Director - Strategic Partnerships, Sports & Entertainment

Strategic Partnerships manages and grows the most significant enterprise relationships across American Express and ensures we represent Amex as a best-in-class partnerships organization. The team is responsible for defining multi-year partnership strategies, supporting key negotiations and projects, and driving new business opportunities globally with our largest Blue Box partners. It exists to deliver against three core objectives: (1) support and develop partner strategies that maximize value to customers and the enterprise, (2) bring the best of Amex to drive growth and innovation (3) foster and maintain external and internal relationships. 

This Director will report to the VP, Sports & Entertainment Partnerships, and will help drive thought leadership in Sports & Entertainment strategy while supporting our key sports and entertainment partnerships. Success in this role will require a deep knowledge of our partners and their priorities, comfort working in white space as we look to unlock new sources of value, and an ability to collaborate with colleagues and partners to achieve partnership outcomes. This role will build relationships with key leaders across strategic sports and entertainment properties (e.g., NBA, Formula 1, MGM), identify opportunities to create enterprise value beyond our existing commercial sponsorship relationships, and help shape innovative partnership strategies that drive growth. This is an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated individual who is interested in furthering business development, relationship management, and leadership skills in an environment where innovation is highly valued and encouraged.

• Develop a deep understanding of our Sports & Entertainment partner business models, strategies and priorities. Understand the partners’ existing relationships with Amex and leverage that knowledge to support enterprise initiatives and identify new areas of value exchange.
• Build relationships with a range of peers across Amex who are critical to the success of the partnerships. Work closely with them to meet business objectives and drive value to the enterprise (includes: GABM, GMNS, Resy, GCS, and TLS, amongst others).
• Drive thought leadership in Sports & Entertainment enterprise strategy, identify emerging trends, shape enterprise priorities, and influence the future of Amex’s Sports & Entertainment partnerships.
• Identify and oversee key business development initiatives directly with internal stakeholders and external partners. Manage end to end a business development pipeline.
• Oversee key market strategies inclusive of evaluating opportunities, obtaining internal buy-in, and serving as a market SME for business unit partners.  Leverage data, insights and success metrics to develop business cases focused on driving impact. 
• Lead cross-functional execution of key enterprise partnership priorities, ensuring alignment across stakeholders and successful delivery of strategic initiatives.
• Manage new growth opportunities from conception through ideation, business case development and execution, identifying innovative partnership opportunities and business development initiatives that deliver differentiated customer and enterprise value.
• Build analyses and presentations to support executive-level decision making, including managing negotiation inputs and coordinating cross-functional alignment for partnership discussions and agreements.
• Support VP, Sports and Entertainment Partnerships in preparation for partner/Amex executive meetings and events.

• Proven ability to collaborate with partners to deliver against key priorities (business development, negotiations, issue resolution). 
• Experience managing complex strategic projects with many stakeholders. Strong project management skills and attention to detail. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication.  Able to take complex ideas/materials and synthesize for different audiences. Comfortable engaging with and presenting to senior leadership.
• Ability to perform in a highly dynamic, fast-paced environment. High degree of intellectual curiosity, comfort with ambiguity, ability to bring structure to “blue sky” opportunities.
• Positive and agile approach.
• Financial, analytical, and AI acumen; ability to translate data into insight.
• Strategic thought leader with demonstrated ability to identify growth opportunities, navigate complex business issues, and resolve challenges across partner ecosystems.
• Experience supporting partner strategy, business development, and negotiations with external partners and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and influence management skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholder groups around common objectives.
• Experience in sports and entertainment partnerships, business development, strategy, or managing external partner relationships preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required

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.