Vice President, Head of Enterprise Change Governance - job 1 of 16

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.

Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

Lead the Future of Change Risk at American Express

We’re building something bold—and we need a visionary to lead it. As Vice President and Head of Enterprise Change Governance, you’ll architect and launch a brand-new second-line risk function that redefines how we govern change across the enterprise. From sweeping tech transformations to regulatory shifts and strategic pivots, you’ll be at the helm of how we manage the risks that come with external or internal changes.

This is more than a risk role—it’s an enabler. You’ll bring business understanding, regulatory fluency, and a sharp eye for risk management to help American Express make smarter, faster, and safer decisions. Grounded in our core values of Trust, Security, and Service, your work will protect our customers, empower our colleagues, and strengthen our brand.

What You'll Own:

• Build the Blueprint: Design and implement a firmwide change risk governance framework—policies, controls, monitoring, and sustainable capabilities that scale, and are in alignment with existing macro/micro change frameworks.
• Be the Voice with Regulators: Lead regulatory and audit engagements, manage exams, and drive timely resolution of issues.
• Assemble a Powerhouse Team: Recruit, inspire, and lead a high-performing team of risk professionals.
• Drive Insightful Oversight: Lead macro and micro risk assessments, and deliver crisp, executive-ready reporting (KCIs, KRIs, KPIs).
• Challenge with Credibility: Provide independent oversight and challenge of enterprise change initiatives —ensuring alignment with risk appetite and regulatory expectations.
• Partner Across the Enterprise: Collaborate with senior leaders in risk, business, and tech to define risk appetite and embed governance into the fabric of change.
• Shape Culture: Champion a risk-aware mindset and roll out enterprise-wide training and awareness programs.
• Stay Ahead: Continuously evolve the program with insights from regulatory trends, industry best practices, and external events

What You Bring

• 10+ years in risk management at large U.S. banks (G-SIB experience strongly preferred).
• Deep expertise in designing and implementing risk governance frameworks—especially for change risk.
• Proven success managing regulatory exams and supervisory relationships.
• Strong command of relevant laws, regulations, and risk standards.
• Experience building or transforming risk functions in complex, matrixed environments.
• Formal certifications in risk frameworks.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to manage risk at scale (AI experience a plus).
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills with executive presence.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams in dynamic setting

Why This Role?

This is a rare opportunity to build a critical risk function from the ground up at one of the world’s most respected companies. You’ll work directly with senior leadership, shape enterprise-wide strategy, and help future-proof American Express for the road ahead.

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

Salary Range: $185,000.00 to $260,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• Competitive base salaries 
• Bonus incentives 
• 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

For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site.

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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