Senior Public Policy Specialist

Bolt; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and stock options

Wellness perks

Sabbatical after 5 years (1 month)

Annual company events

Hybrid work model (12 in-office days)

Job summary

Bolt in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Senior Public Policy Specialist to lead day-to-day policy work, engage with regulators, and shape a regulatory environment that supports innovation and sustainable mobility growth.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, you’ll build relationships with APAD, the Ministry of Transport and industry stakeholders, track regulatory developments and advise the business on risks and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in public policy, government affairs or regulatory affairs.
• Experience in technology or platform businesses is a plus.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking with ability to translate policy into business impact.
• Clear communication in English and Bahasa Melayu; Mandarin is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships and advocate with government agencies, regulators and industry groups in Malaysia.
• Lead day-to-day regulatory and legislative engagement; prepare briefing materials and represent Bolt.
• Research political and regulatory developments and assess implications for the business.
• Manage policy projects with timelines and stakeholder coordination.
• Support regulatory compliance for Bolt's Malaysian operations.
• Represent Bolt locally and internationally; travel within Malaysia and regionally as needed.

Skills

Public policy experience

Government affairs

Regulatory affairs

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Economics, Public Administration

Job description

About Bolt

Bolt is shaping a future where cities are built for people, not cars. What started as an ambitious project of a 19-year-old in 2013 has grown into a global mobility platform used by more than 200 million customers and 4.5 million driver and courier partners across 50 countries.

About Bolt

Bolt is shaping a future where cities are built for people, not cars. What started as an ambitious project of a 19-year-old in 2013 has grown into a global mobility platform used by more than 200 million customers and 4.5 million driver and courier partners across 50 countries. From ride-hailing and food delivery to scooters, e-bikes, and car-sharing, Bolt helps people move through cities every day. Small, collaborative teams drive this work, combining the speed and ownership of a startup with the scale of a global technology company backed by more than €1bn in funding. And we're just getting started.

Why join Bolt?

• Build the future of mobility and help transform how people live and move in cities.
• Tackle challenges at scale that span technology, operations, regulation, and growth.
• Take real ownership early. Small, lean teams mean your decisions matter from day one, and you'll learn fast alongside some of the best people in the industry.
• Join one of Europe's leading technology companies, backed by world-class investors including Sequoia.

About The Role

As Senior Public Policy Specialist, you’ll champion Bolt’s day-to-day policy and government affairs work in Malaysia, helping shape a regulatory environment that supports innovation and sustainable mobility growth. Based in Kuala Lumpur, you’ll build relationships with APAD, the Ministry of Transport and industry stakeholders, track regulatory developments and advise the business on risks and opportunities. You’ll combine policy analysis with practical advocacy, representing Bolt in discussions and managing projects that support our Malaysian operations. You’ll report to the Senior Public Policy Manager covering the Asia-Pacific region and work as part of an international Public Policy team, with support on engagement with senior stakeholders.

Main Tasks And Responsibilities

• Build relationships and support advocacy in Malaysia. Maintain constructive relationships with government agencies, regulators, industry groups and strategic partners, with guidance on engagement with senior stakeholders.
• Lead day-to-day regulatory and legislative engagement. Prepare briefing materials and represent Bolt in person, communicating our positions clearly and supporting informed discussions.
• Turn policy developments into business insights. Research political, legislative and regulatory changes, assess their commercial and operational implications, and advise the business on risks and opportunities.
• Manage policy projects. Take ownership of timelines, deliverables and stakeholder coordination, keeping projects organised and moving forward.
• Support regulatory compliance. Help ensure Bolt’s Malaysian operations meet licensing conditions and other regulatory commitments, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Represent Bolt locally and internationally. Travel within Malaysia, regionally when required and to Europe approximately once a year.

About You

• You have proven experience in public policy, government affairs, regulatory affairs or a closely related field. Experience in a technology or platform business, or an international company, is a plus.
• You hold a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Economics, Public Administration or a related field.
• You communicate clearly and confidently in Bahasa Melayu and English, both verbally and in writing, and can make complex topics easy to understand. Mandarin or another Chinese variety is a plus.
• You have strong commercial awareness and understand how regulation affects a business’s ability to operate and grow. You bring an analytical approach and a strong interest in Malaysia’s political, regulatory and socioeconomic landscape.
• You’re proactive, organised and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and take ownership with limited supervision.
• You build constructive relationships with officials, partners and colleagues, demonstrating integrity, sound judgement and discretion when handling sensitive information.

Why you'll love it here

• Accelerate your professional growth with unique career opportunities.
• Enjoy a rewarding salary and stock options, knowing that as Bolt succeeds, so do you.
• Take care of your physical and mental health with our wellness perks.
• Celebrate 5 years at Bolt with a 1-month paid sabbatical to recharge.
• Connect with colleagues at annual company events and smaller team gatherings.
• Balance flexibility and in-person collaboration with our hybrid model, including at least 12 monthly in-office days.

Some perks may differ depending on your location and role.

At Bolt, using AI daily is a baseline expectation for everyone. If there's a faster, smarter way to do your work, we expect you to find it. You're still responsible for the output, so the standard stays high when using AI tools.

Experience is great, but what we really look for is drive, intelligence, and integrity. So even if you don't tick every box, please consider applying!

Everyone is welcome

Bolt is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, nationality, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are happy to make reasonable accommodations throughout our hiring process. If you require any adjustments, please let us know.