Senior Manager, External Affairs - UAE

Checkout.com; Dubai; On-site; AED 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Checkout.com in Dubai seeks a head of External Affairs to lead regulatory affairs, public policy and government relations across the UAE and broader MENA region. You will shape policy rhetoric, engage regulators and key industry bodies, and act as the face of Checkout.com's public policy strategy in a fast-growing fintech environment.

The role requires exceptional relationship-building, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate a complex regulatory landscape while representing

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in external affairs (public affairs agency, in-house role, or industry body).
• Strong grasp of UAE political and regulatory landscape.
• Proven ability to build deep, influential relationships.
• Ability to distill complex policy into actionable strategy.
• Calm under pressure with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Excellent written communication; concise message delivery.
• Data fluency is a plus; strong Arabic written and spoken skills.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with regulators, government bodies and third parties.
• Manage regulatory enquiries and narrative positioning with Legal and Compliance.
• Design and execute advocacy to advance regulatory priorities.
• Analyse legislation and influence fintech policy in the MENA region.
• Craft UAE-specific external narratives and communicate Checkout.com's story.
• Represent Checkout.com in industry associations, forums and conferences.

Skills

External affairs

Public policy

Regulatory affairs

Government relations

Stakeholder management

Strategic communications

Policy analysis

Crisis management

Job description

Company Description

. You might not know our name, but companies like eBay, Spotify, Klarna, Uber, and Sony do, because we’re behind many of the digital experiences you use every day.

We are where the world checks out, enabling over 10 billion transactions yearly for more than one billion global shoppers.

Whether you want to book a holiday, order food, renew a subscription, or check out online, there’s a good chance our tech powers the payments behind the scenes. Our platform helps the most ambitious businesses deliver effortless digital experiences, at scale.

If you want to do career-defining work, you’ve come to the right place. We move fast, think globally, and believe great teams are built by hiring exceptional people with conviction, curiosity, and the desire to make an impact.

With 20 offices across six continents and London as our HQ, we’re shaping the future of fintech – and we’re just getting started.

Job Description

You will be leading the external affairs function in one of Checkout.com’s most important geographies.

Company Description

We’re Checkout.com. You might not know our name, but companies like eBay, Spotify, Klarna, Uber, and Sony do, because we’re behind many of the digital experiences you use every day.

We are where the world checks out, enabling over 10 billion transactions yearly for more than one billion global shoppers.

Whether you want to book a holiday, order food, renew a subscription, or check out online, there’s a good chance our tech powers the payments behind the scenes. Our platform helps the most ambitious businesses deliver effortless digital experiences, at scale.

If you want to do career-defining work, you’ve come to the right place. We move fast, think globally, and believe great teams are built by hiring exceptional people with conviction, curiosity, and the desire to make an impact.

With 20 offices across six continents and London as our HQ, we’re shaping the future of fintech – and we’re just getting started.

Job Description

You will be leading the external affairs function in one of Checkout.com’s most important geographies. The External Affairs team sits within the Legal, Risk and Compliance department, and manages Checkout.com’s engagement with regulators, governments and other third parties. External Affairs at Checkout.com covers regulatory affairs, public policy, government relations and licensing. This is Checkout.com’s first External Affairs role in the MENA region, meaning you can really make your mark. You will be working with all areas of the business and be the primary architect of the company’s reputation in a strategic growth market. You will have a seat at the table with local executives and the freedom to shape how Checkout.com is perceived by the government and regulator. If you thrive in high-stakes environments, enjoy solving difficult problems, excel at building relationships and influencing people, and want to be the face of our public policy strategy in the region, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Do

• Build relationships: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with regulators, government bodies and relevant third parties. You will ensure Checkout.com is viewed as a strategic partner.
• Regulatory affairs: Work with the Legal and Compliance team to handle regulatory enquiries, with a particular focus on narrative and positioning.
• Advocacy: You will design and execute advocacy campaigns to secure Checkout.com’s regulatory priorities, delivering positive commercial outcomes.
• Public policy: Analyse legislation to understand opportunities and risks. Influence fintech policy in the MENA region before it becomes law.
• Narrative: Craft a UAE specific external narrative and then tell the Checkout.com story.
• Industry advocacy: Represent Checkout.com in industry associations, forums and conferences.

What We Are Looking For

• Several years of experience working in external affairs (public affairs agency, in-house role, trade body), or in government or a financial services regulator.
• A strong understanding of the UAE political and regulatory machinery, with an ability to navigate the local landscape effectively
• A proven ability to build deep relationships and influence decisions
• The ability to analyse complex technical policy and create actionable strategies (You do not need to be a financial services expert but you must prove that you have the ability to understand a new and complex subject quickly)
• A track record of keeping calm under pressure
• A practical, solutions-oriented focus and enthusiasm for taking on new challenges
• Impeccable written communication skills to be able to deliver a message succinctly
• Being comfortable using data is a strong advantage
• Fluency in Business Arabic (spoken and written) is a strong advantage
• Previous FinTech, payments, software, e-commerce and/or bank experience is desirable but not essential
• Experience working in a start up or other fast-paced and dynamic environment