Dir - Data Governance & Mgmt

Job Description

Joining Amex Tech means discovering and shaping your contribution to something big. Here, you can work alongside talented tech teams and build a unique career with the Powerful Backing of American Express. With a range of opportunities to work with the latest technologies, and a commitment to back the broader engineering community through open source, our mission is to power your success. Because Amex Tech is powered by our technology, our culture, and our colleagues.

The Technology organization enables and accelerates the company’s growth strategies, delivering global capabilities and services in support of Amex’s customers and colleagues, while maintaining 24/7 servicing and availability to ensure an uninterrupted, high-quality customer experience. Technology provides the foundation for everything we do in the company while driving differentiation through building and leveraging innovative technology and data insights.

Role Description:

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 redefining what’s possible - and we’re proud to back each other every step of the way. When you join #TeamAmex, you become part of a diverse community of over 60,000 colleagues, all with a common goal to deliver an exceptional customer experience every day.

The Enterprise Data Office operates within Enterprise Technology Services to serve as the first line of defense to manage Data Risk in compliance with Enterprise Data Usage Policy. As part of the Enterprise Data Office, the Data Controls Implementation team is responsible for bringing data under governance, managing data controls inventory, mapping controls to relevant Risk taxonomies, Business Capabilities and Architecture requirements. In addition, ensuring the Data Risk pillar is embedded with relevant risk and control assessments in support of new product launches and mergers and acquisition, and identifying opportunities to embed data controls.

The Director position leads the Authoritative Data Source strategy, lineage support, and certification of data products, to enable trusted, controlled, and auditable data consumption. They will drive domain-based data ownership, ensuring sourcing standards are met and lineage transparency to meet regulatory expectations and Support Tier 1 reporting. They will partner with Enterprise Architecture and Business Unit Data Offices (BUDOs) to implement the required data controls for data products. This position will lead a team of skilled data governance professionals who understand have data architecture backgrounds and partner with Enterprise Architecture and BUDOs across to mitigate risks. To succeed in the role, the incumbent needs to have a blend of an innovative mindset, technical skills, process expertise, controls-mindset, solid project management, relationship skills, and people leadership skills. The role represents tremendous opportunity for someone who is passionate to lead a team to innovate and deliver in a highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and operationalize the enterprise Authoritative Data Source (ADS) framework aligned to domain-owned data products and enterprise architecture standards
• Lead a team to govern and certify Data Products for Tier 1 data consumption in partnership with Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Data Management Product, and Business Unit Data Offices
• Establish enterprise sourcing standards, authoritative data designation, and lineage transparency across critical reporting flows
• Drive implementation of Data Product certification controls, including metadata, lineage, sourcing validation, and auditability requirements
• Partner with Business Data Offices and technology teams to capture lineage, improve report-to-source traceability, and remediate non-authoritative or duplicative sourcing
• Support transition from End-User Developed Applications (EUDA)/manual reporting to governed ADS-based data consumption using a phased, risk-based approach
• Enable domain accountability by partnering with data owners and stewards to govern authoritative data and controlled downstream usage
• Drive adoption of centralized ADS inventory, standardized governance workflows, and enterprise data control practices.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data governance, data management, lineage, risk, or enterprise data programs
• Experience leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives in financial services or regulated environments
• Knowledge of data governance, metadata, lineage, sourcing controls, and regulatory data management practices
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across business and technology organizations
• Experience with platforms such as Collibra, Manta, Atlas, or related governance/lineage tools preferred
• Proven examples of transformation and automation of processes resulting in resource, time and cost reduction while also significantly reducing risk for the company
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously lead and drive projects to successful completion (on time, on budget, and high quality)
• Agile mindset and experience in using workflow management tools such as Airtable desired
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills
• Passionate and enthusiastic proven leader with the ability to motivate the team
• Comfortable with ambiguity and unstructured problem solving
• Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
• Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
• American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law.

About us

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. 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

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
• 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.

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. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.
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.
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The below represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.​