Director - Real Estate Services Workplace Safety

American Express•New York, NY

About The Position

Global Real Estate and Workplace Experience (GREWE) is a global team at American Express (Amex) responsible for the full lifecycle of planning, execution, and operations of Amex real estate. GREWE supports over 75,000 Amex colleagues and contractors in over eight million square feet of property located in 59 countries. Our real estate portfolio consists of large full-service campuses, office buildings, sales offices, airport lounges and data centers. The global GREWE team is comprised of ~100 Amex full time staff that leverage ~5,000 contractors and is part of the broader Global Servicing Group organization which delivers shared business services to colleagues across the enterprise. GREWE Purpose: Provide the world’s best workplace experience at a competitive cost for every colleague, at every site, every day. Strategic Priorities: Portfolio: Deliver the right buildings, in the right locations, at the right cost through data-driven portfolio planning, workplace strategy, and optimization. Design & Build: Environment: Create inspiring, collaborative workplaces that bring colleagues, customers, and our brand together through scalable delivery, strategic partnerships, and innovative workplace design. Operations: Drive operational excellence that improves performance, speed, reliability, and resilience while reducing disruption, mitigating risk, and enabling business growth. Hospitality : Deliver seamless, high-quality workplace experiences and services that enhance every colleague’s interaction and every moment that matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Risk Management, or related field.
Expert-level knowledge of OSHA and global occupational health and safety regulations, including ISO 45001, NFPA standards, and safety frameworks across the EU, India, and APAC regions.
10–15 years of multinational leadership experience overseeing enterprise safety programs.
Demonstrated leadership experience in complex, multi-regional safety environments, with strong preference for candidates with aviation and transportation sector expertise.
Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing global teams while effectively influencing executive-level stakeholders.
Advanced proficiency in crisis management, risk assessment, auditing, and the design and implementation of scalable safety management systems.
Exceptional communication, collaboration, and strategic influence skills, with the ability to partner effectively across diverse cultures and organizational levels.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

Nice To Haves

Certified Safety Professional (CSP), CMIOSH, NEBOSH Diploma, or equivalent international certification.
Experience in aviation or transportation safety.
Experience in large multinational corporate environments.

Responsibilities

Set enterprise workplace strategy, governance, and global safety management framework.
Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable global health and safety regulations.
Develop enterprise safety programs, policies, standards, and training.
Lead the global ergonomics program for office and remote workplaces.
Establish enterprise processes for incident management, corrective actions, and safety performance reporting.
Establish global safety standards, governance, compliance frameworks, and KPIs.
Lead internal and third-party safety audits.
Integrate safety risks into Enterprise Risk Management.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, CEG, and Business Units to embed safety into operational governance.
Provide strategic oversight of specialized global safety programs, including transportation, travel, executive protection, workplace violence prevention, and other high-risk operations.
Establish transportation safety standards, journey management requirements, and vendor governance for high-risk regions.
Oversee contractor safety governance across the global real estate portfolio.
Develop executive safety metrics and reporting to identify trends, emerging risks, and improvement opportunities.
Serve as senior safety advisor to the Global Crisis Management Team.
Lead safety planning, testing, and execution of emergency response and business continuity programs.
Provide strategic safety leadership during enterprise incidents and crises.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing global team, fostering an inclusive culture where colleagues are empowered to grow, innovate, and deliver their best.
Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, performance management, and continuous learning.
Champion the Blue Box Values by leading with integrity, cultivating collaboration and accountability, and delivering exceptional experiences for colleagues and customers.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support business and organizational objectives. Responsibilities may evolve to meet changing business needs.