Director-Policy, Program

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How we serve our customers is constantly evolving and is a challenge we gladly accept. Whether you’re finding new ways to prevent identity fraud or enabling customers to start a new business, you can work with one of the most valuable data sets in the world to identify insights and actions that can have a meaningful impact on our customers and our business. And, with opportunities to learn from leaders who have defined the course of our industry, you can grow your career and define your own path. Find your place in risk and analytics on #TeamAmex.

The Operational Risk Management (ORM) team facilitates and monitors the implementation of effective operational risk management programs throughout the organization, and oversees risk ownership throughout business units, products, and processes.

The objective of the Operational Risk Management (ORM) Governance team is to oversee and strengthen the organization’s Operational Risk Management (ORM) framework and controls strategy to ensure that governance structures, policies, and procedures are robust, effective, and align with regulatory requirements and best practices.

Operational Risk Management is looking for a Director of Governance to lead a diverse team of high-performing professionals focused on ensuring effective operational risk management is embedded in the day-to-day operations of our organization. It will involve extensive collaboration with multiple partners across numerous business units, functional areas, and geographies.

The Director, ORM Policy, Program and Reporting (AEMP 47) will:

• Create and periodically revise the Operational Risk Management (ORM) framework to include policies, guidelines, and procedures, ensuring they effectively manage risk and comply with evolving regulations and industry standards
• Establish and communicate the enterprise's risk appetite statements and key risk indicators (KRIs) at an enterprise level to ensure they are understood and integrated into BU and risk management processes
• Oversee and report on the adoption and consistent application of the risk management framework across all BUs to verify alignment with the established risk appetite and Key Risk Indicator (KRI) thresholds
• Maintain a centralized Operational Risk (OR) taxonomy which cuts across all OR risk stripes
• Perform regular evaluations of the risk governance framework’s effectiveness, identifying improvement opportunities and overseeing the implementation of enhancements
• Stay abreast of regulatory changes and industry best practices, and lead regulatory engagement, and provide oversight of processes to monitor, evaluate and integrate regulatory changes into OR framework & trainings
• Facilitate the development of a strong risk culture throughout the enterprise, emphasizing risk awareness, accountability, and informed risk-taking within the bounds of the risk appetite
• Provide clear guidance and support to BUs in understanding and applying governance policies and procedures within their operational activities
• Work closely with other control functions (i.e., Compliance, Legal, and Internal Audit) to ensure an integrated and comprehensive approach to risk governance, addressing internal findings related to ORM
• Manage ORM-related internal communications for enterprise and any OR change activities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Information Technology, Business, Risk Management, or related field; advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, MSc) or certifications are advantageous
• 8+ Years experience in operational risk management (e.g., within Risk and/or Audit function) and understands critical operational risk management lifecycle activities
• Experience in at least one of the following: Creating and/or maintaining operational risk frameworks including policies, guidelines, and procedures to effectively manage risk and comply with regulations and industry standards; Establishing and communicating the enterprise’s operational risk appetite statements and key risk indicators; Overseeing the adoption and consistent application of an operational risk management framework; Performing evaluations of operational risk governance framework’s effectiveness, identifying improvement opportunities and overseeing the implementation of enhancements
• Knowledge of OCC Heightened Standards, Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) 239, and other regulatory changes and industry best practices, leading regulatory engagement and providing oversight of processes to monitor, evaluate and integrate regulatory changes into operational risk framework and trainings
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to analyze data, identify trends, and evaluate risk scenarios effectively
• Demonstrated history and ability to manage teams, spread over geographies and with varying backgrounds
• Excellent qualitative analytical skills
• Project management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact and obtain buy-in from senior BU/tech counterparts
• Experience in process governance, with a track record of establishing and overseeing robust decision-making processes that align with policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or operational standards

Salary Range: $130,000.00 to $205,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• 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

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.

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.