Policy Manager, UK & Ireland, Europe Government Affairs

Visa; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global payments technology leader is seeking a Policy Manager for the UK & Ireland to provide strategic policy analysis and advice. The successful candidate will focus on legislative developments impacting the business, advocating policies that align with organizational goals. This hybrid role based in London requires strong analytical and communication skills, along with relevant policy experience.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in relevant policy position.
• Deep understanding of the policy & regulatory environment.
• Experience of executive engagement and managing upwards.

Responsibilities

• Support Visa’s policy analysis and activity in the UK and Ireland.
• Proactively scan and monitor the changing external political environment.
• Support business growth by addressing client policy challenges.

Skills

Policy analysis

Strategic communication

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Education

Relevant degree in Politics, Economics or Law

Job description

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in 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 while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

As Policy Manager, you will leverage deep understanding of the UK & Ireland payments industry and regulatory landscape to provide targeted policy analysis and strategic advice to UK & Ireland Government Affairs colleagues, as well as other business units and leaders.

Your core responsibilities will focus on advancing Visa’s business strategy and goals, helping to ensure that policy frameworks in the UK and Ireland support a fair, competitive, and successful environment for Visa’s current and future business operations. You will monitor legislative and regulatory developments, assess their impact on Visa, and advocate for policy positions that align with Visa’s interests.

The Policy Manager, UK & Ireland, Government Affairs (GA) is a full-time role based in London, reporting to the Senior Director, Government Affairs, UK & Ireland. Some travel in the region may be required from time to time as the role is part of the broader Visa Europe GA team.

Headline objectives of the role are:

• Support Visa’s policy analysis and activity in the UK and Ireland, increasing Visa’s impact and thought leadership, and supporting wider Government and regulatory policy to drive economic growth.
• Seek to safeguard Visa’s “right-to-play” in the UK and Ireland, as an enabler of the Visa 2030 corporate strategy, through the identification and analysis of risks and providing advice to the business accordingly.
• In alignment with Visa’s GA strategy and relevant market priorities, support strategic engagement at all levels of seniority, including client engagement focused on adding qualitative and meaningful value to the business relationships.
• Promote a culture that maintains the highest degree of collaboration, integrity, inclusion and accountability.

What we expect of you, day to day:

STRATEGIC ADVISOR:

• Proactively scan and monitor the changing external (geo)political and policy environment to identify, assess and effectively communicate major risks to and opportunities for Visa’s 2030 business objectives
• Support strategic mitigation or realisation strategies in line with business priorities
• Support strategic internal reporting, providing intelligence and actionable insights on policy developments, geopolitical risks, and regulatory changes enabling informed strategic decision-making and prioritisation.
• Engage with business teams to support input on pricing governance, product launches and innovations.

SUPPORT THE BUSINESS TO SERVE CLIENTS:

• Support efforts to safeguard Visa’s “right-to-play” and shape the policy environment to support business growth
• Support engagement on strategic priorities to ensure Visa’s ability to serve clients.
• Seek to understand client policy challenges.
• Work alongside the business to support growth ambitions.

Additional responsibilities:

• Work constructively in different markets with other functions, across the regional and global environment, in a matrix environment.
• Share know-how and policy expertise with GA counterparties in other Regions.
• Help drive the continuous enhancement of function, toolkit and staff.
• Support open, timely and targeted communication with executives to ensure awareness of main regulatory, policy and engagement developments and strategy to protect Visa business and reputation.
• Maintain a relentless focus on the bigger picture, adopting a strategic approach.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in all engagements.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in relevant policy position, such as an in-house team, Government Department, financial services regulator, trade association or consultancy.
• Deep understanding of the policy & regulatory environment and dynamics around decision-making.
• Experience of executive engagement and managing upwards.
• Very strong collaborator required.
• Proven strategic advocacy skills and excellent communicator.
• Strong digital services and/or technology interest: knowledge of the payment industry is a plus but is not essential.
• Good inter-personal skills and stakeholder management experience.
• Excellent written and spoken communication including presentation abilities.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to act independently and flexibly within a multi-disciplinary matrixed team.
• A relevant degree in Politics, Economics or Law is desirable, but not essential.

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.