Director, Cyber Risk Management

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 progressive experience in Cyber Risk Management, Information Security, Cybersecurity Governance, Technology Risk Management, Audit, Operational Risk, or a related discipline, including experience leading complex programs or teams.
• Deep experience in one or more cybersecurity domains, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Protection, and Network Security with demonstrated ability to assess cross-domain and enterprise-level risk.
• Demonstrated experience establishing risk-based oversight plans, leading complex assessments or thematic reviews, and driving issues to clear decisions and sustainable remediation.
• Advanced understanding of cybersecurity risk management principles, control design and effectiveness, risk appetite, issue management, and relevant industry frameworks.
• Proven ability to identify material risks, synthesize complex technical and business information, and communicate a clear independent risk view to senior executives, committees, auditors, and regulators.
• Exceptional analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving, executive communication, and judgment skills, with the ability to balance strategic priorities and detailed risk analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders without relying on direct authority, navigate disagreement constructively, and drive accountability across organizational boundaries.
• Industry certification required: CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CCSP, CISA, or an equivalent cybersecurity or risk management certification.
• Experience leading and developing risk professionals or providing sustained matrix leadership across global, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry, including interaction with regulators, internal audit, or senior risk committees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of data analytics and visualization capabilities, including SQL, Python, Power BI, Excel data models, and related technologies, with the ability to define analytical questions and evaluate outputs.
• Extensive experience executing or providing second-line oversight of [insert high-level domains here], including oversight of interconnected risks and shared controls.
• Expert knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and standards, including NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NIST SP 800-53, CIS Controls, ISO 27001, COBIT, MITRE ATT&CK, and FAIR, and experience applying them in risk oversight.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory expectations and industry guidance, including FFIEC guidance and OCC Heightened Standards, with experience translating expectations into practical oversight and governance.
• Experience using Governance, Risk, and Compliance platforms such as Archer or ServiceNow to support risk inventories, assessments, issues, metrics, and reporting.
• Experience leading senior management reporting, risk committee engagement, regulatory examinations, or internal audit engagements.
• Additional certifications or domain credentials related to Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Protection, and Network Security, or advanced risk, technology, data, resiliency, or AI qualifications.
• Master’s degree in cybersecurity, technology, data science, risk management, business, or a related field.
• Experience with quantitative risk techniques, scenario analysis, risk aggregation, or cyber risk quantification.

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

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.

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.