Senior Manager - Tech Project Management

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.

Responsibilities

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Lead the strategic planning, coordination, and execution of complex technology programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer needs, and enterprise priorities.
• Drive end-to-end delivery of technology initiatives by partnering closely with Product, Engineering, Architecture, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Business stakeholders.
• Establish program governance structures, operating rhythms, and executive reporting to provide transparency into delivery progress, dependencies, risks, and key decisions.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, ensuring alignment across multiple workstreams, teams, and organizational boundaries.
• Strategically allocate resources to optimize utilization across high-complexity projects and balance team workloads.
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate program risks, issues, and dependencies while driving timely resolution and escalation when necessary.
• Utilize data-driven insights and delivery metrics to monitor program health, identify opportunities for improvement, and support informed decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process inefficiencies, implementing best practices, and improving operational effectiveness across technology delivery teams.
• Ensure compliance with Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) standards and enterprise governance requirements across technology initiatives.
• Utilize advanced project and program management tools and techniques to monitor progress, track key metrics, and implement corrective actions.
• Own the development and maintenance of program documentation, technical specifications, executive communications, and status reporting materials.
• Drive project quality by identifying process gaps and implementing solutions that increase efficiency, productivity, and delivery effectiveness.
• Engage with stakeholders, including project sponsors, technology leaders, business partners, and external vendors, to ensure strategic alignment and effective information flow.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering teams to ensure technology solutions align with strategic objectives, architectural standards, and customer outcomes.
• Partner closely with Agile Release Train (ART) leadership, Product Management, Architecture, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment across strategic initiatives, dependencies, risks, and delivery milestones.
• Leverage knowledge of Agile Release Train (ART) operations, Program Increment (PI) planning, and SAFe practices to effectively coordinate cross-team delivery efforts and support successful execution of enterprise programs.
• May or may not oversee and mentor a team of Technology Delivery colleagues, enabling a culture of continuous learning, growth opportunities, and inclusivity.
• May or may not provide direct leadership and coaching to Technology Delivery teams, supporting training and development of best practices.
• May or may not manage resource allocation, project timelines, budgets, and delivery commitments, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to hire top talent for the team, ensuring a high-functioning and cohesive unit while implementing strategies for talent retention and professional development.
• Collaborate and co-create effectively with teams in Product, Technology, and the Business to align technology initiatives with business objectives and deliver measurable business value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering) and/or comparable experience; advanced degree preferred.

• Knowledge of Agile, Lean, and modern software delivery methodologies.

• Knowledge of technical challenges and systems design, with the ability to facilitate technical discussions and drive innovative solutions.

• Knowledge of the full life cycle of product development, from concept to delivery, including testing and deployment practices.

• Experience in program delivery or project management, preferably within a technology-focused environment.

• Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional technology initiatives with a track record of successful delivery.

• Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating cross-functional teams across complex organizational structures.

• Experience mentoring and developing team members while fostering a high-performing team environment.

• Experience in stakeholder management, executive communication, and influencing decisions across all levels of the organization.

• Experience leading organizational change and driving adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working.

• Experience using project management software and collaboration tools such as JIRA, Confluence, ADO, or similar platforms.

• Experience creating technical documentation, executive presentations, and program reporting materials.

• Working knowledge of Agile Release Train (ART) structures, Release Train Engineer (RTE) responsibilities, Program Increment (PI) Planning, and SAFe delivery practices.

• Ability to effectively partner with RTEs, Product Managers, Architects, and Engineering leaders to drive execution across large-scale technology programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in PMP (Project Management Professional), PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner), PgMP (Program Management Professional), or equivalent program management certification is a plus.
• Experience leading large-scale enterprise technology transformation programs.
• Experience working within highly regulated and complex technology environments.
• Experience partnering with Product and Engineering organizations to deliver customer-centric technology solutions.
• Experience working within or supporting Agile Release Train (ART) organizations and collaborating closely with Release Train Engineers (RTEs).
• SAFe Agilist (SA), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), or other SAFe certification preferred.

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.​