Senior Manager-Strategic Planning

American Express • New York, NY

1d • $103,750 - $174,750

About The Position

The Senior Manager – Strategy and Governance plays a critical role in executive and stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and program governance for Oculus, an enterprise transformation program at American Express. The role activates and manages the program’s stakeholder engagement model, develops key messaging and executive communications, and drives alignment among cross-functional stakeholders, senior leaders, and regulatory audiences.

This highly visible position requires strong communication, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. The Senior Manager synthesizes complex information into executive narratives, supports decision-making, strengthens governance, and keeps stakeholders informed and aligned on strategic priorities, progress, risks, and outcomes. The role partners with senior leaders and teams across the organization in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment.

Requirements

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to independently develop executive-ready PowerPoint presentations, compelling storylines, and concise messaging for senior leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking and synthesis skills; ability to absorb complex information, ask insightful questions, connect disparate inputs, and turn discussions into structured narratives, recommendations, and actionable materials.
• Demonstrated experience engaging senior executives, with the confidence, judgment, and executive presence to contribute effectively to leadership discussions and communicate complex topics clearly.
• Strong program governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder management capabilities, including experience supporting complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment across teams without direct authority.
• Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality work under tight timelines.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States; American Express will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise transformation programs or strategic initiatives within a complex organization.
• Experience in a strategy, business management, chief of staff, or PMO role with significant executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and governance exposure.
• Advanced PowerPoint and executive storytelling skills, including independently building presentations from unstructured inputs and creating clear, visually compelling materials.
• Experience developing stakeholder engagement strategies, executive messaging, and communications for diverse audiences, including senior leadership and regulatory stakeholders.
• Experience establishing and managing executive governance forums, leadership operating rhythms, and cross-functional decision-making processes.
• Strong business acumen and sound judgment, with the ability to anticipate leadership needs, identify gaps proactively, and connect strategic priorities to execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead executive and stakeholder engagement and communications for the Oculus program, including ongoing execution of its stakeholder engagement model across teams, senior leaders, and regulatory audiences.
• Develop executive communications and strategic storytelling, including presentations, leadership updates, key messaging, and decision materials describing program strategy, progress, risks, and priorities.
• Translate complex discussions and multiple stakeholder inputs into clear executive-level narratives, storylines, and polished presentation materials.
• Partner with senior leaders to understand strategic priorities, anticipate communication needs, and prepare materials for executive discussions, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making.
• Lead program governance and executive reporting by coordinating leadership forums, governance routines, executive reviews, and processes that support transparency, accountability, and timely decisions.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Product, Technology, Marketing, Sales, Compliance, Finance, GCO, Operations, and other teams; connect stakeholders, surface dependencies, and maintain consistent messaging and a cohesive view of priorities.
• Develop and coordinate accurate, consistent, appropriately tailored messaging and communications for internal stakeholders, executive leadership, and regulatory engagements.
• Synthesize updates, risks, dependencies, and emerging issues across workstreams to identify themes, elevate decisions, and provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Facilitate meetings and working sessions with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders, driving clarity and translating discussions into actions and deliverables.
• Serve as a trusted partner to program leadership by proactively identifying communication and governance needs, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and driving execution.

Benefits

• 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, 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 the Healthy Minds program
• Career development and training opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior