geographically dispersed organisation through a combination of direct leadership and matrix management.
Empower consulting and delivery leaders to maintain high standards of execution, accountability, collaboration and client service.
Partner closely with sales and account management teams to identify new commercial opportunities, develop existing client relationships and create additional revenue channels.
Take ownership of portfolio-level commercial performance, balancing revenue growth and account expansion with delivery quality, operational discipline and client satisfaction.
Lead strategic business development initiatives informed by client requirements, market developments and changes within the wider industry.
Monitor programme and portfolio performance, using data and operational insight to identify issues, improve processes and optimise resources.
Lead the resolution of complex client and delivery challenges, establishing effective contingency plans and maintaining confidence during periods of pressure or change.
Deliver polished presentations and portfolio updates to executive audiences, clearly communicating performance, risks, opportunities and recommended actions.
Build an effective transition and portfolio plan, establishing clear priorities for client relationships, programme performance and governance during the initial stages of the role.
Represent Professional Services across internal and external leadership forums, helping to strengthen FIS’s client impact and industry influence.
Undertake occasional regional travel to support client relationships and business priorities.
What you bring:
Significant senior leadership experience within professional services, consulting, technology services, financial services or another complex B2B client environment.
Demonstrable experience leading large teams, including responsibility for approximately 20 to 30 or more direct reports and at least 50 indirect resources within a matrixed organisation.
A strong track record of overseeing complex portfolios and delivering large-scale consulting, software, technology or transformation programmes.
Proven ability to lead across organisational and geographical boundaries, creating alignment among delivery teams, commercial functions and senior stakeholders.
Experience managing executive-level client relationships and operating as a credible, trusted adviser to C-suite and senior business leaders.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to explain complex matters, influence decisions and manage challenging stakeholder conversations.
Demonstrable commercial leadership, including experience of P&L or portfolio ownership, account growth, business development or identifying new revenue opportunities.
A strong record of partnering with sales and account management teams to grow existing client relationships and pursue new commercial opportunities.
Strong operational leadership capabilities, including portfolio governance, performance management, risk management, problem resolution, process optimisation and resource planning.
The judgement and resilience to operate effectively in a high-pressure client environment, anticipate challenges and put appropriate contingency plans in place.
A proactive and consultative leadership style, with the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution and follow-through.
Experience working in a B2B environment and delivering services or programmes for enterprise clients.
Banking or broader financial services experience is preferred, with payments or core banking experience considered advantageous.
The ability to operate from London while leading a geographically distributed portfolio across EMEA and travelling within the region when required
What we offer you:
A multifaceted job with a high degree of responsibility and a broad spectrum of opportunities
A modern, international work environment and a dedicated and motivated team
A broad range of professional education and personal development possibilities - FIS is your final career step!
A competitive salary and benefits
A variety of career development tools, resources and opportunities
The chance to work on some of the most challenging, relevant issues in financial services & technology
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Sourcing Model
Recruitment at FIS works primarily on a direct sourcing model; a relatively small portion of our hiring is through recruitment agencies. FIS does not accept resumes from recruitment agencies which are not on the preferred supplier list and is not responsible for any related fees for resumes submitted to job postings, our employees, or any other part of our company.