Director, Cyber Risk Management at American Express in New York, NY

Job description

How will you make an impact in this role? The Technical Risk Management (TRM) organization, which is part of the Second Line of Defense, provides independent risk oversight across Cybersecurity Risk, Technology Risk, Data Risk, Resiliency Risk, and AI Risk. This Director role is part of the Cyber Risk Management team within TRM and will lead a portfolio of independent cyber risk oversight activities. As cyber threats, technologies, and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, the Director will set oversight priorities, guide effective challenge, and help protect the company, its customers, and its assets. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, independent risk oversight, and effective challenge across key cybersecurity domains, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Protection, and Network Security. This position is accountable for establishing a risk-based oversight plan; directing assessments, thematic reviews, monitoring, and reporting; and escalating material concerns when risk exposure or remediation is not aligned with the company’s risk appetite and policies. The Director will build trusted relationships with cybersecurity, technology, business, legal, compliance, audit, and regulatory stakeholders, translating complex technical issues into clear decisions and risk insights for senior leadership, risk committees, and regulators. Core Responsibilities Set the strategy and annual oversight plan for Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Protection, and Network Security, applying a risk-based approach to prioritize independent review, monitoring, and effective challenge. Direct and deliver risk assessments, thematic reviews, and data-driven analyses that identify emerging cyber risks, systemic control gaps, concentrations, and trends across the cybersecurity landscape. Deliver data-driven oversight by defining analytical requirements and using outputs from SQL, Python, Power BI, Excel, and other sources to generate decision-useful risk insights and reporting. Provide credible challenge of control effectiveness, remediation plans, risk acceptance decisions, and residual risk exposure; escalate material concerns and recommend actions when risk remains outside approved tolerance. Own the design and ongoing enhancement of key risk indicators, risk appetite metrics, and executive reporting to provide forward-looking visibility into cyber risk posture, trends, concentrations, and emerging issues. Lead complex cross-domain reviews and enterprise initiatives, including issue validation, risk inventory and assessment activities, and targeted deep dives based on emerging threats or regulatory priorities. Anticipate the impact of cyber threats, emerging technologies, industry trends, regulatory expectations, and cybersecurity frameworks, and translate them into changes to oversight priorities and challenge strategies. Lead cyber risk governance activities, regulatory engagements, audit support, committee reporting, and enterprise cybersecurity risk initiatives, ensuring materials are accurate, concise, timely, and decision oriented. Influence senior stakeholders across lines of defense to ensure cybersecurity risks are identified, assessed, monitored, escalated, and managed in accordance with company policies, risk appetite, and regulatory expectations. Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, where applicable, or provide matrix leadership to risk professionals and subject-matter experts; establish clear objectives, quality standards, and accountability for outcomes. Present independent risk views, material concerns, and recommended actions to senior executives and risk committees, and maintain clear documentation of challenge, decisions, and follow-through. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Risk Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 8+ years of progressi