VP Product - Merchant

Who we are: Zilch is a payment tech company on a mission to create the most empowering way to pay for anything, anywhere. Combining the best of debit, credit and savings, we give our customers the option to earn instant cashback or spread the cost of pricier purchases, completely interest free and with no late fees. Pretty great, right? We started in 2018 with a small team and a big dream - to make credit accessible to all. Since then, we've achieved double unicorn status and taken on more than 5 million customers. There are some exciting projects coming up and we’ve got big growth plans. Want to join us? About the role. The VP Product, Merchant is responsible for building Zilch’s global growth engine at the intersection of merchant performance and consumer value. Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, this role owns the strategy, innovation, and P&L of Zilch’s intelligent commerce platform, scaling our merchant-funded model into an optimisation-led network that delivers measurable ROAS for brands and compelling, loyalty-driving value for customers. You will turn Zilch’s closed-loop payments and behavioural data into a performance advantage, using predictive modelling and dynamic allocation to optimise outcomes and experiences at scale. Key responsibilities. • Set and execute the strategy to evolve Zilch into a performance-driven commerce network, defining the roadmap and commercial model for long-term global scale • Own P&L and unit economics, ensuring merchant-funded growth strengthens both partner ROI and customer lifetime value • Build the optimisation engine that powers allocation decisions, through incrementality measurement, elasticity analysis, and predictive LTV modelling • Establish a disciplined experimentation framework to prove impact and continuously improve performance • Partner cross-functionally to embed Intelligent Commerce into the core product experience while maintaining simplicity for merchants and value for customers We’re looking for. • Senior product leader with experience scaling marketplaces, performance platforms, or commerce systems with direct P&L accountability • Strong commercial judgement and fluency in ROAS, CPA, incrementality, and LTV, capable of translating economics into product decisions • Experience applying machine learning or advanced analytics to automate pricing, allocation, or optimisation decisions • Builder mindset with the ability to turn early-stage concepts into scalable, defensible infrastructure • Executive presence and the ability to align technical, commercial, and leadership stakeholders around a clear performance vision Benefits. Compensation & Savings: Pension scheme. Death in Service scheme. Income Protection. Permanent employees enjoy access to our Share Options Scheme. 5% back on in-app purchases. £200 for WFH Setup. Health & Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance including; GP consultations (video, telephone or face-to-face). Prescribed medication. In-patient, day-patient and out-patient care. Mental health support. Optical, dental & audiological cover. Physiotherapy. Advanced cancer cover. Menopause support. Employee Assistance Programme including: Unlimited mental health sessions. 24/7 remote GP & physiotherapy. 24/7 helpline for emotional & practical support. Savings & discounts on everyday shopping. 1:1 personalised well-being consultations. Gym membership discounts. Family Friendly Policies: Enhanced maternity pay. Enhanced paternity pay. Enhanced adoption pay. Enhanced shared parental leave. Learning & Development: Professional Qualifications. Professional Memberships. Learning Suite for e-courses. Internal Training Programmes. FCA & Regulatory training. Workplace Perks: Hybrid working: office-based Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; remote working Tuesday and Friday Casual dress code. Workplace socials. Healthy snacks.