Senior Manager – Acquiring Partnerships Management

Company: American Express
Location: Phoenix
Posted on: January 9, 2026

Job Description:

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, youll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express. The Global Acquiring Partners & Programs (GAPP) in Merchant Services US (MSUS) are tasked with making American Express “Welcomed Everywhere and Used Every Day.” Through innovative programs like OptBlue, the business focuses on high growth relationships in the Merchant Acquiring arena that are transforming how American Express is accepted and welcomed. This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced, dynamic team managing relationships with Third-Party Partner banks and sales channels that sit under the OptBlue program. These relationships are significant, complex, and critical to achieving American Express’s strategic objectives for merchant acceptance. In this role, you will manage our partner relationships by working across a broad set of areas and teams both within American Express and with our partners. The successful candidate will also lead more tactical growth opportunities to unlock and implement initiatives (i.e. Debit) with the partners across their sales and marketing organizations to drive American Express merchant coverage and spend on the network. This role is responsible for: Orchestrating Program Management, Driving Welcome Acceptance, Unlocking Partner Participation Marketing Initiatives, and Facilitating New Partner Integrations (i.e. Debit) • Deepen senior level relationships with partners to help strategically position American Express and help grow and maintain a robust sales pipeline across all partner sales channels. • Managing complex, critical partner relationships by working across a broad set of areas and cross-functional teams both within American Express and with partners. • Accelerating growth and driving enterprise goals across this partner set by negotiating and implementing initiatives with sales and marketing organizations that drive American Express Merchant coverage and spend on the network. Key areas of focus: • Strategy Development: Unlock Card Member spend in partnership with a portfolio of Third-Party Partnerships (TPPs) by focusing on Merchant enablement, activation, Vibrant Acceptance, and other strategic enterprise initiatives (i.e. Debit). • Partner Management: Establish and deepen relationships with TPPs to identify and implement growth initiatives across the partner portfolio. • Negotiation: Leverage partner executive, sales, and servicing relationships to uncover and implement exciting growth opportunities such as expanding American Express value-added products and services for partners and Merchants. • Collaboration: Partner with internal business team members including Marketing, Analytics, Business Development, and Legal to design and implement initiatives that increase Merchant activation, drive Welcomed Acceptance and deliver incremental value to our partners. • Business Development: Maintain deep and current knowledge about the payment services industry, debit and U.S. market trends, new and existing technologies, products, and services. Represent American Express and promote our industry specific value at industry forums / events / trainings to establish American Express as an essential partner. Minimum Qualifications: • 5 years of relevant business experience required Qualifications: • Minimum 3 years’ experience in the processing and acquiring of U.S. debit cards with processor, debit network, or acquirer. • Self-starter with the ability to think creatively and strategically in a world of evolving payment trends and innovations • Excellent client relationship skills with demonstrated ability to influence C-level executives with business partners. • Proven influencing and negotiation skills with confidence to challenge opinions and perceptions and offer unique insights. • Excellent relationship management and collaboration skills with the ability to influence internal and external partners. • Strong sales mentality with a focus on driving bottom line performance. • Proficient in identifying and driving new opportunities that advance and deepen our relationships. • Strong business acumen – especially in the merchant acquiring, emerging payments and payment processing industry. • Strategic problem solver with ability to work through complex business and operational problems and identify clear action plans and drive resolution. • Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills are a must. • Solid project management skills and the ability to lead multiple accounts and initiatives in parallel. • Bachelors Degree required; MBA preferred. Location: New York City or Phoenix; operating under a hybrid-work arrangement Salary range: $103,750.00 to $174,750.00 annually bonus benefits The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors. We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally: • 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, offered 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 our Healthy Minds program • Career development and training opportunities

Keywords: American Express, Tempe , Senior Manager – Acquiring Partnerships Management, Sales , Phoenix, Arizona