Director of Strategic Clients & Partnerships,… at Kaligo · New York

Great to Meet You! We are Ascenda

Ascenda powers the growth of leading financial services brands worldwide with premium rewards programs that differentiate their products, drive profitable customer behaviors, and create sustained engagement.

We are behind the world-class rewards propositions of major banks and fintechs around the globe, including brands like American Express, Capital One, Brex, Revolut, Ramp, HSBC, Bank of New Zealand, Virgin Money (Australia), Bradesco (Brazil), ANZ (Australia), HDFC (India) and many others.

We are a thriving global Loyalty as a Service company and experiencing rapid expansion. Join our dynamic finance team as one of its earliest leaders, contributing to the development of our financial planning strategies as we strive for hypergrowth. Our team spans 20 cities worldwide, with dual headquarters in Singapore and New York, totaling 200 team members.

The Role

As the Director of Strategic Clients & Partnerships, Americas, you will report to the VP of Strategic Clients & Partnerships, Americas, and play a critical role in driving revenue growth across the region. Your focus will be on strategically managing and expanding relationships with key financial services clients and rewards partners as Ascenda scales its global marketplace.

You will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of Ascenda’s strategic clients as well as existing redemption content partners across travel categories (such as airlines and hotels). You will work closely with these brands to help them grow their revenue and loyalty by accessing Ascenda’s financial services customer base, while simultaneously ensuring our bank clients maximize the engagement and value of their loyalty programs. In addition, you will define and execute the strategy for acquiring new content partners and unlocking innovative new redemption categories that resonate with tomorrow’s consumers.

Your Impact

• Drive growth and own the strategy for a portfolio of Ascenda’s key travel partners and strategic financial services clients
• Actively engage with complex clients and partners on a regular basis to develop and execute innovative growth and marketing strategies
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership team, Business Development, and Product to define the future of rewards content and drive the addition of new categories
• Execute rapidly by solving problems, removing obstacles, and showcasing business resiliency to navigate complex situations and workstreams for both partners and clients
• Measure and analyze portfolio performance, presenting problem statements, context, and recommendations to leaders and peers to drive a continuous innovation agenda
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team, independently defining success, setting goals, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring strong execution
• Conduct in-depth market analysis of the U.S. loyalty landscape (e.g., airlines, banks) to uncover trends, effectively "matchmaking" new partners to client needs and identifying new strategic opportunities
• Represent Ascenda at industry conferences and events by delivering high-impact speaking engagements that elevate our brand visibility and position the company as a thought leader

Who You Are

• 10+ years of experience in loyalty & partnerships and/or business development
• Significant exposure to loyalty programs, especially in a financial services context
• Proven ability to build and commercialize external relationships with large merchants and complex clients
• Empathetic coach who sets individual goals, conducts performance reviews, and actively supports team member development
• Disciplined execution and project management skills, with an ability to "connect-the-dots" across business dependencies to progress the business forward
• Strong analytical skills to make fast, well-grounded decisions, backed by specialist knowledge of the industry
• Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment; hands-on, resourceful, and able to drive impact amid ambiguity
• Excited by ambitious goals, rapid growth, and breaking new ground in the American market
• Structured thinker and communicator who presents ideas in a simple, actionable manner
• Strong alignment with Ascenda’s core values of growth mindset, hands-on ownership, supportive collaboration, and radical simplicity

Why Join Ascenda?

Ascenda offers the unique opportunity to lead in the loyalty ecosystem space, shaping the future of rewards programs. We are passionate, we keep things simple, we focus on results, we work together & we innovate!

We have a rewarding working place that provides:

• High growth environment & exponential career development
• Mobile & flexible work environment
• WFH office equipment allowance
• Medical insurance coverage
• 401K program with company match
• Employee recognition programs
• Competitive compensation
• Travel perks & Employee rewards

Ascenda is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds. Join us on our mission to make loyalty simple and rewarding for everyone, everywhere.

The salary range for this position is between $150,000-$250,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Ready to power growth for the financial services industry? Apply now! Together, we'll redefine what's possible.