Manager, Payments Consulting (Payment Product Partnerships)

Global Merchant & Network Services brings together American Express' merchant and network-related businesses. This includes the management of our relationships across the globe with both the millions of merchants who accept American Express, as well as our partners in countries and territories that deliver card acceptance, issuance and innovation.

The Payments Consulting team delivers go-to-market strategies, deploys new and emerging payment solutions, and ensures a seamless transaction processing experience across more than 20 global markets. The team serves as a trusted advisor to internal and external partners, bringing deep technical payments expertise and insights from the acceptance channel to inform internal strategies and support merchants, processors, and partners in implementing solutions that meet their evolving needs.

Within Payments Consulting Americas, the Payment Product Partnerships team defines and executes the strategy to enable American Express products and processing capabilities with third parties in the acceptance channel to power transactions and promote a seamless checkout experience for Cardmembers.  This includes proactively identifying and engaging new entrants and innovators, growing existing third-party relationships, managing the related relationship governance and oversight, and deepening partner relationships with American Express.

The Manager, Payments Consulting, Payment Product Partnerships is responsible for leading key aspects of the regional strategy and will play a central role in managing technical partnerships and related compliance, driving project execution, and broadening availability of solutions in the acceptance channel.  This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate cross-functionally while gaining deep exposure to emerging payment technologies and industry trends.

• Regional Third-Party Strategy & Execution
  Develop and execute regional third-party strategy designed to meet current and future customer, partner, and Amex needs; guide partners through product or capability adoption, testing and implementation.
• Third-Party Relationship Management
  Own and grow performance across a portfolio of payment product partnerships, including driving partner due diligence, negotiations, ongoing management, and compliance.
• Governance, Risk & Controls
  Design and enforce regional third-party governance frameworks, including controls, documentation standards, and automation, in alignment with enterprise guidance; oversee consistent execution and drive continuous improvement.
• Business Development & Insights Sharing 
  Proactively monitor the market to identify and engage new entrants and innovators to advance Amex and market goals; maintain strong and strategically aligned regional partner pipeline.      Represent American Express at relevant industry events and forums and share insights internally to influence future product features and capabilities.
• Cross Functional Leadership & Best Practice Sharing
  Collaborate extensively with internal teams including market client management teams, product, risk, legal, and technology teams.  Consistently share insights and best practices with internal partners across global markets. 

• 3+ years experience managing external relationships in payments or related fields.
• Knowledge of the payments ecosystem, including payment processing and products.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, manage change effectively, and translate strategic objectives into structured execution plans.

• Proven ability to build, maintain, and leverage strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including industry partners. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of third-party management, including negotiating contracts, risk management, governance, and compliance oversight. 
• Consistent self-starter with high level of intellectual curiosity, initiative, drive, and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to articulate complex issues in a simple non-technical manner, and to bridge business and technical discussions.
• Strong problem solving and project management skills.
• Experience in business development or representing an organization at industry events with ability to translate industry intelligence into AXP opportunities.
• Willingness to travel to industry events. (10% travel estimate).

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