Director, Executive Recruitment

Director, Executive Recruitment ETS and GS

The Colleague Experience Group (CEG) is responsible for all colleague-related benefits and programs globally, including career growth and development, leadership and learning, total rewards and well-being, recruitment, labor relations, colleague servicing, and more. CEG’s vision is to provide the best colleague experience every day to fuel growth, and they are committed to ensuring all of Team Amex has the resources and support they need to be and deliver their best.

How will you make an impact in this role?

The vision for the Colleague Experience Group (CEG) at American Express is to provide the best colleague experience to fuel growth. We'll achieve this by attracting, developing, and engaging a future-ready workforce and delivering a differentiated value proposition that enables all colleagues to be and deliver their best.

Talent Acquisition (TA) sources and hires top talent for American Express around the world. The function, with approximately 500 colleagues, supports early career, experienced, and executive hiring, as well as our New to Blue onboarding experience.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Director to lead Executive Recruitment for Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and Global Servicing (GS), with responsibility for delivering high-quality internal and external executive hiring across both business units.

Reporting directly to the Head of TA, this leader will oversee end-to-end executive search activity for Vice President (VP)-level and above positions, including direct sourcing, retained search partnerships, assessment and selection. The Director will build trusted relationships with senior business leaders and Colleague Strategic Partners (CSPs), translating business priorities and evolving leadership requirements into effective executive recruitment approaches.

The role will focus on strengthening executive talent pipelines across technology, digital, AI, customer servicing and other critical capabilities, while ensuring a high-quality experience for candidates and Hiring Leaders. The Director will also lead a small team, driving recruitment performance, governance and continuous improvement in partnership with the wider TA function.

Responsibilities

Executive Recruitment Leadership & Delivery

• Lead internal and external executive recruitment across ETS and GS, overseeing complex VP-level searches from initial requirements and market mapping through sourcing, assessment, selection and offer.
• Build and develop a high-performing team, establishing clear priorities, delivery expectations and accountability for recruitment performance.
• Monitor search progress, hiring outcomes, candidate quality and stakeholder satisfaction, proactively addressing delivery risks and operational challenges.
• Ensure effective recruitment governance, candidate assessment standards, confidentiality and compliance with applicable policies and regulatory requirements.

Business Partnership & Executive Talent Advisory

• Build trusted relationships with senior business leaders and CSPs, providing expert advice on executive talent markets, candidate availability and recruitment decisions.
• Translate business priorities and future leadership requirements into effective executive search approaches, leveraging Workforce Talent Planning insights and critical skills priorities.
• Partner with business leaders and relevant CEG teams on executive assessment, selection, compensation and onboarding considerations.
• Provide market intelligence, competitor insights and external benchmarking to inform executive hiring decisions and strengthen long-term talent planning.

Executive Sourcing, Talent Pipelines & Continuous Improvement

• Develop proactive sourcing approaches and executive talent pipelines across technology, digital, AI, cybersecurity, customer servicing, operations and other critical leadership capabilities.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective executive talent, external networks and retained search partners, ensuring effective and cost-conscious use of search firms.
• Deliver a consistent, high-quality and experience for executive candidates and senior Hiring Leaders.
• Partner with the TA COE and wider Executive Recruitment team to improve sourcing effectiveness, recruitment processes and cross-market delivery.
• Contribute executive recruitment insights to TA modernization initiatives and support the adoption of agreed recruitment tools, technology and ways of working.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in executive recruitment, Talent Acquisition or executive search, including significant experience recruiting Vice President-level and above talent.
• Proven track record of managing complex executive searches within a global organization or leading executive search firm.
• Strong understanding of executive talent markets, particularly across technology, digital, AI and other specialist leadership disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior executives and influence complex hiring decisions.
• Experience leading recruitment teams, managing search portfolios and delivering high-quality hiring outcomes.
• Strong expertise in executive sourcing, market mapping, assessment, selection and retained search partnerships.
• Excellent communication, analytical judgment and discretion when managing confidential executive searches and senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading executive recruitment for technology, servicing or other specialist business functions within a global enterprise.
• Established executive talent networks across technology, digital, AI, cybersecurity and service operations.
• Experience developing proactive executive talent pipelines and managing retained search partners.
• Experience recruiting across international markets and operating within a complex, regulated organization.

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.

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 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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The below 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.​