Director, Government Affairs & Policy

Advance Mastercard's global cybersecurity policy objectives with EEMEA governments and stakeholders, reporting to the EEMEA Regional Lead for Government Affairs & Policy.

Contribute to the development and execution of global and region-specific cyber policy strategies that are fully aligned with national and institutional objectives of EEMEA countries.

Represent Mastercard in regional and international cyber policy fora and carry out multi-country advocacy campaigns to engage key stakeholders and government officials across EEMEA.

Monitor political, legislative, and decision-making processes of countries and multilateral organizations in the EEMEA region, providing timely assessments of implications for policy or business operations.

Prepare and deliver briefing documents, messaging points, and background materials for advocacy engagements and policymaker meetings relevant to the EEMEA context.

Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior government officials, foreign counterparts, and multilateral organizations operating in EEMEA and beyond.

Engage with industry partners, governments, and other stakeholders to build coalitions and strategic public-private partnerships that support Mastercard's cybersecurity policy goals throughout EEMEA.

Collaborate internally at the global, regional, and local levels and across business functions (e.g., Government Affairs & Policy, Regulatory Affairs, Security Solutions, Corporate Security, Privacy, AI & Data Responsibility, Communications, Strategic Growth) to ensure unified messaging and alignment between EEMEA and global strategies.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work cross-functionally and partner successfully with numerous business units within a matrixed organization.
• Strong executive communication skills, capable of explaining complicated issues and processes in clear, simple terms for diverse audiences.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach to addressing emerging challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced and competitive environment, adapting quickly to regulatory and market changes.
• Ability to work with a wide range of personalities and interests, including industry colleagues, policymakers, staffers, academics, community leaders, and corporate executives in EEMEA.
• Deep integrity and excellent values that immediately generate respect and trust among colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Selfless attitude and commitment to the team, taking pride of ownership for all individual and team outputs.

Professional Language Proficiency

• English (required)
• Arabic (preferred)
• Any additional regional languages (e.g., French, Russian, Turkish) will be considered an asset