Visa Hiring for SVP, Government Engagement, CEMEA Full Time

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive.

When you join Visa, you join a culture of purpose and belonging – where your growth is priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. Your work will have a direct impact on billions of people around the world – helping unlock financial access to enable the future of money movement.

Join Visa: A Network Working for Everyone.

Job Description

The Position

Position Title

SVP Government Engagement, CEMEA

Location / Travel

Dubai (UAE), with extensive travel across the CEMEA region

Reporting Relationship

• Global Head, Government Engagement
• Regional President, CEMEA

Key Relationships / Stakeholders

• CEMEA Leadership Team
• Global Government Engagement Team
• Regional Business Leaders (Regional Managing Directors and Country Managers)
• Regional and Global key business and corporate functions (incl. legal, marketing, sales, communications, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability)

Function Overview

Global Government Engagement drives Visa’s business by shaping the policy and regulatory environment to accelerate digital payments – ensuring Visa is the best way to pay and be paid for everyone, everywhere. We excel with clients, governments, and partners to enable everyone to participate fully in the digital economy, delivering economic growth, innovation, and positive social impact. We are diverse and inclusive – committed to being a best-in-class global government engagement team.

Throughout the Central Europe Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) region, the existing team of highly qualified government engagement professionals support the ongoing growth of the company’s business by proactively engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to promote Visa’s capabilities and contributions to governments, protect the business through shaping the policy environment to minimize regulatory risk, and partner with governments on their digital payments priorities.

Role Overview

Along with leading the Government Engagement team in CEMEA, the Executive will work closely with Visa’s regional business leaders as a member of the CEMEA leadership Team to ensure the company’s public policy priorities and interactions with national and sub-national government officials align with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements to drive business impact.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic Advisory and Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as a member of Visa’s CEMEA leadership team, providing both strategic advice and direct support on matters of legislative and regulatory interest
• Build strategic engagement plans for Visa’s executive leadership in the region with key government stakeholders across CEMEA
• Provide subject matter expertise on primary public policy matters and be a key resource to public officials, clients, and industry associations

People Leadership

• Provide strong people leadership for our CEMEA Government Engagement colleagues, focused on talent development and supporting and attracting a best-in-class team

Drive Business Outcomes with Engagement & Thought Leadership

• Promote Visa’s reputation and profile by representing the company at public events, policy forums, industry conferences, association committees and roundtables, etc.
• Regularly engage directly with lawmakers, regulators, and other external stakeholders that may impact Visa’s business to enhance Visa’s reputation and competitive position
• Develop and deliver compelling government engagement narratives about the value of Visa and the payments industry in alignment with Visa’s business priorities
• Develop strategic policy positions, in partnership with Visa’s Global Policy team, that foster potential business partnerships with national and sub-national government agencies in the delivery of social services, payment of taxes, and other potential government programs that may benefit from the application of electronic payments

Partnership, Collaboration, Influence

• Partner and collaborate with the CEMEA leadership team, country management throughout the region as well as global key stakeholders to drive Visa’s local and regional policy priorities
• Facilitate regional and global business subject matter expert interactions and briefings with relevant regulators and government officials
• Manage compliance with all relevant corporate policies and legal requirements related to political participation and activity throughout the region, ensure utmost respect for and adherence to ethical behavior standards within the CEMEA government engagement team and broader CEMEA business
• Establish and maintain appropriate contact with counterparts and other industry participants (incl, client institutions, FinTechs, and other payment sector stakeholders)
• Coordinate management of any potential global, local and regional issues

Qualifications

Ideal Background and Qualifications
• A minimum of 20 years in a relevant corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy providing related services to multinational corporate clients
• Deep experience in global government engagement managing complex international issues
• Combination of political and business acumen, understanding of both corporate and political motivations
• In-depth knowledge of the electronic payments, financial services and/or technology industries
• Extensive understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes and experience in analyzing complex legislation, regulation, and business planning documents
• Proven track record building and managing public policy teams
• Familiarity in managing complex matrix-based organizations
• Effective at creating consensus around strategic initiatives utilizing a collaborative, inclusive, and engaging decision-making process
• Highly organized, proven manager of public policy process in a complex environment with a deep network of government stakeholders
• Leads by example and is able to generate respect and loyalty from peers, superiors, and subordinates with a strong commitment to collaboration
• A cross-culturally sensitive leader with strong focus on people development, talent management and team building
• Impeccable ethics and high-level of integrity
• Exceptional strategic advocacy and planning skills
• Strong intellectual curiosity and be able to navigate complex policy challenges with a problem-solving mindset
• Ability to act independently but also within a team environment
• Superior inter-personal, presentation and written communication skills
• Fluency in multiple languages

Personal Characteristics

• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments
• Courageous innovation: creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks
• An authentic leader who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling the business to reach its ambitious goals
• Diversity of thought and experience, continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, takes an inclusive approach
• High personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders, and customers
• High levels of learning-agility with a real interest in developing relationships with progressive businesses, combining a ‘technology / digital-first’ approach
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable with ambiguous and change-led environments, self-confident with an authentic style that gravitates to championing change
• Eager to seek a challenge and expand frontiers, brings a visionary approach. Sets and meets a high bar of goals and principles
• Servant leadership mentality: deeply committed to serving and listening to others. Natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity
• Committed to building a community through Visa Leadership Principles:
1. We Lead by Example
2. We Communicate Openly
3. We Enable and Inspire
4. We Excel with Partners
5. We Act Decisively
6. We Collaborate

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.