Senior Public Affairs Specialist (SG)

Lidl & Kaufland Asia; Singapore; On-site; SGD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual wage supplement

Discretionary bonus

Life Insurance

Medical Insurance

Out of Office leave

Job summary

Lidl & Kaufland Asia is seeking a Senior Public Affairs Specialist to safeguard business continuity, enable market expansion, and drive growth across regional operations. The role sits at the intersection of strategy, regulation, and international affairs, translating risk into actionable intelligence and shaping policy environments.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in political risk or public policy within multinational settings, strong regulatory knowledge, and exceptional executive

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in political risk, public policy, or government relations within a multinational corporation and/or a public affairs consultancy.
• Degree in Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Economics, or related discipline.
• In-depth understanding of EU regulatory processes, global trade policies (notably Free Trade Agreements), and sustainability-linked regulations.
• Commercial acumen with ability to navigate matrixed organizations and align diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, briefing, and negotiation skills for senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Proven capacity to lead cross-functional project teams under tight timelines.

Responsibilities

• Monitor geopolitical and regulatory shifts to assess impact on regional operations and supply chains.
• Translate policy shifts into executive risk briefings and actionable recommendations.
• Advise Commercial and Operational teams on regulatory and political risks.
• Ensure strategies align with EU and international regulatory requirements.
• Embed risk mitigation into business planning cycles.
• Lead strategic initiatives to dismantle regulatory trade friction and secure market access.
• Manage stakeholder engagement with government officials, regulators, and NGOs.
• Represent the company in trade associations and policy forums.

Skills

Public policy

Government relations

Strategic advocacy

Geopolitical analysis

Executive communication

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Degree in Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Economics

Job description

The Senior Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for safeguarding business continuity, enabling market expansion, and driving commercial growth across regional operations. Operating at the intersection of strategy, regulation, and international affairs, this role evaluates external geopolitical and macroeconomic dynamics, translates risk into actionable business intelligence, and shapes policy environments through strategic advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

What you’ll do

• Monitor & Analyze Geopolitical and Regulatory Shifts: Continuously track global political dynamics, macroeconomic trends, and legislative changes to evaluate potential impacts on regional business operations and global supply chains.
• Deliver Strategic Intelligence: Translate complex external policy shifts and geopolitical exposure into clear executive risk briefings, impact analyses, and actionable commercial recommendations

Internal Strategic & Regulatory Advisory (30%)

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to Commercial and Operational Teams on regulatory and political risks.
• Regulatory Alignment: Ensure forward-looking commercial, sourcing, and operational strategies align with upcoming EU and international regulatory requirements.
• Proactive Policy Integration: Identify emerging regulatory threats and opportunities early to embed risk-mitigation measures into business planning cycles.

Strategic Project Leadership & Market Access (20%)

• Mitigate Market Access Barriers: Cross-functionally direct strategic initiatives to dismantle regulatory trade friction and secure market access.
• Brand & Enterprise Protection: Lead stakeholder management initiatives designed to enhance enterprise reputation, support corporate ESG commitments, and protect brand equity.

Regulatory Advocacy & External Relations (15%)

• Drive Advocacy Strategy: Develop and execute comprehensive advocacy agendas that promote a predictable, fair, and favorable operating environment.
• Stakeholder Management: Cultivate and maintain high-trust, long-term relationships with government officials, regulatory authorities, trade associations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Industry Representation: Represent the company in key trade associations and policy forums to advance core commercial interests.

What you’ll need

• Professional Background: 5+ years of progressive experience in political risk, public policy, or government relations within a multinational corporation and/or a public affairs consultancy.
• Educational Background: Degree in Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Regulatory & Trade Policy: In-depth understanding of EU regulatory processes, global trade policies (notably Free Trade Agreements), and sustainability-linked regulations.
• Commercial Mindset & Matrix Navigation: Proven commercial acumen with a strong track record of navigating complex, matrixed organizational structures and driving alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Executive Presence & Influence: Exceptional communication, briefing, and negotiation skills, with a demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and influence senior executive leadership and high-level external stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Proven capacity to lead cross-functional project teams, manage competing priorities, and execute high-impact strategic initiatives under tight timelines.

What you’ll receive

We are dedicated to fostering a family-friendly culture and work environment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all candidates with the required skills and experience. We enable fair pay within the company by creating non-discriminatory salary systems. Working at Lidl & Kaufland Asia is rewarding, in every sense, because we give you the training to succeed in your role and plenty of opportunities to progress your career here. We are accredited as a Fair and Progressive employer by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP).

Market Leading Remuneration Package:

• Annual wage supplement and discretionary bonus
• Life Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Out of Office leave for important appointments