Job Details

About Highnote

Founded in 2020 by leaders from Braintree, PayPal, and Lending Club, Highnote is an embedded finance company setting the standard in modern card platform management. We provide a comprehensive card issuer processing and program management platform, enabling digital-first organizations to issue and process payment cards, embed virtual and physical card payments, and integrate ledger and wallet functionalities—empowering business growth and profitability.

With over $145M raised and a team of 125+ employees across 25+ US states, headquartered in San Francisco, we have built one of the industry's most advanced payments teams.

Our core values—customer obsession, executional excellence, and intentional inclusion—drive us to create innovative payment products for the future and solve emerging use cases.

We are fast-moving, hands-on, and committed to inclusive growth, unlocking opportunities to transform the future of payments with the right team members.

Job Description

We seek a highly accomplished, technically fluent executive to lead our Fraud, Risk, and Disputes organization across issuing and acquiring businesses. You will set strategic direction, define operational requirements, and oversee the performance of our risk and disputes functions.

You will evolve our risk management practices and tools to deliver best-in-class services, working closely with Engineering, Operations, Compliance, and Finance to develop scalable, effective risk controls that support growth while maintaining trust and compliance.

This role is ideal for a leader with operational excellence, deep experience in card issuing and acquiring risk, a data-driven approach, and proven success in high-growth fintech environments.

As Head of Risk, you will protect our platform and customers, drive operational excellence, and uphold regulatory standards, directly influencing company performance and reputation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Ownership: Develop and execute risk and dispute management strategies, align policies with customer experience and regulatory expectations, and establish key metrics and documentation standards.
• Risk Management: Lead fraud strategies across onboarding, transaction monitoring, and account takeover prevention; manage merchant risk; collaborate on AI-driven fraud detection; stay ahead of emerging fraud typologies.
• Disputes & Chargebacks: Oversee full lifecycle management, ensure compliance, and partner with engineering to optimize dispute processes.
• Qualifications: 20+ years in fraud/risk operations, leadership in issuing and acquiring domains, expertise in fraud typologies, regulatory knowledge, experience with AI/ML tools, operational and metrics focus, excellent communication, and experience in scaling high-volume operations.

Why Highnote?

• Opportunity to build from the ground up and impact all organizational layers.
• Collaborative, diverse, and growth-oriented environment.
• Flat hierarchy with direct exposure to leadership.
• Backed by top venture firms and notable angel investors.

Benefits

• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Healthcare coverage, 401k, parental leave, equity, home office stipend, and internet/phone reimbursement.
• Competitive, equitable compensation based on market research; salary range $200,000-$275,000.

Highnote is committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds and identities. We do not discriminate and encourage sharing pronouns for respectful communication.