VP Lifestyle Content, Business Development

The Role Ascenda is building a lifestyle content ecosystem that connects merchants across categories such as pets, fitness, beauty, wellness, fashion, gaming, and sports entertainment with leading financial institutions. As Vice President, Lifestyle Content Business Development, you will own the merchant side of this business, building and scaling the network of lifestyle merchant partners, defining the strategy for each vertical, shaping the commercial structure, and developing the go‑to‑market approach that sells into banks and financial institutions. Reports to SVP of Financial Institution Business Development Location New York Impact Build and scale Ascenda’s lifestyle merchant partner network across multiple content verticals (pets, fitness, beauty, wellness, fashion, gaming, sports entertainment). Define the merchant strategy for each vertical: who to recruit, how to position the coalition model, and what the unique value proposition is for merchants. Develop commercial structures and partnership frameworks that work for both merchants and financial institutions. Own go‑to‑market development for lifestyle content, working in concert with the BD, Financial Institutions counterpart. Translate merchant and category insights into a clear, compelling selling narrative. Drive the expansion of Ascenda’s lifestyle content footprint by identifying new merchant categories and geographies as the program scales. Collaborate with the BD, Financial Institutions lead where merchant content strategy is part of the conversation. Work closely with internal product and technical teams to ensure merchant content can be delivered effectively through Ascenda’s platform. Who You Are Proven business‑development and partnership leader with deep experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder partnerships and closing commercial deals. Track record of building partner ecosystems or commercial models from zero, rather than optimizing existing ones. Experienced in a scale‑up environment: developed and shipped new products or propositions and moved from concept to market. Deep background in advertiser‑publisher relationships, merchant development, or content partnership ecosystems; able to recruit and structure a merchant network. Thrives when the brief changes and structure does not exist; energized by ambiguity. Commercially minded with strong category instincts; able to build a selling message around merchant segments. Strong communicator and storyteller who can sell a vision internally and externally. Traditional loyalty and rewards experience is a plus. Benefits Competitive compensation, flexible working, comprehensive benefits, and genuine career growth in a fast‑moving, ownership‑driven team. Equal Opportunity Employer Ascenda is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ascenda