Director-U.S. Risk Initiative Delivery

The Director, GMNS Strategic Risk U.S./Global, is part of the Risk & Business Operations team within Global Strategy, Operations & Performance (GSOP). GSOP serves as a Center of Excellence for Global Merchant & Network Services (GMNS), driving enterprise-level strategy, performance management, and operational execution 
 

About the Role
The GMNS Strategic Risk team is a project-based group responsible for addressing key business questions that integrate strategic insight, detailed planning, and disciplined execution with a focus on delivering risk mitigation, remediation, and operational resilience across GMNS. The team also leads cross-business strategic program implementations that align to GMNS priorities. 
 

The Director will play a central role in shaping and delivering key initiatives and will oversee these cross-functional projects to ensure compliance, process rigor, in particular to meet evolving US regulatory and operational demands. The Director will report to the Vice President, GMNS Business Operations and Strategic Projects.
 

• Oversee the project management of priority regulatory, compliance and operational initiatives from inception through launch, collaborating with cross-functional partners.
• Establish workstream and governance structures and develop tracking mechanisms to communicate progress against regulatory deadlines as well as internal policy guidance.
• Apply innovative, strategic thinking to synthesize insights, customer needs, and market dynamics to inform business recommendations around remediation and mitigation efforts.
• Create structure in an ambiguous and evolving regulatory environment, ask the right questions, and synthesize complex inputs to guide strategic direction.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and effectively communicate recommendations to GMNS partners and Senior Leadership.
• Maintain a pipeline of projects and initiatives in partnership with GMNS leaders.
• Foster collaboration and a culture of continuous learning.
• Hire, lead, develop, and manage a team of three Managers.

• Proven experience in project management with a strong sense of urgency and focus on results.
• Experience in working on US regulator findings across 1st, 2nd or 3rd Line Of Defense, delivering against regulatory change and actions. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of regulator demands, anticipate their evolving focus, and be able to develop sustainable responses to these demands.
• Strong relationship management capabilities with internal and external partners.
• Proven experience in risk management, remediation, and regulatory execution across multiple markets and functions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate regulatory and operational complexity into actionable strategies for stakeholders across levels.
• Highly motivated, strategic thinker with demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex programs in a global, matrixed environment.
• Strong operational background, with ability to develop pragmatic solutions that can be implemented within AXP’s control framework.
• Self-starter with high intellectual curiosity, initiative, drive, and attention to detail.
• Bachelor's Degree is required.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.