Director, Government Relations (APAC)

Fanatics-fb44f34a; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,962,000 - 3,532,000; Full time

Job summary

Fanatics is seeking a Director of Government Relations, APAC, to collaborate with the leadership team in shaping regulatory strategy across Asia-Pacific, with initial focus on Japan and China. The role requires strategic insight, advocacy excellence, and the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives that align policy with Fanatics’ business objectives.

You will build relationships with key policymakers, monitor legislation affecting retail, sports betting, and e-commerce, and communicate

Qualifications

• 10+ years of government, public policy or government affairs experience.
• APAC regional knowledge, esp. Japan and China.
• Fluency in English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

Responsibilities

• Forge and maintain strategic relationships with government officials and policymakers in APAC, with focus on Japan and China.
• Provide executive-level legislative intelligence on legislation affecting retail, sports betting, e-commerce across APAC.
• Shape policy and drive advocacy, monitoring the regulatory landscape and developing forward-looking strategies.
• Craft persuasive policy communications, including executive summaries and briefs.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration, manage external consultants, and oversee policy-related projects.
• Advocate with authority to government officials and trade associations across APAC.
• Strengthen industry influence through partnerships with trade associations and advocacy groups.

Skills

Policy Expertise

Thought Leadership

APAC Expertise

Languages

Job description

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

The Role

As the Director of Government Relations at Fanatics, APAC, you work closely with our leadership team to ensure we remain at the forefront of legislative trends and industry developments, across the Asia-Pacific region, with an initial focus on Japan and China. In this role, you will provide strategic insights, advocate for our interests, and drive initiatives that reflect Fanatics' commitment to innovation, consumer satisfaction, and the evolving retail landscape.

What You’ll Do:

• Forge and Maintain Strategic Relationships: Cultivate and sustain high-impact relationships with key government officials and policymakers across the APAC region, with an initial focus on Japan and China—including members of the Japanese Diet, government ministries and agencies, as well as senior officials at both central and local government levels in China, regulatory authorities and other relevant policymakers—to advance Fanatics’ priorities.
• Provide Executive-Level Legislative Intelligence: Keep Fanatics leadership informed with timely, in-depth analyses of current and proposed legislation affecting the retail, sports, sports betting, and e-commerce sectors across key APAC markets, ensuring proactive and informed decision-making.
• Shape Policy and Drive Advocacy: Monitor the legislative and regulatory landscape across the APAC region, assess potential business impacts, and develop tailored, forward-thinking strategies that position Fanatics for success.
• Craft Persuasive Policy Communications: Develop compelling policy documents, including executive summaries, position papers, and advocacy briefs, that clearly articulate Fanatics’ policy positions to key stakeholders.
• Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration: Manage external consultants, engage internal stakeholders, and oversee special projects that align with and advance Fanatics’ policy and business objectives.
• Advocate with Authority: Present Fanatics’ policy positions to government officials, trade associations, coalitions, and industry stakeholders, across the APAC region, ensuring alignment between corporate priorities and broader legislative and market trends.
• Strengthen Industry Influence: Enhance partnerships with trade associations, advocacy groups, and community organizations, reinforcing Fanatics' role as a thought leader in the retail and sports ecosystem.
• Innovate and Push Boundaries: Develop and execute creative advocacy strategies that challenge the status quo and unlock new opportunities for Fanatics in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
• Showcase Fanatics’ Impact: Organize immersive site visits, retail events, and media engagements for elected officials to deepen their understanding of Fanatics’ business model, innovation, and community contributions.

What We’re Looking For:

• Policy Expertise & Thought Leadership: Deep understanding of public policy, with the ability to distill complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable insights.
• Extensive Experience: 10+ years of relevant experience in government, public policy or government affairs, including experience working in government, parliament, public administration or regulatory authorities and/or in government affairs roles within companies, trade associations or public affairs consultancies.
• APAC Expertise: Strong knowledge and understanding of the political, legislative and regulatory environments across the APAC region, particularly in Japan and China.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese is required.
• Political Acumen & Agility: Highly adaptable, with the ability to anticipate and respond to shifting political and regulatory landscapes.
• Compelling Communicator: Exceptional writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively articulate Fanatics' policy positions and influence diverse audiences.
• Master Negotiator & Influencer: Proven ability to navigate complex policy challenges, persuade stakeholders, and drive favorable outcomes.
• Strategic & Innovative Problem Solver: A visionary approach to advocacy, with the ability to develop creative solutions that advance Fanatics' objectives.
• Proven Leadership & Execution: Demonstrated success in leading teams and managing projects from strategy development through execution.
• Self-Starter with a Collaborative Mindset: Highly motivated, able to work independently while fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive impact.
• Storytelling & Brand Amplification: Passion for shaping and elevating the corporate narrative through strategic communications.
• Unwavering Integrity & Professionalism: Commitment to the highest ethical standards, confidentiality, and professional excellence.

As set forth in Fanatics Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Fanatics Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.