Job Description

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.

With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.

Where great legal minds influence national business strategy.

The General Counsel’s organization at American Express is seeking a Director & Counsel to support the B2B Product, Partner and Client Management team, which is responsible for managing the dynamic B2B merchant portfolio within the Global Merchant Services business (GMS). The successful candidate will provide a broad range of strategic legal support and advice to the B2B team on matters related to merchant acceptance of the American Express Card and other payment products. This role will involve collaboration and coordination within the business and with relevant stakeholders and will report to Vice President & Senior Counsel in the GMS practice group of the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) of American Express.

The GMS business is a core business of American Express and fundamental to the operation of the American Express global payments network. GMS builds and maintains relationships with merchants that choose to accept the American Express Card and other payment products, driving revenue growth for both merchants and American Express. The GMS business is responsible for signing merchants to accept the Card, processing Card transactions, and providing other innovative programs, products and services to grow our merchant relationships.

Help propel your team and its business partners to success.

Given the dynamic nature of the national and global payments industry and the valued partnership between our GCO team and the business teams we support, we seek to attract and develop talented people by:

Providing rich work experiences and opportunities for professional development;
Recognizing and rewarding those who drive and deliver results; and
Respecting and valuing diversity, integrity, and personal accountability.

How will you make an impact in this role?

Provide primary legal support to dynamic B2B merchant team focused on accelerating growth in the quickly evolving B2B payments space
Lead legal and strategic thinking around new B2B product design and innovation with a focus on disruptive changes in the marketplace and the regulatory and legal environment
Lead contractual negotiations with B2B merchants and strategic fintech partners.
Coordinate with business and legal colleagues across the enterprise (including card issuing and network) to innovate new products
Participate in a small team of seasoned attorneys and legal managers, offering thought leadership for cross-subject matter practice group issues and projects.

Are you ready for the challenge?

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree & J.D.
Admitted to New York Bar or eligibility to do so.
6+ years of relevant legal experience.
Specific experience and knowledge in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating. complex commercial agreements.

Preferred qualifications

Experience in the banking, finance, or payments industry, and/or experience providing support for the development of B2B solutions.
Transactional experience in a trade finance, secured credit/lending or corporate banking practice is a plus.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively, in both oral and written format.
Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills and ability to work well in cross-functional team settings and partner with others to drive results.
Ability to manage and prioritize competing demands while maintaining high attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
Ability to generate creative and innovative solutions to novel issues.
Ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organization and with external constituencies.
Appetite to develop in-depth knowledge of business operations and apply that understanding in furnishing legal advice.
Self-motivated, high level of personal energy and commitment.
Strong leadership skills and growth mindset.

Salary Range: $170,000.00 to $255,000.00 annually + bonus + equity (if applicable) + benefits

The above 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.

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

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.

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.

US Job Seekers/Employees - Click here to view the “Know Your Rights” poster and the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

If the links do not work, please copy and paste the following URLs in a new browser window: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters to access the three posters.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue
visa sponsorship for these positions.

Similar Opportunities