American Express→
Manager - Program Management at American… · Toronto
Job Description
The Enterprise Technology Services organization partners with every part of the American Express business to power the company’s growth and innovation with trust and efficiency, and drive competitive differentiation with speed. We support the delivery and operations of technology, digital, and data capabilities, platforms, and services globally. Specifically, our team is responsible for the company’s technology engineering, architecture, and infrastructure, providing 24x7 support to ensure an uninterrupted, high-quality experience for customers and colleagues. We also provide product management for core enterprise platforms, and lead technology risk and information security, enterprise data governance and platforms, digital product and design, and enterprise AI platforms on behalf of the company.
Responsibilities
- Drive efficient, high-quality governance outcomes by coordinating forums, structuring agendas, and ensuring clear, timely decisions.
- Establish a transparent intake, triage, and prioritization model that balances speed, risk, and strategic alignment across competing demands.
- Enable delivery and innovation teams through right-sized governance, removing blockers and accelerating pathways to decision.
- Optimize SME engagement by reducing administrative overhead and focusing expert input on high-value activities.
- Leverage automation and AI to reduce cycle times, improve consistency of outputs, and scale governance without adding friction.
- Produce executive-ready reporting that clearly communicates progress, risks, trade-offs, and performance.
Key Responsibilities
1. Governance Forum Coordination
- Plan and manage governance forums (agenda setting, materials, cadence).
- Establish and manage intake, triage, and routing processes.
- Maintain decision logs, actions, risks, and exceptions.
- Ensure governance outputs are clear, documented, and traceable.
- Drive adherence to agreed processes and timelines.
2. Initiative Enablement
- Partner with delivery, product, and innovation teams to support governance engagement.
- Enable “right-sized” governance approaches to avoid slowing delivery.
- Provide clarity on requirements, expectations, and pathways through governance.
- Actively remove blockers and facilitate cross-team coordination.
3. Demand & Prioritization Management
- Manage a dynamic pipeline of requests, reviews, or initiatives.
- Apply prioritization frameworks aligned to strategic goals and risk appetite.
- Balance competing demands across stakeholders and workstreams.
- Surface trade-offs and escalation points with clear recommendations.
4. Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a central coordination point across multiple functions.
- Ensure stakeholders are informed, engaged, and aligned.
- Facilitate discussions to drive timely, well-informed decisions.
- Optimize SME engagement to focus on high-value input rather than administrative overhead.
5. Operational Excellence, Innovation & Automation
- Continuously evolve governance and coordination processes for efficiency and scalability.
- Identify and implement opportunities to leverage emerging technologies (including AI) to:
- Reduce cycle times for reviews and decisions
- Automate administrative and tracking activities
- Improve quality and consistency of outputs
- Streamline workflows to maximize effective use of SME time.
- Define and track performance metrics (e.g., cycle times, throughput, decision latency), and produce executive-ready reporting materials that provide clear insight into progress, risks, and performance.
- Introduce tooling, automation, and simplification where appropriate.
Deliverables
- Governance operating model and cadence.
- Prioritized pipeline/backlog of initiatives or requests.
- Decision and action tracking artefacts.
- Regular reporting on progress, risks, and bottlenecks.
- Continuous improvement and automation roadmap.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Program or portfolio management experience in complex enterprise environments.
- Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and priorities.
- Strong organizational, facilitation, and communication skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced contexts.
- Structured approach to tracking decisions, risks, and actions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with governance, risk, or compliance-related processes.
- Exposure to technology, architecture, or transformation initiatives.
- Experience applying automation or AI to improve operational efficiency.
- Familiarity with agile, lean, or scaled delivery models.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Program or portfolio management experience in complex enterprise environments.
- Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and priorities.
- Strong organizational and facilitation skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced contexts.
- Structured approach to tracking decisions, risks, and actions.
Desirable
- Experience with governance, risk, or compliance-related processes.
- Exposure to technology, architecture, or transformation initiatives.
- Experience applying automation or AI to improve operational efficiency.
- Familiarity with agile, lean, or scaled delivery models.
Key Competencies
- Prioritization and decision support.
- Stakeholder influence and alignment.
- Clear, concise communication.
- Process design, optimization, and automation.
- Delivery focus under pressure.
Success Measures
- Reduced governance decision cycle times.
- Increased SME efficiency and reduced administrative burden.
- High stakeholder engagement and satisfaction.
- Transparent and well-managed pipeline of work.
- Demonstrable use of automation/AI to improve throughput and quality.
- Scalable governance that supports, rather than hinders, delivery.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions
The job posting is for an existing vacancy.
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
- Support for financial-well-being and retirement
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
- Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
- Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
- 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
American Express is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible work environment in which all people who apply for positions or who work for or on behalf of Amex are treated with dignity and respect and are provided with equal treatment with respect to employment, regardless of that person's age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, colour, ancestry, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, religion or creed, marital status, family status, pregnancy, disability, record of offences, social condition or origin, political beliefs, association or activity or other factors prohibited under applicable Human Rights legislation (the “Prohibited Grounds”). If you have a disability and need accommodation, please speak with the Recruiter for more information.
Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Company
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.