Director - Business Development

Job description

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. This leader will serve as a key bridge between the Digital Labs' Product organization and the external technology ecosystem, translating internal capability needs, competitive intelligence, and emerging market trends into strategic opportunities.

The role requires strong commercial judgment, relationship-building, market insight, and the ability to drive partnerships from initial engagement through negotiation and execution.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain strategic relationships across technology companies, startups, venture capital firms, and the broader innovation ecosystem. Develop and execute a strategic business development and partnership agenda aligned with Digital Labs' agentic and digital product priorities. Lead external business development conversations and manage partnerships through the full lifecycle, including sourcing, evaluation, commercial structuring, negotiation, and execution.

Partner with Product and Technology teams to identify capability needs and source external companies, technologies, data, and insights that can accelerate product development. Own competitive intelligence and market insights, monitoring emerging technologies, industry trends, competitors, and evolving business models to inform strategic priorities and identify new opportunities. Drive cross-functional coordination across Product, Technology, Legal, Risk, Procurement, and business teams to facilitate partnership execution, onboarding, and ongoing value creation.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

7+ years of experience in business development, consulting, strategic partnerships, technology strategy, corporate development, or related disciplines. Proven track record defining strategic priorities, sourcing, negotiating, and executing complex commercial or strategic partnerships that deliver measurable business value. Strong commercial and strategic judgment, with demonstrated experience in competitive intelligence, market analysis, and evaluating emerging technologies and business models.

Strong understanding of AI, emerging technologies, digital platforms, and the external ecosystem supporting innovative customer experiences. Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, executive communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across internal and external organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in financial services, payments, fintech, or digital ecosystems, with an established network across technology, startup, and venture capital communities, preferred. Experience in venture capital, corporate ventures, or evaluating early-stage companies and investment opportunities is a plus. Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.