Public Affairs Manager, UK & Ireland, Europe Government Affairs

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

Job summary

A global payments company is seeking a Public Affairs Manager to support engagement with UK and Irish government stakeholders. The role involves advocating for Visa’s interests in policy development, nurturing relationships, and strategically positioning the company as a trusted advisor. Candidates should have strong experience in public affairs and excellent communication skills. This is a hybrid position based in London.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in relevant public affairs position.
• Deep understanding of the political environment and dynamics.
• Experience of executive engagement and managing upwards.
• Very strong collaborator required.
• Strong digital services interest.

Responsibilities

• Support Government Affairs colleagues in developing engagement plans.
• Advance Visa's public affairs agenda.
• Nurture Visa's reputation and cultivate relationships.
• Proactively monitor the external political environment.
• Support internal reporting on engagement strategies.

Skills

Public affairs experience

Strategic advocacy skills

Excellent communication

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

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 Public Affairs Manager, you will by support Government Affairs colleagues in developing and executing strategic engagement plans with UK and Irish government, regulatory, and political stakeholders.

Your core responsibilities will be to advance Visa’s public affairs agenda, supporting senior leaders and executives to execute strategic engagement, and proactively identifying opportunities for Visa to contribute to policy conversations that shape the payments landscape, 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. Your efforts will help position Visa as a trusted advisor and constructive partner to policymakers, regulators, and industry bodies in the UK and Ireland.

The Public Affairs 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:

• Nurture Visa’s reputation in the markets through cultivating long-term, trusted relationships with critical government and regulatory stakeholders and by promoting Visa as a constructive partner to enable growth.
• Deepen Visa’s public affairs activity in the UK and Ireland, increasing our impact on policy to enable the Visa 2030 corporate strategy.
• 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 execution of engagement strategies at all levels of seniority.
• In alignment with Visa’s GA strategy and relevant market priorities, support strategic 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 Engagement

• Support growth and maintenance of Visa Europe positioning and systematic engagement, including preparation for senior leaders and executives.
• Support execution of Visa presence at relevant and priority political, policy and industry/client events.
• Support the execution of engagement opportunities which demonstrate the value of Visa, Visa as a constructive long-term partner and Visa as an enabler of growth and innovation.
• Proactively monitor the external political and policy environment.
• Work closely with Corporate Comms and Social Impact & Sustainability to deliver collaborative engagement.
• Support the delivery of strategic internal reporting on engagement strategies, deliveries and plans, linking to the external and internal environments.

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.
• Drive systematic GA client and partner engagement together with client directors and country managers.
• Work alongside GA and business colleagues to develop strategies to manage business or product changes with external audiences/stakeholders to support vertical and revenue growth.

Additional Responsibilities

• Work constructively in different markets with other functions, across the regional and global environment, in a matrix environment.
• Share know-how and 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 public affairs position, such as an in-house team, the Houses of Parliament, Government Department, trade association or public affairs consultancy
Deep understanding of the political 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.