OO1418 – Operational Excellence – IC – F

Operational Excellence SME Lead – Payments
Location: Amsterdam (on-site)
Job Type: Full-time
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced SME Lead to design, lead, and govern all aspects of the departmental program for operational excellence in payment processes. This role takes end-to-end ownership of processes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, compliance standards, and delivering an exceptional customer experience.
The SME Lead will continuously improve payment processes, analyze operational metrics, identify inefficiencies, and lead initiatives to optimize and automate processes for scalability. You will work closely with internal teams, external partners, and leadership to gain buy-in from senior stakeholders.
This role also involves preparing and developing the process team, ensuring they are skilled and knowledgeable, and adapting to evolving business needs.
Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, document, and maintain end-to-end payment processes aligned with organizational goals and compliance standards.
• Design scalable processes to support future business growth and evolving industry requirements.
• Identify inefficiencies and pain points using data analysis and stakeholder feedback, proposing solutions to streamline operations.
• Analyze operational metrics and KPIs to identify opportunities for process optimization and automation.
• Define and document business requirements for new processes or system enhancements.
• Collaborate with technical teams to validate solution designs, ensuring they meet business and compliance requirements.
• Lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and Business Readiness Testing (BRT) to verify solutions.
• Develop and maintain training documentation and provide guidance to internal teams on new processes and best practices.
• Partner with Product, Finance, and Compliance teams to ensure processes meet technical capabilities and regulatory requirements.
• Support smooth go-live transitions, troubleshooting issues as they arise.
• Serve as the go-to expert on payment operations, providing guidance, mentoring, and training.

Requirements:

• 5–8 years of experience in a specialist area such as payment operations or process management.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Finance, Business, or related field recommended.
• Experience in eCommerce, process management, or large multi-year programs.
• Proven experience designing processes in SAP; knowledge of SAP FICA is a plus.
• Advanced knowledge of payment processes, payment landscape, and service providers.
• Strong focus on continuous process improvement, automation, and scalability.
• Skilled in process mapping and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Ability to make independent decisions, set priorities, and influence others.
• Strong organizational change management and teamwork skills.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (or similar) is highly desirable.

Benefits & Opportunities:

• Lead complex initiatives with strategic impact.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in operational excellence and payment processes.