Director, Head of Government Engagement, Hong Kong & Macao

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Team Summary

The Government Engagement (GE) team aims to create broad alignment between Visa’s business objectives and public policies that affect the payments industry.  Externally, the GE team engages a wide range of stakeholders from the government and industry associations to raise awareness of and build support for policies that expand access to and usage of digital payments in Hong Kong and Macao.  Internally, GE works closely with colleagues across the company including market management, Products, Merchant Sales and Solutions, Consulting and Analytics, Risk, Legal, Communications, Global Policy, Compliance and Inclusive Impact & Sustainability.

What the Head of Government Engagement, Hong Kong and Macao does at Visa:

The Head of Government Engagement, Hong Kong and Macao, is a full-time role responsible for Visa’s government, regulatory and stakeholder engagement in Hong Kong and Macao.

Based in Hong Kong, the role will focus on leading development and execution of Visa’s government engagement strategy in Hong Kong and Macao by constructively engaging with the government, regulatory bodies, public sector agencies, industry associations and related stakeholders to ensure policy and regulatory frameworks that are conducive to a fair, level and successful operating environment for Visa’s current and future business.

Critical work streams will include:

• Prominently positioning the value of Visa with political, regulatory and policy decision-makers in Hong Kong and Macao
• Constructive input and engagement with government stakeholders on existing and new public and regulatory policies, with a view to ensure positive impact on Visa’s business, and the expansion of the electronic payments industry in general
• Identifying partnership opportunities with the government and key stakeholders and ensuring Visa is well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities with government agencies in the delivery of Government payments, digital currencies, open data, expansion of transit and tourism, furtherance of financial inclusion, adoption of e-commerce, small-medium enterprise digitalization, fintech enablement and other potential government programs that may benefit from the application of electronic payments
• Support business development in Great Bay Area through research, advocacy and engagement with relevant government stakeholders and coordination with colleagues in Guangzhou office

In this role, you are expected to:

• Lead development and implementation of an overall government engagement strategy for Hong Kong and Macao in close coordination with Greater China Government Engagement Team (led by the Head of Government Engagement for Greater China), Head of Government Engagement for Asia Pacific, General Manager for Hong Kong and Macao, Visa Government Solutions team, and other Visa business leaders to achieve agreed objectives.
• Monitor the regulatory and political landscape in Hong Kong and Macao, assess for threats and opportunities to Visa’s business, communicate this intelligence to relevant local, regional or global Visa colleagues and strategize advocacy and engagement approach. Be acutely aware of potential global implications of local issues and coordinate their management with global colleagues.
• Monitor the policy trend in GBA, identify potential business opportunities for business considerations, and support business to materialize the opportunities through engagement with relevant government stakeholders.
• Manage Visa’s relationships with government officials, regulators, and policy makers across key government agencies in Hong Kong and Macao as well as other GBA cities relevant to Visa’s business, including but not limited to Guangdong Provincial Government, municipal government of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other GBA cities, local offices of PBOC and NFRA.
• Proactively manage relationships with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Macao Monetary Authority (AMCM) for policy guidance and advocacy, notifications and approvals for Visa solutions and regulatory reporting.
• Regularly communicate directly with lawmakers, government officials, regulators, and policy makers that may impact Visa’s business to build awareness about the value of Visa, enhance Visa’s reputation and competitive position in Hong Kong and Macao.
• Develop and deliver informative and engaging local communications about the value of Visa and the payments industry in general that is aligned with business priorities and global branding.
• Coordinate and ensure local, regional and global business subject matter experts conduct regular face-to-face technical issue briefings with relevant regulators and government officials.
• Support adequate and ongoing Group General Manager, General Manager and senior colleagues contact with key lawmakers and regulators.

• Recommend appropriate contacts and communication channels between Visa local and regional executive leadership with senior government officials.
• Recommend, engage and manage Visa’s relationships with necessary third-party intermediaries including government affairs advisors, industry associations, broad-based and business trade associations, diplomatic missions and civil society organizations.

• Establish and maintain appropriate contact with counterparts at other industry participants including clients and partners.
• Contribute to the development of Visa’s Social Impact corporate charitable activities in Hong Kong, Macao and other major GBA cities ensuring reputable positioning of Visa.

Why this is important to Visa

We believe that inclusive economies uplift everyone, everywhere, which drives our mission to connect the world and enables individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Visa is working with all of our partners in Hong Kong and Macao to expand access to the most innovative payment technology powering global commerce. The Head of Government Engagement, Hong Kong and Macao, is essential to growing our public sector relationships, identifying and managing impact of regulation on Visa’s business, and displaying Visa’s leadership in emerging technology. Through these efforts, we will meaningfully deepen our partnership with policy makers who are shaping the regulatory and operating environment for digital payments.

What you will need:

We are looking for an individual who brings strong leadership skills, exceptional maturity and attention to detail, along with the ability to effectively manage several urgent business priorities and significant regulatory developments simultaneously. The position demands the ability to work constructively in a market, regional and global corporate environment, including working successfully as a leader or member of cross-functional teams. The ability to play an active role in developing strategic policy positions for Visa’s engagement with Government stakeholders will be essential. The ability to work independently but also within a team environment is expected.

As a candidate, you should have:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Advance degree preferred
• 12+ years of relevant corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy serving government stakeholders in Hong Kong, Macao and other major GBA cities.
• Active network of government contacts in Hong Kong, Macao and other major GBA cities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external stakeholders at senior and executive management levels
• Strong financial services and/or technology pedigree preferred, including working knowledge of the digital payments industry
• Political acumen
• Strategic thinking, advocacy and communications planning skills
• Superior interpersonal and presentational skills
• Confident and authoritative manner in all communication channels, with executive presence
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Detailed oriented with strong analytical capabilities
• Execution focused
• The highest standards for ethical conduct, confidentiality and integrity, with a strong professional reputation in the industry
• Outstanding written communication abilities and fluency in English, Cantonese and Chinese
• Some travel within and between Hong Kong, Macao and other major GBA cities and to regional meetings are also features of the position

What will also help:

• Crisis management and response skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a challenging, fast-paced environment with limited supervision
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with others across geographic boundaries

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.