Director - EMEA Benefit Operations

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.

With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact. Every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and let’s lead the way together.

In this role, Director EMEA Servicing will report to the VP Colleague Services. This role is responsible for the implementation, optimization, and governance of benefits programs in multiple countries, ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements and alignment with global Total Rewards strategy. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in European pay, benefits, strong vendor management skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across regional and global teams is critical.

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Regional Oversight & Compliance
  • Oversee benefits operations across multiple European countries, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and regulatory reporting.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for benefits audits, regulatory inspections, and internal controls testing.
  • Ensure timely and accurate filings related to social security, pensions, insurance, and other statutory programs.
• Vendor & Partner Management
  • Manage relationships with third-party benefits providers, brokers, insurers, and pension administrators.
  • Negotiate contracts and ensure high service delivery standards and cost-effective solutions.
  • Conduct regular vendor performance reviews and lead RFP processes when required.
• Governance & Controls
  • Establish and maintain strong internal controls around benefits administration and data handling.
  • Drive continuous improvement in benefits processes, systems, and policies.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and ensure adherence to GDPR and other privacy regulations.
• Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Monitor benefits utilization, trends, and cost data to identify areas of improvement or risk.
  • Provide regular dashboards and reports to senior leadership and support budget planning processes.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Partner with country-level HR teams, payroll, finance, legal, and global benefits teams to ensure seamless delivery of programs.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners and senior leadership on complex benefits topics.
  • Lead regional benefits communications and education initiatives to ensure employee understanding and engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High level knowledge of benefit operations, compliance, employee taxation in EMEA region.
• A strong understanding of vendor systems from a solution creation, automation, and integration perspective.
• Exceptional leadership, business partnership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Capable of strategic thinking and results-driven approach with an ability to convert strategic vision into clear outcomes.
• Strategic business partner with a proven track record of independent working, positively collaborating, influencing, and coordinating with internal and external partners including senior leaders.
• Ability to design, implement and streamline complex processes.
• Excellent organization skills with strong attention to detail. Experience leading a team in a matrix environment. Excellent at influencing others to drive flawless execution.
• Good change management experience, and ability to drive and manage complex/large scale change initiatives sensitively and thoughtfully.
• High drive for results, with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes.
• Global mindset, with the ability to challenge the status quo.
• Excellent communication skills, able to cascade complex messages in simple form and ensure employees can see how what they do day-to-day supports the company’s strategic priorities and direction.
• Experience with Agile and project management disciplines preferred.
• An understanding of relevant financial control principles and practices (i.e. US GAAP, Local GAAP), preferred.
• Master’s Degree with significant years’ experience.

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Support for financial well-being and retirement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
• 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

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.