Director - Data Governance & Management

Job 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.

How will you make an impact in this role

The U.S. Consumer Services Business Unit is responsible for our suite of consumer products, services, and experiences in the U.S., including our premium, cobrand, cash back, and lending portfolios, Membership Rewards, Global Travel & Lifestyle Services, the Centurion Lounge network, our Global Dining and Resy businesses, U.S. Consumer Banking, and best-in-class marketing programs across customer, prospect, and partner channels. The USCS team is focused on making membership an indisputable competitive advantage and helping each other become better leaders every day.

The U.S. Consumer Data Office is responsible for advancing data governance and data risk management practices across U.S. Consumer Services. This team operates in a highly collaborative global model, partnering closely with Technology, Product, Control Management, and Risk teams across the U.S. and India.

The Director, Data Risk Management will be responsible for driving end-to-end execution of data risk management practices, supporting U.S. Consumer business priorities through a strong India-based delivery model. This role will focus on proactive risk identification, control execution, issue management, and stewardship alignment, ensuring data risks are effectively managed and remediated in alignment with enterprise standards.

The Director, Data Risk Management will:
.Execute and sustain the Enterprise Data Risk Management Policy across assigned U.S. Consumer business lines, ensuring effective adoption of governance and control standards in partnership with global and BU data leaders.
.Support the development of and lead a high-performing team of data governance and risk professionals.
.Support India site lead to foster collaboration, engagement, and mentorship across the broader governance and control community.
.Support stewardship routines, including data quality issue management, metadata maintenance, and lineage transparency reinforce adherence to data standards, definitions, and controls across data domains and promote strong data ownership and accountability practices within business teams
.Lead proactive identification and assessment of data risks across business processes, products, and data domains.
.Partner with Data Stewards and business owners to identify risks related to data quality, lineage, and critical data elements (CDEs).
.Support the design and implementation of effective, testable data and process controls.
.Conduct risk prioritization and thematic analysis to focus on highest-impact data risks.
.Evaluate whether data controls are designed and operating effectively to mitigate risk.
.Collaborate with cross-functional partners (Enterprise Data Office, Control Management, Second Line, Product and Process Owners) to align risk controls, analyze and prioritize data issues, support resolution of Operational Risk Events (OREs) and regulatory requirements, strengthen control frameworks, and close gaps.
.Support control testing, monitoring, and ongoing performance evaluation.
.Manage end-to-end data risk execution - identifying, assessing, and remediating data risks across products and processes maintaining and testing controls monitoring risk indicators and escalating material issues through the Enterprise Risk Governance Framework.
.Support governance forums, escalation paths, and oversight routines to strengthen accountability.
.Drive continuous improvement and innovation by refining processes, tools, and local capabilities that enhance data quality, simplify governance adoption, and improve business efficiency contribute insights to governance forums and the evolving Data Governance roadmap.

Minimum Qualifications

.8-12 years of experience in data risk management, data governance, data quality, or related disciplines within financial services, with exposure to U.S. Consumer Services businesses (e.g., Cards, Membership Rewards, Lending, Dining, Travel, or Digital Banking).
.Proven people leader with 4+ years of leadership, experienced collaborating across Business, Product, Technology, and Risk partners to deliver governance and control outcomes.
.Strong hands-on expertise in data risk identification, control design, issue management, and data stewardship practices.
.Strong understanding of data governance concepts such as data quality, lineage, metadata, and critical data elements (CDEs).
.Proven experience operating in a global delivery model, supporting U.S. or international stakeholders.
.Demonstrated ability to execute and operationalize risk frameworks within business processes.
.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data and risk concepts into practical, actionable solutions.
.Demonstrated success executing large-scale data or control initiatives that deliver measurable risk reduction and operational efficiency.
.Experience supporting regulatory exams, audit, or issue remediation programs.

Preferred Qualifications
.Prior experience as a Data Steward or in a formal data stewardship role strongly preferred.
.Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Risk Management, Data Science, or Information Systems advanced degrees (MBA/MSc) or relevant certifications in data, technology, or information management are a plus.
.Strategic yet hands-on leader with 4+ years of team leading experience connecting governance and risk management initiatives to business outcomes.
.Excellent communicator and influencer, skilled at simplifying complex data and risk concepts for diverse audiences and preparing executive-ready materials.
.Risk-aware and innovation-focused, balancing automation, analytics, and emerging technologies with regulatory and operational constraints.
.Strong program management capability, with proven success leading multiple large-scale data or control initiatives and integrating Data Risk Management practices into RCSA and business processes.
.Collaborative and execution-oriented mindset, fostering a culture of stewardship, accountability, and continuous improvement across teams experience with regulatory data governance, data breach reporting, or issues management is preferred.
.Below certifications are preferred but not required:
oData Management Capability Assessment Model (DCAM)
oCertified Information Management Professional (CIMP)
oCertified Data Management Professionals (CDMP)
oRIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional

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
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
• 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

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.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.