Senior Manager, Corporate Functions Governance

About the role

The Corporate Functions Governance & Control team within ESS serves as the business unit Governance & Control Management function for several corporate groups including ESS; Corporate Affairs & Communications (CA&C); Colleague Experience Group (CEG); General Counsel’s Organization (GCO); Enterprise Strategy (ES); and American Express National Bank Headquarters (AENB HQ).

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional programs that advance the risk management and governance agenda across six Corporate Functions.
• Serve as a strategic partner to business and CFG&C leaders, driving execution of governance and risk initiatives, aligning stakeholders, managing dependencies, and delivering scalable solutions that strengthen risk management and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and manage project plans, milestones, dependencies, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful delivery.
• Advise business units on the execution of operational risk programs, governance requirements, and policy adherence.
• Facilitate risk and control advisory councils, identifying key risks, decisions, dependencies, and execution challenges.
• Support the implementation of enterprise risk frameworks, governance processes, and program standards.
• Promote alignment, removal of barriers, and promotion of consistent, scalable ways of working across Corporate Functions and CFG&C.
• Promote adoption of governance and risk management practices through effective communication, change management, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in program management, governance, operational risk, consulting, or a related field, with a proven track record of leading complex cross-functional initiatives in highly matrixed organizations.
• Strong program and project management capabilities, including planning, governance, change management, stakeholder management, execution tracking, and executive reporting.
• Experience implementing governance processes and operating models, with an understanding of policy, regulatory, and operational risk management requirements.
• Exceptional analytical, structured problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, synthesize complex information, and influence decision-making at all levels.
• Highly collaborative, adaptable, and execution-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to drive results, manage competing priorities, and foster continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Legal Studies, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, JD) and/or relevant certifications preferred.
• Experience in at least one of the following: Supporting or leading governance, operational risk, regulatory, compliance, or enterprise program management initiatives within a complex, highly matrixed organization.
• Implementing governance frameworks, developing risk and control management practices, or driving process improvements that enhance risk management and operational effectiveness.
• Understanding of operational risk management concepts, including risk assessments, issues management, risk appetite, key risk indicators (KRIs), governance forums, and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, bonus incentives, a 6% Company Match on retirement savings plan, free financial coaching and financial well-being support, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits, flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need, 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender, offered for pregnancy, adoption or surrogacy, free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location), free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program, career development and training opportunities, and more. For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site.