Director, Talent Acquisition Modernization

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.

Reporting to the Head of Talent Acquisition and serving as a key member of the Talent Acquisition Leadership Team, the Director, Talent Acquisition Modernization will shape the long-term strategy, operating model, and transformation agenda for the Talent Acquisition experience. This role will partner with the Head of Talent Acquisition to define and deliver a multi-year transformation roadmap to modernize how we attract, source, and hire talent globally.

The Director will lead enterprise-wide initiatives to simplify and automate recruitment processes, scale AI-enabled capabilities responsibly, improve operational effectiveness, and enhance candidate, hiring leader, and recruiter experiences. Working across Talent Acquisition, Colleague Services, the General Counsel’s Office (GCO), Corporate Affairs & Communications (CA&C), Product and Technology, this leader will translate strategy into execution, building alignment across a complex global organization and delivering measurable business value.

Success in this role will require an innovative, execution-oriented leader who can translate Talent Acquisition strategy into a modern, global operating model and move effectively from design to implementation. The Director will navigate ambiguity, build alignment across a complex enterprise environment, and partner closely with the Head of Talent Acquisition to shape the transformation strategy, governance model, operating approach and multi-year roadmap.

This leader will position Talent Acquisition as a data-driven, AI-enabled function that delivers exceptional experiences and measurable business value. By combining strategic thinking with disciplined execution, the Director will simplify and automate processes, strengthen governance and risk management, improve recruiter capacity for high-value talent engagement, enhance hiring manager and candidate experiences, accelerate hiring outcomes and build the capabilities needed to support the future workforce.

Responsibilities

Re-imagine the Talent Acquisition Experience

• Partner with the Head of Talent Acquisition to define and execute the multi-year Talent Acquisition transformation strategy aligned with enterprise priorities and business growth.
• Shape and implement the future Talent Acquisition operating model, including organizational capabilities, ways of working, processes and technology.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to simplify, standardize and modernize the recruiting lifecycle, translating them into an actionable transformation roadmap.
• Establish governance and lead delivery of the strategic portfolio, ensuring clear ownership, executive visibility and accountability for milestones, risks, dependencies and outcomes.
• Leverage performance data, operational insights and external trends to refine transformation priorities and measure impact.
• Identify strategic candidate sourcing opportunities and talent marketplace partnerships to expand reach, strengthen talent pipelines and prioritize new partnerships and capabilities.
• Provide clear recommendations and updates to the Head of Talent Acquisition and senior stakeholders, escalating key decisions and risks as required.
• Lead end-to-end process optimization and the design, implementation and scaling of automation, digital and AI-enabled capabilities across the recruiting lifecycle to improve efficiency, quality, scalability and experience.
• Identify, evaluate, and scale AI-enabled capabilities to enhance recruiter productivity, candidate experience, hiring manager effectiveness, and decision quality while ensuring responsible adoption.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, Product and Technology teams to identify, prioritize, and implement capabilities that support the future of hiring.
• Ensure transformation initiatives comply with enterprise governance, risk, privacy and responsible AI standards.
• Build strong partnerships across Talent Acquisition, Product, Colleague Services, GCO, CA&C and other enterprise stakeholders to deliver the transformation agenda.
• Influence senior leaders to align on the transformation vision, priorities and key decisions, building commitment and driving adoption without reliance on direct authority.
• Lead targeted change management, through continuous communication and stakeholder engagement, identifying the capabilities and ways of working needed to sustain change and foster continuous improvement, innovation and data-driven decision-making.

Automation, AI & Digital Enablement

• Lead end-to-end process optimization and the design, implementation and scaling of automation, digital and AI-enabled capabilities across the recruiting lifecycle to improve efficiency, quality, scalability and experience.
• Identify, evaluate, and scale AI-enabled capabilities to enhance recruiter productivity, candidate experience, hiring manager effectiveness, and decision quality while ensuring responsible adoption.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, Product and Technology teams to identify, prioritize, and implement capabilities that support the future of hiring.
• Ensure transformation initiatives comply with enterprise governance, risk, privacy and responsible AI standards.
• Build strong partnerships across Talent Acquisition, Product, Colleague Services, GCO, CA&C and other enterprise stakeholders to deliver the transformation agenda.

Enterprise Partnership & Change Leadership

• Influence senior leaders to align on the transformation vision, priorities and key decisions, building commitment and driving adoption without reliance on direct authority.
• Lead targeted change management, through continuous communication and stakeholder engagement, identifying the capabilities and ways of working needed to sustain change and foster continuous improvement, innovation and data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience developing and delivering large-scale business, technology, or Talent Acquisition transformation strategies from concept through implementation and measurable value realization within complex, global organizations.
• Strong understanding of Talent Acquisition operations, end-to-end recruiting processes, recruiting technologies, and workflow automation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional change, influence executive stakeholders, build alignment without direct authority, and deliver measurable outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Exceptional program management, strategic planning, and organizational leadership capabilities.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience defining success metrics, tracking benefits, and leveraging data to drive continuous improvement.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or implementing AI-enabled solutions within Talent Acquisition, HR, or broader business operations.
• Experience implementing responsible AI practices, including governance, ethical considerations, and risk management.
• Experience leading digital transformation initiatives that leverage emerging technologies, intelligent automation, or AI to improve operational efficiency and business outcomes.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. 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.​