VP & Senior Counsel - Operational Resiliency and Third-Party Risk - 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.

How will you make an impact in this role?

General Counsel’s Organization:

Where great legal minds influence global business strategy.

As a member of the Global Technology, Cybersecurity, Procurement and Real Estate Law Group of the General Counsel’s Organization, the Vice President & Senior Counsel – Operational Resiliency and Third-Party Risk will be a subject matter expert and provide global legal support to business and legal colleagues covering two critical and growing areas of legal risk: operational resiliency and third-party risk management. This role is pivotal in shaping the strategic approach to risk management and aligning it with the company’s long-term objectives. You will have the opportunity to drive significant initiatives that contribute to the company’s growth and stability.   

Role & Responsibilities:

Collaborate with colleagues around the world on cutting edge operational resiliency and third-party risk issues.

• Develop, lead and inspire a team of legal experts, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. Provide strategic direction and mentorship to ensure the team’s success.
• Provide legal support and strategic advice on operational resiliency, business continuity management, technology resiliency and third-party risk management to legal colleagues and business clients on a global basis. 
• Collaborate with senior leadership and other key stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to managing risks associated with third parties and business disruption. 
• Engage in readiness planning, crisis response plan development and exercise planning.
• Lead legal response efforts for major enterprise operational and technology crises, including supporting response to global geopolitical events.
• Support global regulatory examinations and inquiries from regulators to assist the company in demonstrating compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations.
• Develop and support contracting strategy to comply with global resiliency and third-party risk legal requirements.
• Engage in lobbying and compliance efforts for both global operational resiliency and third-party risk management requirements, including developing relationships with government affairs colleagues, trade associations and industry groups to develop regulatory harmonization and information sharing strategies. 
• Assist in the development of American Express strategy and policies related to operational resilience and third-party risk management and advise on public disclosures around business disruption and third-party risk.
• Oversee preparation and delivery of internal training on operational resilience and third-party risk management.
• Build positive working relationships across the legal department, business, and enterprise resiliency, third party risk management, and technology teams, and build relationships with external industry and trade groups.
• Implement and improve methods for legal knowledge management within the team and foster a collaborative team culture.

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. with eligibility to practice law in New York.
• 8+ years of work experience involving resiliency and third-party risk management issues in a law firm and/or in-house corporate legal environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams with a track record of inspiring and motivating others, including leading international teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Ability to align legal strategies with the company’s long-term goals. Experience in shaping and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Significant experience with global legal requirements and guidance related to resiliency and third-party risk management, including Federal Financial Institution Examination Council (FFIEC) Business Continuity Management; federal banking agency guidance on third party risk management; Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA); European Banking Authority Guidelines on Outsourcing Arrangements; OSFI Operational Risk Management and Resilience Guidelines; Federal Reserve SR 20-24 and 03-9 and OCC Bulletin 2003-14 Operational Resilience Guidance; National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) and Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) operational resilience guidance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong interest and/or experience in digital products and emerging technology

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively

• Demonstrated experience effectively communicating with regulators

• Demonstrated experience in gaining credibility, managing expectations, and developing strong working relationships with legal colleagues and clients

Additional Details:

• Location: New York (200 Vesey St, New York, NY 10285) 
• Visa Sponsorship: Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position

Salary Range: $220,000.00 to $320,000.00 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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