JOB DESCRIPTION

Global Real Estate and Workplace Experience (GREWE) is a global team at American Express (Amex) responsible for the full lifecycle of planning, execution, and operations of Amex real estate. GREWE supports over 75,000 Amex colleagues and contractors in over eight million square feet of property located in 59 countries.

GREWE’s purpose is to provide the world’s best workplace experience at a competitive cost, for every colleague, at every site, every day.

The GREWE Property Development team is responsible for delivering a new global headquarters from concept to completion. They lead the full lifecycle of the project-overseeing design, coordinating construction, managing stakeholders, and ensuring the building is fully prepared for operations. This team is responsible for ensuring the headquarters is delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational goals and future workplace needs.

As Director of Project Controls, you will play a critical leadership role in ensuring the successful delivery of a multi-billion-dollar headquarters development by driving best-in-class project controls across cost, schedule, and risk. You will establish governance frameworks, implement industry-leading tools and practices, and provide strategic oversight to enhance financial accountability and performance.

You will influence executive decision-making by delivering integrated reporting, risk insights, and forward-looking analytics, while ensuring compliance with corporate financial procedures. Through collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, you will enable disciplined execution across the full project lifecycle-from inception through closeout-ensuring the project is delivered on time, within budget, and with minimized risk

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Controls Governance

• Develop and implement project controls frameworks, policies, procedures, and standards
• Ensure alignment with corporate governance and capital investment processes
• Integrate project controls across all lifecycle stages (planning, design, procurement, construction)
• Champion digital tools, data analytics, and continuous improvement

Cost Management

• Lead development and validation of cost estimates, budgets, and cash flows
• Oversee cost control, forecasting, variance analysis, and earned value management
• Establish Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and cost frameworks
• Partner with Finance to ensure compliance with accounting standards (IFRS/GAAP)

Schedule Management

• Oversee development and maintenance of integrated master schedules
• Monitor critical path, milestones, float, and schedule performance
• Conduct schedule risk analyses and identify early warning indicators
• Validate contractor schedules and ensure alignment across all parties

Risk Management

• Lead cost and schedule risk assessments (CRA/SRA)
• Develop and manage quantitative risk models
• Integrate risks, mitigations, and opportunities into forecasts
• Support executive-level risk governance and reporting (RAIDD logs, mitigation strategies)

Change Control

• Establish and lead integrated change control processes
• Ensure all scope, cost, and schedule changes are tracked and governed
• Assess impacts to project baselines and provide strategic recommendations

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and mentor a team of project controls professionals
• Collaborate across engineering, construction, finance, procurement, and leadership teams
• Present regularly to senior executives, including SVP and enterprise leadership
• Drive organizational capability building and project controls maturity

Reporting & Deliverables Oversight

• Ensure development of key deliverables such as:
• Monthly Controls Reports & Milestone Cost & Schedule Reports
• Project Controls Execution Plan (PCEP)
• Cost estimates (Class 5-1) and budgets
• Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
• Risk assessment reports
• Forecasts and performance reporting
• Change logs, trend registers, and audit documentation
• Cost Risk & Schedule Risk assessments

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Finance, Engineering, Surveying or Construction Management
• 15+ years of experience in project controls on large-scale capital projects ($500M+)
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role
• Proven experience in large scale construction project in NYC including new Tower Projects and large-scale Interior projects.
• Proven experience establishing governance frameworks for complex projects
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and IFRS/GAAP knowledge
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with senior leaders
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with attention to detail
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as RICS, PMP, CCP, or PSP
• Experience in construction management and/or finance industries
• Proficiency in project controls systems (e.g., Primavera P6, SAP, Oracle)
• Expertise in quantitative risk analysis and simulation tools (e.g., @Risk, Safran Risk, Primavera Risk Analysis)

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

ABOUT US

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. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our 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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

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

For a full list of Team Amex benefits, visit out Colleague Benefits Site .

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. American Express will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. For positions covered by federal and/or state banking regulations, American Express will comply with such regulations as it relates to the consideration of applicants with criminal convictions.

We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That's why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days) or fully virtually.

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The below 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.