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.

How will you make an impact in this role?
Looking to join a team in Technology that is dynamic, fast paced and forward looking? Looking to join a team in Technology that is dynamic, fast paced and forward looking? American Express is continuing to grow its Technology Vendor Management (TVM) team and capabilities to ensure our most critical third-party relationships deliver optimal value, resilience, and risk management at enterprise scale.

This Phoenix based role will be responsible for the ongoing governance and oversight of strategic third parties covering a broad spectrum of Software.
We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in negotiations, vendor management or third-party risk management (specifically focused on technology) to develop effective strategies to engage with external software vendors with the objective of achieving optimal performance and value.

The role operates as a key relationship and decision-lead position, partnering closely with Engineering, Global Supply Management (Procurement), General Counsel Office (Legal), and Technology delivery teams. The successful candidate will help develop negotiation strategies, team with internal business partners to negotiate contracts, partner with individual business units to develop a demand forecast, manage vendor performance, and drive cost optimization while maintaining strong vendor relationships.

Responsibilities:

• Own end-to-end vendor strategy for Software partners, including commercial positioning, performance governance, cost optimization, and value realization aligned to Technology and enterprise objectives.
• Lead complex sourcing events and contract negotiations, including network Request for Proposals, Statements of Work, and Master Service Agreements, translating technical and business requirements into optimized contractual structures, pricing models, and performance terms.
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for strategic Software vendors, leading Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), enforcing governance standards, and holding partners accountable to delivery, quality, and financial commitments.
• Provide your expertise and engage with external research companies to understand trends in the industry and create a point of view on competitive pricing, delivery locations, and emerging opportunities/risks.
• Interpret contractual language to support stakeholder requests and issue/dispute resolution.
• Develop a framework to assess capability/strengths of existing and potential vendor partners to support sourcing decisions.
• Deliver executive-ready updates, insights, and recommendations to senior Technology and enterprise leadership.

Minimum Qualifications
• 5-8 years of experience managing enterprise-scale Software vendor engagements, including RFPs, contract negotiations, and ongoing vendor governance.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating, developing, and administering enterprise-wide Software licensing agreements and models (SaaS, subscription, perpetual) with major key Software vendors.
• Proven ability to structure and manage contracts, renewals, and compliance obligations.
• Strong track record of building trusted relationships and influencing senior leaders.
• Understanding of Software development processes and technologies, coupled with insight into the Software vendor landscape and competitive dynamics.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment (3 days per week in office).
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications
• Program or portfolio management experience supporting large-scale technology initiatives.
• Experience negotiating AI terms and conditions (machine learning, generative, agentic, deterministic, etc.)
• Strong stakeholder leadership and influence skills, including the ability to challenge the status quo while maintaining productive partnerships.

Salary Range: $103,750.00 to $174,750.00 annually + bonus + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

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
• 6% 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

For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit our Colleague Benefits Site

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including, but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.