Innovation Manager jobs in United Arab Emirates

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Manager, Product Management Marketing Digital Innovation & Marketing AI Champion

As Marketing Services (MS), the marketing strategy & execution arm of Mastercard, we aim to focus on differentiated scalable and digital offerings that leverages our unique data and marketing technology to accelerate campaign performance and associated outcomes. Our vision is to become the partner of choice for Issuers and Merchants leveraging our data-driven marketing performance products to drive our client’s most profitable customer engagements and ultimately Mastercard preference with consumers.

Through the transformation of the youngest and fastest growing MS region, EEMEA is seeking an experienced Marketing Services Product Manager. The candidates’ superior understanding of the card portfolio growth drivers and important KPIs to track blended with experience in targeted, data-driven marketing campaigns will deliver better results for clients and create their reliance on MS.

We are seeking a high-caliber marketing professional with deep expertise in acquisition and engagement strategies, strong grounding in digital and data-driven marketing, and proven experience in driving innovation using AI and emerging technologies. This individual will play a pivotal role in elevating Mastercard’s value proposition across both traditional and non-traditional segments. Beyond financial institutions, the role will focus on unlocking new partnership opportunities with merchants, telcos, government entities, and broader ecosystem players.

• Champion a culture of innovation within MS by proactively identifying innovation opportunities, benchmarking global trends, and introducing new methodologies and tools that redefine how Mastercard and its clients approach customer acquisition and engagement.

• Grow MS revenue by designing and implementing next-generation, AI-enabled marketing solutions that are scalable across issuers, merchants, telcos, governments, and emerging ecosystem partners. These solutions will integrate Mastercard’s data assets, advanced analytics, and marketing technology to deliver end-to-end acquisition, engagement, and portfolio growth programs that materially differentiate Mastercard in both traditional and new segments.

• Leverage AI, machine learning, and emerging marketing technologies to design and deliver innovative acquisition and engagement campaigns, working closely with creative agencies, media partners, and technology vendors to develop breakthrough concepts, new use cases, and differentiated execution models that elevate marketing performance.

• Translate new technology trends into actionable go-to-market strategies, ensuring that Mastercard remains ahead of competitors by operationalizing AI-driven campaign design, real-time optimization, and automated personalization at scale.

• Identify and shape new scalable marketing plays for emerging segments (e.g., small merchants, large retailers, telcos, public-sector programs), adapting MS capabilities to fit their unique acquisition and engagement needs.

• Lead experimentation frameworks and innovation sprints to test new channels, formats, value propositions, and AI tools that can unlock incremental growth for Mastercard clients across both carded and non-carded consumer segments.

• Drive end-to-end digital marketing which includes analytical review of media strategies and plans, trouble shoot and work with partners to propose successful results-driven digital marketing strategies.

• Develop strategies and solutions to automate lifecycle management activities for issuers covering different campaign types like EMOB/Activation, Spend Stimulation, Retention, Reactivation…

• Experienced in end to end new product launches as new cards for issuers or retailers, new loyalty programs and/or card conversions, ability to analyze existing processes, strategize, plan, execute to go to market and post launch management.

• Support, plan, execute and measure targeted digital acquisition capabilities and digital marketing campaigns across Paid, Owned, and Earned channels.

• Years business experience, with a strong understanding of acquisition and portfolio management/spend campaigns.

• Proven experience applying AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics in marketing campaigns, including AI-driven segmentation, predictive modeling, automated targeting, personalization engines, or generative creative.

• Demonstrated track record of designing and deploying innovative acquisition and engagement programs across multiple segments, ideally across issuers, merchants, telcos, or government entities.

• Hands-on experience partnering with creative agencies, media agencies, and innovation vendors to build breakthrough concepts, test new technologies, and scale high-performing digital marketing initiatives.

• Experience developing or managing Martech/Adtech solutions, personalization platforms, marketing automation, journey orchestration, or AI-model–powered campaign engines.

• Strong background in performance marketing, digital media optimization, and measurement frameworks, with the ability to convert insights into high-impact strategy.

• Prior experience driving end-to-end product launches (cards, loyalty programs, new marketing capabilities) and growth programs using emerging digital and data-driven tools.

• Demonstrated capability to manage complex programs across multiple geographies and stakeholders, delivering measurable results and scaling successful pilots.

• Experience working in fast-paced, innovation-oriented environments (digital, fintech, telco, tech, or consulting) is a significant advantage.

• Positive mental attitude. A pleasure to work with. Socially intelligent and witty behind the PC.

• Innovation-oriented marketer who is excited by AI, emerging technologies, experimentation, and building what does not yet exist.

• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to shape and scale solutions that create value not only for issuers but also for merchants, telcos, governments, and broader ecosystem partners.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, using data, experimentation, and structured thinking to make decisions and drive improvements.

• Innovative and strategic mindset to translate complex AI and digital concepts into clear, actionable strategies & campaigns.

• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and results-focused, with the ability to identify opportunities early and drive them to full implementation.

• Collaborative, persuasive, and comfortable operating in a matrixed, multicultural environment, engaging stakeholders across regions and levels.

• Strong interpersonal communication and presentation skills with stakeholders of different seniority.

• Willing to travel across EEMEA when needed.

• Strong proficiency in English, enabling effective communication in a multicultural environment.

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.