Sr. Director, Lifecycle & Performance Marketing - Zelle

About this role

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle®, Paze℠, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Overall Purpose Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of lifecycle and performance marketing for Zelle across consumer and small business audiences. This role is responsible for driving customer enrollment, activation, engagement, retention, and transaction growth through coordinated marketing programs executed in partnership with financial institutions, product, analytics, operations, and external partners. The Senior Director will establish the long-term lifecycle marketing vision for Zelle, build scalable growth frameworks, develop performance measurement standards, and translate customer and network insights into actionable marketing strategies that support business growth and network health.  This role will also manage a small team.

Essential Functions • Lead and develop the Zelle Lifecycle and Performance Marketing organization, including oversight of Consumer and Small Business lifecycle marketing strategies and teams.

• Define the lifecycle marketing vision and roadmap across enrollment, onboarding, first transaction, repeat usage, engagement, retention, and reactivation.

• Develop integrated performance marketing strategies that drive enrollment, transaction growth, and long-term customer value across consumer and small business use cases.

• Partner with owner banks, direct connect financial institutions, and internal stakeholders to improve adoption and execution of lifecycle marketing programs.

• Establish segmentation, targeting, testing, and measurement frameworks to improve marketing effectiveness and optimize business outcomes.

• Lead development of marketing playbooks, campaign frameworks, and best practices that participating financial institutions can implement across their owned channels.

• Translate customer behavior, transaction data, campaign results, and market insights into actionable recommendations for growth and optimization.

• Develop measurement standards, dashboards, and reporting frameworks to evaluate lifecycle and performance marketing effectiveness across the Zelle network.

• Identify opportunities to improve customer engagement, reduce friction points, and increase conversion throughout the customer journey.

• Manage agency and vendor relationships related to lifecycle strategy, marketing technology, analytics, and performance optimization.

• Build organizational capabilities, operating processes, and strategic planning routines for the lifecycle and performance marketing function.

• Coach, develop, and lead a high-performing lifecycle and performance marketing team, including two Senior Manager direct reports responsible for Consumer and Small Business marketing strategies and execution.

• Establish a strong team culture focused on strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, operational excellence, continuous learning, and talent development to build long-term organizational capability.

• Ensure all marketing programs align with regulatory, compliance, brand, and risk management standards.

Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience

• Typically 15+ years of progressive experience in lifecycle marketing, performance marketing, or customer engagement strategy

• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing and developing high-performing marketing teams

• Experience developing data-driven lifecycle or growth marketing strategies at scale

• Experience working within highly matrixed organizations and influencing cross-functional stakeholders

• Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities with experience using customer and performance data to drive decision making

• Experience leading integrated marketing initiatives across multiple customer segments and channels

• Strong executive communication and presentation skills

• Experience managing agency and external partner relationships

• Background and drug screen

Preferred Qualifications • Experience in financial services, payments, fintech, banking, or regulated industries

• Experience working with financial institution partners, channel marketing programs, or distributed marketing models

• Familiarity with real-time payments, digital wallets, small business payments, or adjacent fintech ecosystems

• Experience building lifecycle marketing frameworks where execution occurs through external partners or owned channels outside direct control

• Knowledge of customer journey mapping, segmentation strategies, and marketing performance optimization

• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Physical Requirements Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers. Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.

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