Principal Project Manager

Principal Project Manager

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.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential.

The Global Business Solutions Center (GBSC) Project Management team serves as an internal consulting partner to the Shared Services Organization, supporting four key verticals: Marketing, Finance, People and Capability, Law, Franchise, and Integrity.

We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to help drive our customer experience strategy forward through innovation and problem solving. This role will support the identification, planning, and execution of projects across the Shared Services Organization and its stakeholder groups.

The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative professional with strong process and project management skills, capable of coordinating global relationships across cross-functional teams, third-party providers, and regional stakeholders. Working closely with Operational Workstream Leads and key internal partners, this individual will help identify opportunities, develop project plans, and deliver strategic initiatives.

Role

• Plan, develop, and manage project schedules to ensure the timely completion of key milestones and deliverables across cross-functional initiatives.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and other business stakeholders to support operational initiatives, ensuring alignment with financial controls, regulatory considerations, and business priorities.
• Identify opportunities to enhance processes and tools by analyzing inefficiencies and recommending scalable solutions that support best practices and continuous improvement.
• Create, manage, and distribute status and progress reports to keep leadership and project teams informed on project performance, risks, and timelines.
• Provide regular updates to senior management on the status of critical project deliverables, key risks, and milestone progress.
• Conduct analysis and assessment activities to deliver timely insights and actionable recommendations to stakeholders, supporting data-driven decision-making.
• Facilitate collaboration across business, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure projects meet operational, compliance, and governance requirements.

All About You

• Experience supporting large-scale, cross-functional transformation initiatives within complex organizations.
• Proven ability to evaluate business processes and recommend strategies to streamline operations and improve efficiency (e.g., Lean Six Sigma methodologies).
• Experience partnering with Finance and Legal teams to support initiatives involving governance, financial oversight, regulatory requirements, or operational controls.
• Background in management consulting, professional services, or internal consulting roles, with experience advising stakeholders on business process improvements and strategic initiatives.
• Strong project and/or program management experience with a solid understanding of the full project lifecycle.
• Experience in risk management and investigations, with the ability to apply sound judgment and provide thoughtful consultation on business process improvements.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with strong stakeholder management abilities.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing operational data to inform business decisions, with expertise in process management, including process design, optimization, and systems improvement.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• 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.

In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

O'Fallon, Missouri: $143,000 - $236,000 USD