Director, Issues & Events Risk Insights

The Operational Risk Management (ORM) team facilitates and monitors the implementation of effective operational risk management programs throughout the organization, and oversees risk ownership throughout business units, products, and processes. The objective of the ORM Issues & Events team is to define and maintain the issues and events frameworks and programs across the enterprise.

ORM is looking for a Director, Issues & Events Risk Insights to partner closely with senior leadership and a diverse team of high-performing professionals to transform operational risk data into clear, actionable insights. This role will serve as a critical bridge between data and decision-making—synthesizing complex issues and events information into compelling narratives that inform executive forums, support regulatory transparency, and drive strategic action across the enterprise.

The role requires a highly analytical and consultative leader who can respond to ad hoc senior management questions, distill large volumes of information into key themes, and communicate insights effectively through written, verbal, and visual storytelling.

The Director, Issues & Events Risk Insights will:

• Translate complex risk data into clear, executive-level insights, highlighting key trends, emerging risks, and areas requiring attention across Issues & Events programs 
• Develop compelling narratives for senior management and committee forums, connecting data points into a cohesive story that drives informed decision-making 
• Respond to ad hoc leadership inquiries, providing timely, thoughtful analysis and perspective on risk themes, program performance, and emerging concerns 
• Partner across ORM, Technology, and Business teams to understand data sources, ensure consistency, and elevate the quality of insights generated from automated reporting outputs 
• Design and deliver high-impact presentations and visualizations that clearly communicate risk insights, trade-offs, and recommended actions 
• Identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities within Issues & Events data, proactively surfacing areas for improvement or escalation 
• Influence stakeholders through a consultative approach, helping shape priorities, challenge assumptions, and guide risk-informed decisions 
• Continuously enhance how insights are generated and communicated, leveraging best practices in analytics, storytelling, and visualization

• Experience in operational risk, consulting, strategy, or analytics roles, with a strong ability to translate data into meaningful business insights 
• Proven ability to analyze complex datasets, identify trends, and synthesize findings into clear, actionable narratives for senior leadership 
• Strong executive communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences 
• Demonstrated experience creating high-quality presentations and data visualizations (e.g., PowerPoint, Tableau, Excel) that effectively tell a story 
• Ability to operate in a highly consultative manner, responding to ambiguous questions and framing structured, insight-driven responses 
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to connect disparate data points and form a clear point of view 
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-visibility environments, supporting senior stakeholders and decision-making forums 
• Ability to partner across teams and functions, influencing without direct authority 
• Familiarity with operational risk, issues management, or regulatory environments within financial services is preferred

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