Senior Manager, Business Development - Membership & AI

American Express•New York, NY

9d•$86,250 - $158,250•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Amex Digital Labs’ mission is to build the future of payments and membership, creating new value that evolves with our customers' needs and drives deeper engagement and loyalty. We leverage emerging technologies to deliver innovations that enhance how customers pay, travel, dine, and experience the brand. The Membership & AI team focuses on shaping how we evolve from a transactional platform to a more personalized, discovery-driven experience across travel, dining, and lifestyle. We partner across Product, Engineering, and multiple business units (e.g., Travel & Lifestyle Services, Resy, and Ventures), as well as external companies to identify high-impact opportunities, evaluate build/buy/partner decisions, and bring new AI-powered capabilities into market. This is a fast-moving space with evolving priorities, where the team plays a central role in bringing structure, driving alignment, and ensuring execution across complex initiatives.

Requirements

4–7+ years of experience in consulting, strategy, business development, product, or operations roles
Proven ability to own and drive complex workstreams end-to-end with strong follow-through
Experience supporting or driving partnerships, vendor evaluations, or deal processes
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguous problems
Experience working in cross-functional, fast-paced environments
Experience developing business cases or financial analyses to support strategic or operational decisions

Nice To Haves

Experience with digital products, AI, or data-driven platforms, technical fluency a plus
Experience working on external partnerships or ecosystem development
Strong product intuition and consumer sensitivity, with the ability to evaluate opportunities through a customer and user experience lens
Interest in membership-based products and experiences (e.g., travel, dining, lifestyle) is a plus
Strong ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely to diverse stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, build structure, and maintain momentum
Track record of building relationships and influencing across teams
Marketing experience a plus

Responsibilities

Develop strategic analyses and framing to inform priorities, decisions, and opportunity areas
Translate strategic direction into structured workstreams, plans, and actionable recommendations
Drive execution across multiple initiatives, ensuring strong follow-through and high-quality, decision-ready outputs
Drive cross-functional coordination across Product, Engineering, Go-to-Market, Legal, Marketing, and multiple business units to maintain alignment and momentum
Drive execution of business development and deal processes, including structuring evaluations, contract negotiations, preparing materials, and coordinating stakeholders
Structure and lead partner evaluations (capabilities, feasibility, business impact), providing clear recommendations
Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential partners, translating capabilities into clear business opportunities and strategic recommendations
Continuously monitor the external landscape (startups, technology platforms, and partners), benchmarking capabilities and identifying opportunities aligned to business priorities
Translate complex technologies and partner capabilities into clear business use cases, product opportunities, and investment or partnership decisions
Build and manage relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to drive alignment, progress, and outcomes
Support go-to-market execution for new capabilities and partnerships, including coordination with Marketing and PR
Develop business cases and financial analyses (e.g., CBAs), including sizing opportunities, assessing tradeoffs, and supporting investment decisions

Benefits

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
6%25 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