Director - LAC Policy Strategy

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

The Director, LAC Policy Strategy is a full-time role based in Miami and reports directly to the SVP of Government Affairs for LAC.  . The role is part of the hub function within the broader LAC Government Affairs team and some travel may be required in the role in its engagement with team members across the LAC region and global functions.

The role supports Visa's corporate strategy, and the LAC GA strategy. The Director, LAC Policy Strategy owns horizontal and long-term strategies for major policy issues facing Visa’s business in the LAC region, in close collaboration with GA cluster and market leads the region, as well as with the Global GA, product and strategy teams, helping to ensure that policy frameworks are conducive to a fair, competitive and successful operating environment for Visa's current and future business.

Headline objectives of the role are:

• Developing horizontal strategies and account plans for government stakeholders on major policy topics

• Seek to safeguard Visa’s “right-to-play” as an enabler of the Visa 2030 corporate strategy

• Take a holistic and scalable approach to Government Affairs across LAC, to drive consistency in our narrative and in the execution of all positioning and advocacy efforts. 

• Promote a culture that maintains the highest degree of collaboration, integrity, inclusion and accountability.

What we expect of you, day to day:

VISA AS A CRITICAL PARTNER:

• Develop a Government account plan for major horizontal policy issues across the region, including strategic engagement with key stakeholders for GA regional and country leads, country managers, and other functional leaders.

• Support execution on these strategies, including collaboration to develop thought leadership and external representation of Visa with clients and government stakeholders.

• Nurture Visa’s reputation through cultivating long-term, trusted relationships with critical stakeholders and by promoting Visa as a constructive partner to enable growth.

• As needed, stakeholder engagement focused on adding qualitative and meaningful value to the business relationships.

SUPPORT CORE BUSINESS AND GROWTH:

• Proactively monitor the external political and policy environment. Identify, assess and seek to address major risks to Visa’s business objectives, alongside other functions.

• Persist with intelligence efforts alongside corporate affairs/legal/risk to track outcomes against the worst-case risks identified and implement strategic mitigation strategies in line with corporate strategy. 

• For major horizontal policy issues, guide LAC GA’s efforts to influence policy that impacts Visa’s ability to do business and support Visa’s 2030 strategy, while constructively shaping the external policy environment.

• Provide the business with a strategic and long-term perspective on major initiatives affecting Visa’s ability to meet its business objectives and its “right-to-play”.

• Work alongside the business and global teams to support growth ambitions. Work in alignment with Visa Government Solutions to help position Visa as a partner to governments and international organizations in LAC.

Additional responsibilities:

• You will play a key role bridging silos across LAC, across GA and across regions, for the GA team and beyond, to help ensure the team operates seamlessly amongst themselves to meet their goals, in alignment with Visa regulatory and business strategy.

• Work constructively in different markets with other functions, across the regional and global environment, in a matrix environment.

• Share know how and expertise with GA counterparties in other Regions.

• Help drive the continuous enhancement of function, toolkit and staff.

• Communicate openly, timely and effectively with executives to ensure awareness of main regulatory, policy and engagement developments and strategy to protect Visa business and reputation.

• Maintain a relentless focus on the bigger picture, adopting a strategic approach.

• Promote diversity and inclusion in all engagements.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in relevant corporate position, including primarily regulatory/government agency/prominent consultancy.

• Experience in the payments industry is essential, and strong digital services and/or technology interest is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at the C-suite level and with senior policy makers and regulators.

• Proven ability to think strategically, proactively and creatively, and to deliver results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills and team player

• Ability to act independently and flexibly within a multi-disciplinary matrixed team.

• A track record in authoring and contributing to high-impact publications is a plus

• A relevant degree in Politics, Economics or Law is desirable, but not essential.

U.S. Applicants Only

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer