Manager, Product Partnerships (m/f/d), Frankfurt am Main

Global Merchant & Network Services brings together American Express' merchant and network-related businesses. This includes the management of our relationships across the globe with both the millions of merchants who accept American Express, as well as our partners in countries and territories that deliver card acceptance, issuance and innovation. GMNS Product leads the strategy, development, delivery, and operations of American Express network and acquirer products that power $1.9T+ in annual customer transactions. We serve our merchants, partners, and issuers across more than 170 markets worldwide, growing revenue by driving strategic, multi-year initiatives that deliver differentiated value to direct merchants, merchant partners, network partners, and ecosystem partners. Within GMNS, the Product Growth organization is responsible for bringing Product and Network capabilities to market, evolving the product portfolio through partner engagement, and ensuring solutions work effectively with the right partners at the right time. The Product Partnerships team is a dedicated regional team focused on expanding the portfolio of third-party partners needed to enable GMNS products at scale while ensuring effective relationship governance. This includes proactively identifying and engaging new entrants and innovators, growing existing third-party relationships, managing relationship governance and oversight, and deepening strategic partnerships with American Express. In this role, the Manager, Product Partnerships, will lead key aspects of the regional strategy and play a central role in managing technical partnerships and related compliance, driving project execution, and expanding the availability of solutions. This position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate cross-functionally while gaining deep exposure to emerging payment technologies and evolving industry trends. This role reports directly to the Director, Product Partnerships, and will partner extensively across GMNS Product, Solution Enablement, and Merchant Services. Regional Third-Party Strategy & Execution Develop and execute regional third-party strategy designed to meet current and future customer, partner, and Amex needs. Guide partners through product or capability adoption, testing and implementation. Third-Party Relationship Management Own and grow performance across a portfolio of payment product partnerships, including driving partner due diligence, negotiations, ongoing management, and compliance. Governance, Risk & Controls Design and enforce regional third-party governance frameworks, including controls, documentation standards, and automation, in alignment with enterprise guidance. Oversee consistent execution and drive continuous improvement. Business Development & Insights Sharing Proactively monitor the market to identify and engage new entrants and innovators to advance Amex and market goals. Maintain strong and strategically aligned regional partner pipeline. Represent American Express at relevant industry events and forums and share insights internally to influence future product features and capabilities. Cross Functional Leadership & Best Practice Sharing Collaborate extensively with internal teams including market client management teams, product, risk, legal, and technology teams. Consistently share insights and best practices with internal partners across global markets. 5+ years experience managing external relationships in payments or related fields. Knowledge of the payments ecosystem, including payment processing and products. Ability to lead through ambiguity, manage change effectively, and translate strategic objectives into structured execution plans. Proven ability to build, maintain, and leverage strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including industry partners. Demonstrated knowledge of third-party management, including negotiating contracts, risk management, governance, and compliance oversight. Consistent self-starter with high level of intellectual curiosity, initiative, drive, and attention to detail Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to articulate complex issues in a simple non-technical manner, and to bridge business and technical discussions. Strong problem solving and project management skills. Experience in business development or representing an organization at industry events with ability to translate industry intelligence into AXP opportunities. Willingness to travel to industry events. (10% travel estimate). Employment eligibility to work with American Express in Germany is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions. Compliance Language: 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 Flexible work arrangements and schedules with hybrid and virtual options with Amex Flex Onsite and online Healthy Living activities, including insightful health and workout webinars, as well as an array of in-person screening opportunities (i.e. skin cancer screening, eye screening, diabetes screening and more!) Onsite Healthy Living room for exercise activities or relaxation programs with onsite shower room facility. Relaxation programs include regularly scheduled massages! Inclusive and helpful parental perks including first aid rooms for breastfeeding privacy, emergency back-up childcare services and childcare allowance. Optional on-site visits from Occupational Doctors for workplace health consultations. Free and confidential counselling support through our Healthy Minds program Career development and training opportunities Amex Flex provides flexibility for colleagues to thrive personally and professionally while ensuring we preserve the important benefits of our unique in-person culture. In Germany, we have an agreement with the works council with specific guidelines for Amex Flex. Depending on the role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model or fully virtual. Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.