Description:

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.

About the General Counsel's Organization (GCO)
The General Counsel's Organization (GCO) of American Express is where great legal minds influence global business strategy. The GCO mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company's promise of exceptional products and services.

About the role:
The legal landscape is transforming — and so is American Express. Within the General Counsel's Organization (GCO), we are redefining how legal teams deliver value by embedding innovation, operational excellence, and strategic foresight into everything we do.

As Vice President & Senior Counsel – Legal Risk, Central Support & Service Delivery, you will bring both a lawyer's perspective and a business partner's mindset. Drawing on your experience inside a corporate legal department — and your understanding of how business clients rely on legal guidance — you will shape frameworks, partnerships, and innovations that strengthen governance, enhance efficiency, and elevate how legal services are delivered globally.

This newly created role offers a unique opportunity to drive transformation at scale — influencing how American Express identifies, manages, and mitigates legal risk while advancing the innovation and consistency of legal service delivery across the globe. The position reports to Managing Counsel, Legal Risk, Central Support & Service Delivery.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership

Define and evolve the GCO's enterprise approach to legal risk management, governance, and operational excellence.
Shape the operating model for the legal function — ensuring clear roles and accountabilities in how we support the 3 Lines of Defense model, robust controls, and strong engagement across teams.
Develop the future ambition of the legal department and help us get there.
Deputize for leader when required, providing leadership continuity and maintaining momentum across initiatives.

Program Oversight & Execution

Lead cross-functional initiatives that strengthen legal governance, internal controls, and compliance frameworks.
Develop and embed enterprise-wide standards for legal risk and operational accountability.
Partner with Compliance, Technology, and Risk colleagues to ensure consistent and effective implementation of frameworks.

Innovation & Transformation

Modernize legal services using technology, data, and process improvements. Promote adoption of generative AI, automation, and analytics to enhance decisions and service delivery.
Serve as a bridge between legal teams and business partners, translating legal frameworks into practical, client-centered solutions that enable the business to operate confidently and effectively.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement — designing scalable, data-driven delivery models that promote transparency, simplicity, and measurable value.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

Build trusted relationships across Legal Operations, Control Management, and business units to align on priorities and drive outcomes.
Develop and present high-impact materials and dashboards for senior governance forums and executive briefings.
Work collaboratively with audit, compliance, and enterprise risk teams to proactively identify, manage, and report on legal risks.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to practice law in the United States, or equivalent international qualification.
At least 10 years of relevant legal experience, including work as in-house counsel and in private practice.
Experience in compliance, risk management, or operations.
Deep appreciation for both the in-house legal perspective and the client experience — with a proven ability to translate between the two to deliver practical, business-oriented legal solutions.
Experience working with, and evaluating, a variety of legal technology platforms.

Key Competencies:

Visionary, strategic, and forward-thinking leader with a passion for innovation and transformation.
Collaborative and skilled at building strong relationships across teams and locations worldwide.
Naturally curious about how business teams operate and motivated by helping them achieve goals responsibly and efficiently.
Exceptional communication skills with strong executive presence and the ability to translate complex issues into actionable insights.

Why You'll Love This Role

Shape the future of legal risk management and service delivery at a global financial leader.
Redefine how the GCO delivers value — combining your experience as a lawyer and business advisor to influence how legal risk and business outcomes are managed across the enterprise.
Thrive in a culture that values integrity, agility, and continuous learning — where your expertise has global impact.

Salary Range: $219,000.00 to $338,250.00 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 U.S is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions