VP & Senior Counsel – Enterprise Strategic Portfolio & Transactions

American Express•New York, NY

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 this 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 the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) The General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) of American Express is where great legal minds influence global business strategy. The GCO’s mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company’s promise of exceptional products and services. As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience comprehensive support for your well-being, opportunities to grow as a leader, and an environment where your voice and ideas matter and your work makes an impact. Role Summary This role will sit within the Enterprise Innovation & Technology legal team, which supports enterprise technology, procurement, and other core operational functions. It will lead a dedicated team responsible for two areas of work: primary legal coverage for a focused portfolio of significant third-party relationships, and support for procurement and commercial transactions across the company. This role reflects a continued evolution in how our legal function supports enterprise-critical relationships and increasing volumes of complex vendor transactions. The strategic portfolio will consist of high-visibility, enterprise-level arrangements that support core infrastructure and operational capabilities and will primarily involve third parties in technology and technology-adjacent verticals. The role and its team will support the full legal lifecycle of each relationship, including relationship governance, performance, disputes, renewals and extensions, and issues arising from changes in the relationship or from market and industry developments. The role will serve as a strategic legal advisor and thought partner to senior business leaders, providing forward-looking counsel in complex and evolving environments. The role will also lead the team’s support of complex procurement and commercial transactions across the company. Multiple roles may operate at this level, each owning a distinct strategic portfolio.

Requirements

J.D. and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
8+ years of experience in technology transactions, outsourcing, commercial transactions, or a related large-scale commercial practice in a law firm and/or in-house legal environment.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing legal professionals, including setting performance expectations, providing coaching and feedback, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing team environment.
Significant experience structuring, drafting, and negotiating complex outsourcing, technology, and other large-scale procurement and commercial agreements.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting enterprise functions and strategic vendor relationships, including technology and other business-critical services.
Experience in payments or banking industries.
Experience with strategic partnerships and commercial alliance agreements.
Demonstrated ability to set and execute legal strategy across a portfolio of complex third-party relationships, providing sound judgment in dynamic and evolving environments.
Proven track record as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, influencing key decisions through clear, practical, and forward-looking counsel.
Strong commercial acumen and executive presence, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and balance legal risk with business objectives.
Deep understanding of market practice and evolving regulatory developments relevant to complex procurement, outsourcing, and technology-enabled arrangements.
Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and issue-spotting skills, with disciplined attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
Effective collaborator who partners across business, sourcing, legal, compliance and enterprise risk teams to drive aligned, well-reasoned outcomes.
High integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to professional excellence consistent with American Express values.

Responsibilities

Accountable for legal strategy across a defined portfolio (5-10) of enterprise-critical relationships.
Accountable for the quality and consistency of the team’s support for complex procurement and commercial transactions across the company.
Serve as a trusted advisor and senior legal representative for portfolio relationships, including providing strategic counsel to Enterprise Technology Services leadership and other senior business stakeholders.
Ensure the team operates within established legal guardrails while exercising sound judgment and appropriate prioritization.
Contribute to the continued enhancement and adoption of contracting standards, playbooks, and engagement models in partnership with the Contracting Architecture & Process function.
Lead development of legal strategy and negotiation approach for assigned portfolio relationships, informed by market and regulatory developments.
Direct and participate in complex negotiations and executive-facing discussions, working collaboratively with the team on drafting, stakeholder engagement, and issue resolution.
Provide end-to-end legal support across the relationship lifecycle, including governance discussions, performance oversight, disputes, renewals, and extensions.
Coordinate with legal subject matter experts to align negotiation positions with established legal and risk guardrails.
Anticipate emerging themes across the portfolio and incorporate them into legal strategy, contracting approach, and relationship governance.
Lead and oversee the team’s execution of complex procurement and commercial transactions, serving as a strategic legal advisor on transaction structure, risk allocation, and negotiation approach in support of informed business decision-making.
Advise business and procurement stakeholders on evolving market practice, regulatory expectations, and emerging issues affecting enterprise contracting, translating those developments into practical guidance that shapes negotiation strategy and commercial outcomes.
Partner with stakeholders to provide input on standards, playbooks, and escalation frameworks, helping ensure that enterprise contracting practices reflect current market and regulatory developments.
Provide senior-level review and guidance on high-impact, novel or escalated matters to maintain excellence in legal analysis, negotiation strategy, and drafting standards, and to reinforce disciplined, enterprise-aligned risk positioning.
Lead, develop, and mentor team members, setting clear expectations for performance, quality, and collaboration.
Work with business partners to prioritize work against company strategies and set clear expectations, allocating resources appropriately across matters during both steady-state and surge periods.
Calibrate level of engagement across matters, balancing strategic importance, risk, and team capacity, in dynamic and evolving business contexts.
Foster a culture of ownership, precision, and practical problem solving under pressure.

Benefits

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
6%25 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