Senior Manager, Sponsorship Strategy and Partnerships

The Global Advertising and Brand Management (GABM) team is responsible for creating marketplace demand and driving commerce for American Express products and services through differentiated and innovative branding, marketing, and experiences. We have an ambitious goal: to be the most admired brand in the Fortune 500 and we aim to deliver on that by doing work that is both creative and effective. The Global Brand Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing team sits within GABM and leads 40+ partnerships globally, delivering best-in-class ticket access, live event and digital engagement platforms across Card Member and Prospect passion points of sports, music, theater and various other cultural interests. Reporting to the Vice President, Sponsorship Benefits & Measurement, this Senior Manager role will be New-York based. Manage the strategy and activation of a major new sports partnership, delivering against brand, customer, and business objectives and maximizing the value of partnership assets. Develop and execute differentiated sponsorship activations and experiences, including Card Member benefits, customer engagement, live and digital experiences, media, content, and B2B hospitality. Lead cross-functional teams, agencies, and external partners to develop and deliver integrated activation plans from strategy and creative development through execution and measurement. Manage partnership assets, contractual considerations, budgets, and performance, ensuring effective utilization of investments Clearly communicate plans, results, and recommendations to key stakeholders and senior leaders. Lead strategic projects across the Sponsorships portfolio, spanning sports, music, and entertainment, to identify new opportunities, connect work across verticals and the broader enterprise, and drive greater impact and efficiency. Build strong relationships across the sports and sponsorship ecosystem, staying ahead of trends across sports, commerce, technology, and fan engagement and translating them into opportunities for American Express. Travel as needed (~15%) to support and execute onsite programs. 5-8+ years of experience in sponsorships, experiential marketing, and/or large-scale events, with strong sports industry knowledge. Proven success managing sponsorship partners, contractual considerations, agencies (across experiential, media, content, PR), and cross-functional teams to deliver business results. Knowledge of the sports commerce ecosystem, including licensed merchandise, e-commerce, retail, and evolving trends in fan engagement is preferred. Relationship-builder who thrives in collaborative environments and effectively manages internal and external partners. Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and build new programs, partnerships, and processes from the ground up. Self-starter with a track record of delivering results, leading through change, and maintaining composure under pressure. Strong project management skills with the ability to lead multiple priorities and execute in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments. Exceptional communicator and influencer with experience presenting to senior leaders and aligning diverse stakeholders. Analytical and results-oriented, with the ability to turn insights into action. Positive, resilient, and team-first attitude with a willingness to roll up your sleeves, overcome challenges, and do what it takes to get the job done. Passion for innovation, continuous learning, and staying ahead of trends across sports, sponsorships, technology, and fan experiences. Bachelor's degree required. Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.