Senior Public Affairs Manager

at  SWIFT Financial Messaging Services

About the Role
Swift is looking for a Senior Public Affairs Manager to support the company engagement across the MENA region and around a range of policy areas relevant to our business.
Swift is a critical service provider, providing financial messaging, standards, products & services to over 11,000 customers in over 200 countries and territories. Given our neutral nature as an important global utility for the financial services industry we maintain political relationships across a wide spectrum of government officials in several countries. We are opening a new position to contribute to the company’s government relations in the MENA region, supervising political developments and support our political engagement across areas that may affect Swift.
The role will report to the Head of EMEA Public Affairs, working closely with other colleagues in the Corporate Affairs Office department to meet our company’s objectives.
The position will expose you to Swift’s governance, technology and commercial activities, and requires a good understanding of Swift’s landscape, payments and the wider technological developments in the financial industry. You should have a keen curiosity about technology, the functioning of the financial system, payments, politics and regulation.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and identify political, legislative, and regulatory developments relevant to Swift (in close cooperation with local colleagues, and as needed, Regulatory Affairs)
• Provide ‘Early Warning’ on issues that may affect our business to ensure Swift is aware, in advance, of political and policy trends
• Capture insights into Government policy and direction on topics relating to Swift’s business
• Advise, build and implement engagement programs in the MENA region
• Identify and engage with political commentators, academia, and trade associations
• Promote awareness and understanding of Swift’s operations and represent its interests to policy makers
• Build and maintain a network of contacts including relationships within key MENA countries
• Support and facilitate the engagement of Swift’s leadership
• Discover chances to showcase Swift’s expertise and experience
• Liaise and manage locally-based consultants
• Develop advocacy material and activities as required (educational material, conferences, webinars, articles, etc.), working closely with comms and events teams where relevant to deploy our positions

Skills & Qualifications

• University degree in political science, communications, legal or any related subject experience
• 8+ years’ of proven track record in public policy, Government or in-house/agency public affairs and Government Relations with a financial services background
• Financial services experience gained in network, platform, marketplace or transaction-based businesses is encouraged
• Political savvy, discretion, and networking experience
• Detailed understanding of regulatory and legislative processes and geopolitical developments
• Proven track record to analyse, prioritise and summarise issues and to perform advocacy activities
• Ability to develop a good understanding of Swift’s corporate, operational and commercial strategy and priorities
• Effective and efficient information analysis, management and delivery
• Experience with working in a diverse, multi-cultural environment and across geographies and teams
• Comfort with high levels of ambiguity and the skills to prioritise within a constantly evolving environment
• Executive presence - excellent internal and external interpersonal and networking skills including at senior management level
• Communicates strategy and key messages with clarity, consistency and confidence

What we offer
We put you in control of career
We give you a competitive package
We help you perform at your best
We help you make a difference
We give you the freedom to be yourself
We give you the freedom to be yourself. We are creating an environment of unique individuals – like you – with different perspectives on the financial industry and the world. An environment in which everyone’s voice counts and where you can reach your full potential regardless of age, background, culture, colour, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran/military status

• Supervise and identify political, legislative, and regulatory developments relevant to Swift (in close cooperation with local colleagues, and as needed, Regulatory Affairs)
• Provide ‘Early Warning’ on issues that may affect our business to ensure Swift is aware, in advance, of political and policy trends
• Capture insights into Government policy and direction on topics relating to Swift’s business
• Advise, build and implement engagement programs in the MENA region
• Identify and engage with political commentators, academia, and trade associations
• Promote awareness and understanding of Swift’s operations and represent its interests to policy makers
• Build and maintain a network of contacts including relationships within key MENA countries
• Support and facilitate the engagement of Swift’s leadership
• Discover chances to showcase Swift’s expertise and experience
• Liaise and manage locally-based consultants
• Develop advocacy material and activities as required (educational material, conferences, webinars, articles, etc.), working closely with comms and events teams where relevant to deploy our position