Network Development Director (Pakistan & South Asia)

About Thunes

Thunes is a global payments infrastructure company that enables fast money movement across borders. Its Direct Global Network supports real-time payments in more than 130 countries and over 80 currencies.

The network connects directly to more than 7 billion bank accounts and mobile wallets, using 350+ payment methods including GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay and WeChat Pay.

Thunes’ member base includes major gig-economy and super-app brands, as well as money transfer operators, fintechs, payment service providers and banks. The platform is built around broad global coverage, an in-house treasury management system and a compliance framework designed to improve speed, visibility, control, protection and cost efficiency for real-time payments.

Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes operates from 12 locations worldwide, including Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Shanghai.

Role context

The Network Development Director will report to the Head of Network (APAC) and will be responsible for building and delivering sustainable partner networks across the payments and financial services ecosystem in South Asia and Central Asia.

This position calls for a self-driven professional with strong energy, commercial awareness and the ability to grow strategic relationships with banks, cash networks, wallet providers, acquirers, payment facilitators, card issuers and processors. The role is also expected to support Thunes’ go-to-market priorities, champion innovation and help shape a reliable pay-out and pay-in network in Pakistan and South Asia.

What you will do

• Build, manage and strengthen important banking and network partnerships, including driving joint initiatives and supporting the launch of new services for Thunes users.
• Handle the full sales lifecycle, from sourcing leads to managing active accounts, while applying structured partner management and KPI-based tracking.
• Use market and sector knowledge to develop partnership and product strategies with banks and network partners in collaboration with business development and cross-functional teams such as risk, product, engineering, compliance, legal and treasury.
• Work with the Business Development team and financial institutions to close deals that support the overall strategy and ensure strong execution planning.
• Collect input from internal stakeholders and coordinate partner strategy creation and rollout across functions including risk, compliance, product, engineering and treasury.
• Bring deep industry experience into internal discussions, shape network strategy and drive that strategy forward with financial institutions.
• Engage with senior officers at central banks to support approval processes and oversee the rollout of new services for targeted partners and customers.
• Represent the company at industry events and convert those interactions into qualified leads.
• Maintain accurate reports and records, use the CRM tool diligently, and provide timely updates to the line manager on performance, sales activity, account status and planned strategy.
• Develop and sustain strong relationships with colleagues and customers to support smooth communication, issue resolution and long-term account retention.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 8 years of experience in partnerships and account management within financial institutions and payments companies across the region.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders, including compliance, legal, solutions delivery, treasury and finance.
• Strong negotiation skills and a commercially ambitious mindset focused on creating value and differentiation through network partnerships.
• Proven experience handling complex, first-of-their-kind deals with top financial institutions and engaging with senior executives at C-level.
• Operational mindset with the ability to take deals beyond signing and lead execution using planning, metrics and organizational discipline.
• Strong judgement and prioritization skills for managing competing demands and complex problem-solving.

Additional information

This is a full-time, onsite role based in the Riyadh Region.

The job involves travel to industry events and direct interaction with regional and central bank stakeholders as part of partnership development and service rollout activities.