Global Commercial Services (GCS) is the global leader in providing payments solutions for Small, Medium and Large businesses. To ensure we keep being on the forefront of the dynamic commercial payments landscape, the GCS Strategic Alliances team is tasked with defining the long-term business objectives, setting businesses priorities, and driving strategic inorganic growth opportunities to accelerate revenue growth through partnerships.
How will you make an impact in this role?
The Global Commercial Payments Strategic Alliances team builds and scales strategic partnerships with leading companies across the payments and expense management ecosystem to accelerate GCS’s growth strategy. This role will help shape the value proposition for GCS customers by identifying and developing new external partnership opportunities across products, services, distribution, and ecosystem capabilities. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional efforts to bring these opportunities to life, influence senior stakeholders, and drive measurable business impact through high-value external partnerships.
Responsibilities- Own and lead a portfolio of strategic partnerships on behalf of Global Commercial Services that advance commercial priorities and deliver measurable business impact
- Develop and execute multi-year partnership strategies with external partners across payments, expense management, and adjacent platform ecosystems, including joint business plans, growth initiatives, and innovation roadmaps
- Lead alignment across Product, Marketing, Field Sales, Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and other key stakeholders in support of partnership strategy and execution
- Work cross-functionally and with external partners to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and deliver payments and expense management solutions that create customer value and strengthen our commercial payments ecosystem
- Develop new partnership frameworks, business cases, and implementation plans in alignment with senior management, translating strategy into scalable execution
- Lead the full partnership lifecycle, including opportunity evaluation, deal structuring, contracting, negotiation, implementation, and ongoing performance management
- Build strong partnerships with the General Counsel’s Organization, Compliance, and other control teams to support new business development initiatives with appropriate governance and rigor
- Lead and develop a high-performing team, setting clear priorities and enabling strong execution across a portfolio of strategic partnership opportunities
- Ensure the team remains informed on the competitive landscape, emerging technologies, and market trends to identify opportunities and shape strategic recommendations
- Deliver clear updates and recommendations on partnership strategy, performance, risks, and opportunities to GCS senior management
Minimum Qualifications:
- Significant experience in business development, strategic partnerships, strategic alliances, or external partner management, ideally within payments, expense management, fintech, B2B software, or adjacent ecosystems
- Strong strategic judgment, thought leadership, and intellectual curiosity, with the ability to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and develop creative solutions
- Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, create structure in white space, and drive strategic initiatives through to execution
- Strong commercial, financial, and analytical acumen, including the ability to assess business cases, strategic tradeoffs, and partnership performance
- Outstanding relationship management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility across senior internal stakeholders and external partners
- Highly motivated self-starter with a track record of leading in fast-paced, matrixed environments and delivering results across complex cross-functional organizations
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Contracting, commercial structuring, and negotiation experience with external partners is a strong plus
- Experience in strategic consulting, business development, venture capital, or partnership strategy roles is a plus
- Experience in commercial or B2B payments, expense management, corporate travel, or adjacent platform ecosystems is strongly preferred
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
About UsAt 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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.
As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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 TeamWe 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.
Skills Required
- Significant experience in business development, strategic partnerships, strategic alliances, or external partner management (ideally within payments, expense management, fintech, B2B software)
- Strong strategic judgment, thought leadership, and intellectual curiosity
- Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and drive strategic initiatives to execution
- Strong commercial, financial, and analytical acumen to assess business cases and partnership performance
- Outstanding relationship management, communication, and influencing skills with senior stakeholders and external partners
- Track record as a highly motivated self-starter delivering results in fast-paced, matrixed environments
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
- Employment eligibility to work in the United States without visa sponsorship
- Contracting, commercial structuring, and negotiation experience with external partners
- Experience in strategic consulting, venture capital, business development, or partnership strategy roles
- Experience in commercial or B2B payments, expense management, corporate travel, or adjacent platform ecosystems
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree
American Express Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about American Express and has not been reviewed or approved by American Express.
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Healthcare Strength — Pay is often viewed as attractive when combined with comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage that supports day-to-day needs. The benefits package is also framed as especially helpful for those supporting dependents.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are positioned as a meaningful part of total rewards through a 401(k) plan with company matching. Financial wellness services and coaching are also highlighted as strengthening longer-term financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is repeatedly characterized as generous and a valued component of the overall package. Time off and flexibility are presented as helping the total rewards feel more complete beyond base salary.
American Express Insights
What We Do
At American Express, we know that with the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. Whether we’re supporting our customers’ financial confidence to move ahead, taking commerce to new heights, or encouraging people to explore the world, our colleagues are constantly striving to uphold our powerful backing promise to our customers and each other every day. These beliefs have been our North Star for 170 years as our business transformed – from helping evacuate travelers during World Wars, to ensuring the safety of our customers’ funds during the Great Depression in the U.S., to creating the Shop Small® movement to help small businesses recover from the Financial Crisis, to providing aid to communities impacted by many natural disasters and so much more. For generations, the key to our success has been the determination and resilience of our American Express colleagues. Now, as a globally integrated payments company, we work together to provide customers with access to products, insights and world-class experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Join us and let’s lead the way together.
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