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.

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.