Job Description

Senior Manager, Sports Partnerships & Partner Events

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.

The Senior Manager, Sports Partnerships & Partner Events will partner across the Amex enterprise to bring strategic planning, relationship and negotiating expertise to key sports partners (e.g., USTA, AELTC) and lead the strategy, planning and execution of our marquee strategic partner event (Partner Summit), This role reports into the Vice President, Strategic Partnerships: Sports and Entertainment.

• 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.
• Lead development of strategic plans that drive growth and innovation through partnerships
• Identify and oversee key business development initiatives directly with internal stakeholders and external partners. Manage end to end a business development pipeline.
• Build relationships with a range of peers across Amex who are critical to the success of the partnerships. Work closely with them to identify strategic growth areas and drive value to the enterprise (includes: GABM, GMNS, Resy, GCS, and TLS, amongst others).
• Build, expand and elevate relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers at partner organizations to develop new partnership ideas and drive business impact.
• Support on partner negotiation strategies, and finalizing agreements
• Lead an enterprise and external agency team in the planning and execution of an annual enterprise partner summit (Forefront) including: strategy, programming, talent, creative, production, executive coordination, budget management and compliance work stream (e.g. TLM)
• Ideate additional thought leadership partner event concepts and execute as needed
• 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 and Chief Partner Officer in preparation for partner/Amex executive meetings and events.
• Strategic thought leadership with focus on identifying opportunities, navigating highly matrix organization, implementing plans and issues resolution
• Proficient in building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners, and building followership
• Excellent written and verbal communication. Able to take complex ideas/materials and synthesize for different audiences. Comfortable engaging with and presenting to senior leadership.
• Strong collaboration and influence management skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholder groups around common objectives.
• Highly motivated self-starter with ability to progress work autonomously, but also collaborate and partner to achieve results
• High degree of intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity; able to bring structure to “blue sky” opportunities and operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Skilled in prioritization and project management
• Financial, analytical, and AI acumen; ability to translate data into insight.
• Experience in sports and entertainment partnerships, business development and strategy preferred.
• Event strategy, project management and execution required.
• 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.