Director, Government Affairs

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.

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Role Overview

The Director, Government Affairs (GA) is a full‑time role based in Paris, leading France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (the FBL cluster) within the Europe Government Affairs organization. The Director will report to the Senior Director, Europe Government Affairs and will have one direct report. As an integral member of the Europe GA team, the role requires regular travel within the FBL cluster and occasional travel across Europe.

The Director will act as a strategic leader responsible for shaping and executing GA strategies that advance Visa's commercial, policy, and reputational goals across the cluster. They will partner with the FBL regional leadership team to ensure that GA activities effectively support the broader FBL strategy.

The Director will represent Visa at the highest levels, developing trusted, long‑term relationships with political, regulatory, and client stakeholders. They will oversee proactive and strategic engagement that positions Visa as a constructive and innovative partner to governments and regulatory bodies.

Headline Objectives of the Role

• Develop and execute a clear, comprehensive, and well‑documented FBL GA strategy, aligned with Visa Europe's broader advocacy and engagement priorities and fully integrated with the FBL regional strategy.
• Deliver localized and effective strategic engagement, building trusted long-term relationships across governments, regulators, industry bodies, clients, and other stakeholders to manage geopolitical and regulatory risks and support future growth.
• Protect Visa's "right to operate" across the FBL markets and shape policy environments that support sustainable business growth in line with Visa's 2030 strategy.
• Provide strategic counsel to internal leadership and clients, effectively articulating risks, opportunities, and policy dynamics.
• Develop and empower talent, fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, continuous improvement, and curiosity within the FBL cluster and Europe GA team.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Strategic Engagement

• Maintain and strengthen Visa Europe's positioning and systematic engagement across the FBL cluster, enabling sustained dialogue between leadership and key GA stakeholders.
• Secure and execute Visa's presence at key political, policy, industry, and client events.
• Identify, develop, and deliver thought‑leadership initiatives that highlight Visa's value, partnership mindset, and contributions to growth and innovation across Europe.

Supporting the Business to Serve Clients

• Shape the external policy landscape proactively; collaborate with internal teams (Legal, Risk, Product, etc.) to anticipate and manage interventions on core and growth topics.
• Enhance client relationships through coordinated, strategic engagement with client directors and country managers, developing a strong understanding of clients' policy challenges.
• Support engagement on strategic growth priorities, including non‑card payments, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions (CMS), and Value‑Added Services (VAS).

Strategic Advisor

• Monitor the evolving geopolitical and policy environment to identify significant risks and opportunities relevant to Visa's 2030 objectives.
• Deliver periodic and targeted internal reporting, offering actionable insights on policy developments, regulatory changes, and geopolitical dynamics to support informed strategic decision-making.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide clear leadership and coaching to the direct report; promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across the FBL cluster and the Europe GA team.
• Deliver regular performance feedback and development planning, embedding Visa leadership principles with an emphasis on accountability, ownership, decision‑making, and transparent communication.
• Actively contribute to the FBL regional leadership team to ensure GA strategies reinforce Visa's commercial and reputational ambitions.
• Operate effectively in a matrixed environment, collaborating across markets and functions at regional and global levels.
• Share expertise across clusters and regions; actively contribute suggestions and insights.
• Drive continuous enhancement of GA capabilities, methodologies, and tools.
• Communicate openly and proactively with executives to ensure visibility of key regulatory developments and engagement strategies.
• Champion a GenAI‑first mindset, encouraging experimentation and skills development within the Europe GA team.
• Promote diversity and inclusion across all internal and external engagements.

Working Model

This is a hybrid position. The expected number of office days will be confirmed by the Hiring Manager.

Basic Qualifications

• 10–12 years of experience in relevant corporate roles, government agencies/regulators, or consulting in related sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in government relations and public affairs.
• An established network of regulators, policymakers, and key stakeholders in the FBL markets.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including at C‑suite level.
• Proven strategic thinking, initiative, and proactive engagement skills, with the ability to provide strategic counsel to senior leadership.
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapt engagement strategies to evolving policy and business landscapes.
• Leadership experience and people‑management capabilities.
• Experience in crisis management and response.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the payments industry, including electronic payments, banking, fintech, or crypto.
• Experience operating within complex matrix organizations.
• Degree in Law, Economics, Political Science, or a related field.

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.