Director of Government Affairs, EMEA

The Head of Government Affairs for the Europe, Middle East & Africa region will provide strategic leadership for the organization’s engagement with government entities across EMEA, driving high-impact policy advocacy to advance organizational objectives. This role combines sophisticated policy influence and regional strategy with robust team management, requiring the Director to shape complicated policy landscapes, forge high-level relationships with policymakers, and partner with compliance function regulatory engagement as needed. Leading a skilled government relations team, the Director will serve as the primary regional liaison with government stakeholders, fostering cross-functional collaboration and empowering team excellence in a dynamic, multicultural environment. This role reports to the Head of Global Government Affairs.

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Responsibilities:

• Design and lead a strategic government relations agenda to shape public policy and legislation across EMEA, aligning with global and regional organizational priorities. Contribute to global government relations strategy, providing EMEA perspectives to shape the organization’s worldwide advocacy approach.

• Build, mentor, and lead a government affairs team, fostering a culture of strategic excellence, collaboration, and accountability. Establish ambitious team goals, drive performance management, and champion professional development to build a pipeline of government relations talent.

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with policymakers, government agencies, and regional bodies (e.g., EU Commission, EU Parliament, Member States, Government Ministries etc) to advance the organization’s influence.

• Oversee the monitoring and analysis of legislative and regulatory developments across EMEA, delivering actionable, high-level insights to executive leadership.

• Represent X Corp at forums, including government hearings, industry coalitions, and international summits, to advocate for favorable policies. Proactively identify and address emerging policy trends in EMEA, such as digital sovereignty, AI frameworks, or social media policies, positioning the organization as a thought leader.

• Develop sophisticated policy materials, including testimony, white papers, and strategic briefings, ensuring exceptional quality and regional relevance.

• Partner with global and regional leadership (e.g., legal, compliance, safety, business) to align policy positions, integrating team expertise into broader organizational goals and mitigate risks.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for business partners, including Marketing, Sales, Communications and Engineering to support as needed on critical growth initiatives.

• Provide inputs into the government relations budget outlining EMEA needs by balancing fiscal discipline, optimizing resources.
  Ensure rigorous compliance with EMEA lobbying and ethics regulations (e.g, EU transparency reporting), setting a tone of integrity for the team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, law, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of industry experience in government relations, public policy, or a related field, with at least 5+ years as a people leader/management role.
• Proven track record of influencing policy outcomes and leading successful advocacy campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience managing and motivating teams, with a focus on fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Strong network of relationships with policymakers, government officials, or industry stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of political and regulatory frameworks across key EMEA markets (e.g. UK, EU, KSA, UAE, France, Germany).
• Strategic thinker and day-to-day executor with expertise in navigating political landscapes and building coalitions.
• High integrity and thorough understanding of lobbying compliance and ethics requirements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing circumstances, and lead under pressure.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in French or Arabic is a plus
• Industry-specific expertise, e.g., technology, AI, Social Media is a plus
• Willing to travel up to 40%

Preferred Skills:

• Experience engaging with senior officials in key EMEA markets (e.g., France, Germany, UK, KSA, UAE, Egypt).

• Deep knowledge of EMEA-specific policy domains, such as data governance, digital trade, or social media regulatory frameworks.

• Proficiency in leveraging policy research, data analytics, or stakeholder mapping to drive advocacy strategies.