VP Marketing GCC

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: VP Marketing GCC

🔹 Company: Visa

🔹 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

🔹 Job Type: Full-time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: June 4, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading marketing strategy, planning, and implementation for the GCC market
• Overseeing local Visa marketing teams and agency partnerships
• Driving revenue generation, payment volume, and market share growth
• Managing a budget of $X million (assumed based on role and company size)
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to align marketing priorities with business goals

ASSUMPTION: The role requires a strategic mindset, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to manage a large budget and team.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead regional and country marketing initiatives and investments, strategizing, planning, and implementing against business and marketing objectives while ensuring all activities are performed within budget

✅ Lead development and implementation of digital - social-first strategic marketing and communication plans

✅ Drive existing and new market research activities within the region to provide information for the development and enhancement of marketing programs

✅ Monitor existing and competitor marketing activities to identify new opportunities or highlight potential risks, and analyze card payment trends, cardholder behavior, and evaluate their value within the marketing plan to make strategic recommendations on future business direction

✅ Act as the Visa brand guardian and ensure all communications comply with regional and global brand strategies and guidelines

✅ Negotiate and secure contracts with all external partners

✅ Manage marketing agency relationships, lead the briefing process on all campaigns, safeguard the Visa brand and its values, review and evaluate all agency work product, and ensure the agencies deliver on their contractual obligations

✅ Provide professional marketing advice and consultancy to clients to support in delivering on their business objectives, gain the support and commitment of clients to participate in Visa marketing activities, and lead development and implementation of client co-op marketing strategies and plans

✅ Activate global Olympics, FIFA, and other sponsorship programs to amplify marketing investments and programs across the region, as well as leading the development and implementation of local sponsorship strategies and plans

✅ Deliver greater value to Visa through the Marketing Incentive dollars with clients by delivering marketing-in-kind solutions through Value Added Services

✅ Actively contribute to the development of the GCC marketing team through coaching, support, and the development of formal training plans, manage budget allocation and budget reporting according to Visa Inc. procedures

ASSUMPTION: The role requires strong business acumen, P&L management experience, and the ability to navigate a matrixed organization and build strong relationships in a fast-changing environment.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)

Experience: 20+ years of senior marketing experience in blue-chip fast-moving consumer goods, banking - financial services, or high-tech industries, ideally with a mix of consumer, B2B, and co-op marketing

Required Skills:

• Data-driven marketing, including 1st Party measurement, and consumer insight-driven mindset
• Global and/or regional senior marketing responsibility across a range of channels and businesses
• Strong business acumen and P&L management experience
• Ability to navigate across a matrixed organization and build strong relationships and drive to timely solutions in a fast-changing environment
• Strong track record in managing external agencies and developing effective, through-the-line campaign materials
• Disciplined strategic thinker with superb analytical skills and ability to understand and use quantitative models
• Exceptional leadership skills, with ability to inspire and motivate the team
• Good creative instincts, and proven ability to translate insights into ideas
• Multi-culturally sensitive and comfortable working across different cultures
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills, adept at executive management briefings and large-scale presentations
• Good negotiation skills

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the payments industry
• Fluency in Arabic

ASSUMPTION: The role requires a high level of experience and expertise in marketing, with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making and leadership.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the role and company size, the estimated salary range for this position is AED 600,000 - 800,000 per annum (USD 163,000 - 219,000). This is an assumption based on industry standards for a VP Marketing role in the GCC region.

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
• Employee discounts on Visa products and services

Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted hours as needed

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Benefits are assumed based on typical offerings from large corporations in the GCC region.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Visa operates in the global payments technology industry, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories

Company Size: Visa is a large corporation with over 27,000 employees globally, providing ample opportunities for career growth and development

Founded: Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown to become a world leader in digital payments

Company Description:

• Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories
• The company's mission is to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid
• Visa is committed to building a community through its leadership principles

Company Specialties:

• Global payments technology
• Digital payments
• Financial services

Company Website: Visa Careers

ASSUMPTION: Visa is a well-established, global company with a strong brand and reputation in the payments industry. The company offers extensive opportunities for career growth and development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the executive level, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, Marketing, GCC

Reporting Structure: The VP Marketing GCC will oversee local marketing teams and agency partnerships, with a team of 18 FTEs reporting directly to them

Work Arrangement: This role is primarily on-site, with flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted hours as needed

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to advance to a regional or global marketing leadership role within Visa
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and initiatives that drive business growth
• Exposure to a diverse range of stakeholders, both internal and external, providing opportunities to build and strengthen professional networks

ASSUMPTION: The role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within Visa, as well as the chance to work on high-impact projects that drive business results.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Visa's Dubai office is a modern, collaborative workspace with state-of-the-art facilities

Office Location(s): Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Geographic Context:

• The GCC region is a dynamic and growing market for Visa, with significant opportunities for business expansion and growth
• The United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, is a major hub for business and commerce in the Middle East and North Africa region
• The GCC region is home to a diverse range of cultures and languages, providing opportunities for candidates with strong cross-cultural skills

Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted hours as needed

ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Visa is collaborative and innovative, with a strong focus on driving business results through strategic marketing initiatives.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR department
• First-round interview with the hiring manager
• Second-round interview with senior leadership
• Final-round interview with the regional marketing services VP

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Leadership and team management capabilities
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Communication and presentation skills
• Analytical and quantitative skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with data-driven marketing and P&L management
• Demonstrate your ability to navigate a matrixed organization and build strong relationships in a fast-changing environment

ATS Keywords: Marketing strategy, data-driven marketing, P&L management, agency management, client management, digital marketing, market research, brand management, creative content development, analytical skills, leadership, negotiation skills, cross-cultural sensitivity, communication skills, innovation, relationship building

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be competitive and rigorous, with a strong focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership, and cross-cultural skills.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Adobe Campaign)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce)
• Data analytics and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)

ASSUMPTION: The role requires proficiency in marketing automation, CRM, data analytics, and project management tools, as well as familiarity with the payments industry and relevant regulations.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centric
• Inclusive
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Integrity

Work Style:

• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Data-driven and analytical
• Results-focused and goal-oriented

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong track record of driving business results through strategic marketing initiatives?
• Are you comfortable working in a matrixed organization and building strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders?
• Do you have a data-driven mindset and the ability to translate insights into actionable marketing strategies?

ASSUMPTION: Visa values candidates who are customer-centric, innovative, collaborative, and results-focused, with a strong track record of driving business results through strategic marketing initiatives.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a large budget and team, with a high level of responsibility for driving business growth
• Navigating a matrixed organization and building strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with a strong focus on driving results and meeting tight deadlines
• Adapting to cultural differences and working effectively in a cross-cultural environment

ASSUMPTION: The role presents significant challenges, including managing a large budget and team, navigating a matrixed organization, working in a fast-paced environment, and adapting to cultural differences.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to similar roles in the GCC region, this role offers a higher salary range and more significant responsibilities, with a greater impact on business growth and revenue generation
• The GCC region is a dynamic and growing market for Visa, with significant opportunities for business expansion and growth
• This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects and initiatives that drive business growth and career advancement

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a higher salary range and more significant responsibilities compared to similar roles in the GCC region, with a greater impact on business growth and revenue generation.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and implementing a regional marketing strategy to drive revenue generation, payment volume, and market share growth in the GCC market
• Managing a team of 18 FTEs and agency partnerships to execute marketing campaigns and initiatives that align with business goals and objectives
• Negotiating and securing contracts with external partners to deliver marketing-in-kind solutions through Value Added Services

ASSUMPTION: The role involves working on high-impact projects and initiatives that drive business growth and revenue generation, with a focus on strategic marketing, team management, and stakeholder engagement.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does this role fit into the overall marketing strategy for the GCC market?
• What are the key challenges facing the marketing team in the GCC region, and how can this role help address them?
• What opportunities are there for growth and development within the marketing team and the broader organization?
• How does Visa support work-life balance for its employees?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the organization, and demonstrate your interest in and commitment to the position.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Visa careers website
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills, with a focus on data-driven marketing, P&L management, and leadership
• Prepare for your interviews by researching Visa's business and marketing strategies, as well as the GCC market and competitive landscape
• Follow up with the hiring manager or HR department after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.