Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy Job Listing at Mastercard in Waterloo, Walloon Region (Job ID R-234251)

Description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy Who is Mastercard?

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential.

Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Overview

The Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Europe will lead Mastercard's engagements with policymakers throughout, driving strategies that align with global priorities and regional business objectives. This role will serve as a key advisor to the Regional President of Europe, important business verticals, and the global policy team, ensuring government affairs campaigns and initiatives in Europe support business growth and mitigate risks.



The SVP will build strong relationships with stakeholders, represent the company in critical forums, and lead a high-performing team to advance the company's interests in the dynamic European policy landscape.





Role



The Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Europe will lead the company's advocacy efforts across the region, driving policy strategies, building key relationships, and aligning initiatives with global and regional business objectives to shape a favorable legislative and regulatory environment. Specific duties include:



Advocacy Strategy Development. Develop and execute innovative strategies to influence the passage or defeat of legislation and regulations affecting the corporation, ensuring alignment with the company's objectives and the needs of key customer groups.



Policy Development and Tactical Execution. Lead the development of corporate policy positions on pending legislation and regulations, drafting strategic responses and ensuring alignment with global advocacy priorities.



Political Trends Analysis and Strategy Adaptation. Monitor and anticipate significant domestic and regional political trends, adjusting strategies to mitigate risks and leverage opportunities for the company.



Stakeholder and Relationship Management. Build and sustain trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, opinion leaders, trade associations, and industry peers to advance the company's interests and maintain its reputation.



Leadership and Regional Coordination. Direct all political and advocacy activities across the region, ensuring alignment with global goals, and provide leadership and policy insights to senior management.



Multi-Industry Coalition Participation. Foster and actively participate in multi-industry coalitions, leveraging collective influence to achieve policy outcomes that support the company, its brand, and its customer base.



Consultant and Advocacy Oversight. Manage all government advocacy efforts, including oversight of consultants and third-party advocacy groups, ensuring impactful and compliant execution.



Team Leadership and Development. Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing regional Government Affairs team, setting goals, conducting performance appraisals, and fostering professional growth.



Crisis Management and Risk Mitigation. Develop rapid response strategies to manage emerging policy crises, ensuring swift alignment with global teams and minimal disruption to business operations.



Metrics and Impact Assessment. Establish measurable goals for advocacy efforts and regularly evaluate their impact, reporting outcomes to senior leadership to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.



Internal Education and Communication. Serve as an internal advocate, educating and aligning regional and global teams on policy developments and their potential business implications.



Technology and Innovation Policy Expertise. Provide expertise on policies related to emerging technologies and digital payments, ensuring the company remains a leader in shaping the regulatory landscape.





All About You

Demonstrated ability to design and execute impactful advocacy campaigns that influence complex regulatory or legislative environments

Expertise in navigating the European Union's institutions, including the European Commission, Parliament, and Council, as well as key national governments

Ability to clearly articulate complex policy issues and their implications to diverse audiences, including internal stakeholders, policymakers, and media

Proven ability to cultivate and sustain deep, trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and internal stakeholders, leveraging these connections to achieve strategic objectives and enhance the organization's influence and reputation

Educated to degree level (a law degree would be considered an advantage), with management experience in similar Public Policy/Government Relations roles in a major multinational business or agency or high-profile association and with strong background in dealing with Government and influencers

Significant policy experience, preferably including policy experience in technology or financial services issues

Proven experience and comfort with Executive level policy interactions

A team player who will work well with senior business and functional leaders. Must be able to work independently and also constructively as a collaborative team-player. High-energy, self-motivated, results-driven and politically savvy

Maturity, tact and judgment, strong negotiation skills

Must possess strong analytical approach to problem solving, ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems, able to deal with short deadlines and work productively in high pressure situations in dynamic commercial and policy environments.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.

 Apply on company website