China Corporate Development Sr VP

About Uplift

Uplift is a dynamic agency specializing in global talent search, covering EMEA, LATAM, USA, and APAC. With successful placements in 60 countries, we combine speed and cutting-edge technology to source top executive and mid-senior talent across various functions. Our innovative approach integrates global networks, AI, and advanced recruitment tools. Beyond recruitment, we engage with our audience through our podcast, newsletter, and webinars, ensuring we stay at the forefront of talent acquisition and global HR trends.

About the Role

The China Corporate Development Senior VP will be the senior executive face of the organization in Greater China — a relationship-first leader who opens doors at the highest levels, builds lasting institutional trust, and converts that access into transformative commercial partnerships across finance, platforms, and enterprise. Deep fluency in China's financial infrastructure and payment ecosystems is essential. This is not an operational execution role; it is a relationship origination and strategic partnership mandate.

This role reports directly to a C-level executive and sits on the executive leadership team. The successful candidate will also work in close, day-to-day partnership with the CEO and Chief Revenue Officer of the company's payments business, as well as the local in-country teams across Greater China.

Relationship Origination & Institutional Coverage

• Originate and cultivate C-level relationships across China's financial and commercial ecosystem, spanning state and private banks, fintech and payment platforms, media partners, cross-border commerce enablers, and major private conglomerates.
• Lead high-level engagement with regulators and quasi-governmental bodies, positioning the organization as a trusted and compliant partner for institutional cross-border settlement.
• Represent the organization at high-profile industry forums, fintech summits, and bilateral business councils, building strong brand credibility among China's financial and commercial leaders.

Commercial Partnership Development

• Lead strategic partnership development with China's dominant digital platforms, including Douyin, Tencent, Kuaishou, Baidu, and Alibaba, positioning the organization as the preferred commercial bridge for international audiences and advertiser ecosystems.
• Structure and negotiate strategic commercial agreements across payments and media that create durable, scalable revenue streams.
• Identify convergence opportunities where cross-border payment infrastructure and digital media capabilities create compelling integrated solutions for Chinese enterprises expanding internationally.
• Identify and pursue M&A, joint venture, and investment opportunities within China's fintech and payments landscape to accelerate market positioning.

Strategy & Internal Alignment

• Provide executive leadership with market intelligence, competitive landscape analysis, and strategic positioning recommendations against local and global competitors.
• Collaborate with global commercial leadership on China market strategy, partnership priorities, and revenue growth objectives.
• Champion alignment between China market opportunities and global Product, Compliance, and Operations teams, ensuring institutional partners receive best-in-class execution.

Requirements

• 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate development, institutional or enterprise partnership development, or strategic partnerships at scale, with a significant portion of experience in or focused on Greater China.
• Demonstrated track record of originating and closing high-value commercial partnerships or corporate mandates with major financial institutions, platform companies, or large private conglomerates in China.
• Established C-level relationships across China's business ecosystem, spanning financial institutions, technology platforms, cross-border commerce players, and major corporate groups.
• Working knowledge of China's cross-border payment and foreign exchange (FX) environment, sufficient to engage credibly in commercial negotiations and support compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to navigate complex institutional decision-making structures and multi-stakeholder commercial negotiations in China.
• Exceptional executive presence and relationship credibility at the highest levels of Chinese financial institutions, corporations, and technology platforms.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English, with the ability to represent the organization credibly in both languages at board and senior executive level.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the region and internationally.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.

Preferred

• Prior experience in Corporate Finance, Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, Head of Institutional Coverage, or Regional Managing Director roles within a multinational financial institution or fintech company.
• Familiarity with Hong Kong and Singapore as regional financial and commercial hubs, including their role as gateway markets for cross-border capital flows, institutional relationships, and China-focused business development.
• Familiarity with payment corridors into LATAM, the Middle East, Africa, or Southeast Asia, and an understanding of how Chinese banks and corporations operate across thesae markets.
• Experience working at or alongside institutions such as CICC, CITIC, CDB, or major state-owned commercial banks.
• Exposure to digital media, programmatic advertising, or ad-tech commercial environments is considered an advantage.
• Strong network across Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Tier 1 technology companies (e.g., Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com, ByteDance subsidiaries), and cross-border e-commerce platforms.

Why This Role

• Pioneer a market: Be the founding institutional relationship leader for two fast-growing global businesses in China.
• Institutional mandate at scale: Access and engage China's most influential financial institutions, banks, regulators, and investment organizations on behalf of a growing global payments platform.
• Executive visibility: Report directly to the executive leadership team and work closely with senior global executives, contributing to business strategy and commercial growth at the highest level.
• Competitive package: Senior executive compensation including base salary, performance incentives, and executive benefits.
• Global platform: Operate within a truly international organization with active operations across LATAM, EMEA, the USA, and APAC, supported by a strong global platform for success in the China market.