Government Affairs Manager

Responsibilities

• Advocates for, and manages, policy issues (e.g., social, political, technical), and leads the company’s engagement and campaign with senior internal stakeholders related to government affairs on priority issues, strategies, and programs.
• Contributes to, and develops, Microsoft’s policy agenda and advocacy strategies for top priorities.
• Responds to key strategic issues and recommends well thought-out actions by prioritizing, ensuring alignment with stakeholder positions, leveraging specialists, or escalating matters.
• Manages complex affairs in rapidly changing and ambiguous political, policy, and industry environments.
• Develops strategies for multiple regulatory and/or legislative initiatives by serving as a subject matter expert on regulatory and legislative issues to assess their impact on Microsoft goals and objectives; delivers materials (e.g., strategy, policy briefings, other documentation) to internal stakeholders.

• Develops and implements strategies for leveraging partnerships with external partners and key influencers to advance Microsoft’s public policy agenda in several key areas.
• Leverages and augments existing intelligence network, gathers and analyzes external/internal data and relationship interactions, and shares internal and external intelligence findings in support of Microsoft’s and customers’ business objectives.
• Provides expert counsel on public policy and/or geo-political or cultural topics to business units related to specific product development or business plans.
• Develops and/or recommends highly creative solutions for advancing Microsoft policy and/or political agenda, while managing risks and consequences.

• Participates in internal/external events; supports executive engagement and participation in international events.
• Directs political strategies, provides strategic vision, and develops communication framework and/or messaging in partnership with Communications team for Microsoft by implementing strategies across diverse stakeholders.

• Builds and maintains a strong, ongoing network and coalition with complex governmental and non-governmental stakeholders (e.g., peer and industry organizations, think tanks, academics, businesses, community leaders) to align interests to significantly advance Microsoft’s objectives in key priority areas; builds strategic relationships that position Microsoft as a key trusted advisor to targeted political leadership and/or trade/think tank organizations in the region.
• Serves as a strategic partner to the Public Sector and other key business leads by supporting sales and market opportunities, building Microsoft’s reputation as a globally trusted provider of technology, and assisting in navigating, minimizing, or removing roadblocks in order to drive business results.

• Acts as a subject matter expert for large, critical projects, and may provide direction, support and coaching to teammates or a cross-functional project team, or act as a project lead across country and team lines.
• Resolves complex, cross-group priority conflicts and gains alignment across teams to enable the achievement of shared business objectives; facilitates and coordinates internal business operations within region to raise awareness and facilitate communication and coordination of effort.
• Collaborates with, and influences, senior-level internal stakeholders and subject matter experts within and outside of Government Affairs to ensure a mutual understanding and alignment of objectives, priorities, and resources.

Qualifications

• Embody our culture and values
• Work experience including significant experience working as a government affairs, public affairs, or public policy expert in government, a multinational organization, a corporate government affairs office, an industry association, coalition or equivalent group, a policy-focused research institution, or a law firm.
• The ideal candidate may have single-handedly led Govt Affairs for a organisation with a narrower policy or geographical remit and may be looking to expand their experience and impact by being part of an important and globally impactful team.
• Technology company and international experience is desirable.
• Proven capability to build and maintain excellent relationships and provide excellent service in a highly matrixed internal organization.
• Proven ability and skills to conceive, analyze, develop, and execute medium-to-long term strategies and campaigns to deal with complex issues of technology, policy, and law, involving multiple issues and players. Ability to work autonomously and with ambiguity will be required.
• Excellent attention to detail and curiosity to learn are key indicators of success.
• Excellent oral, written, presentation and interpersonal skills.