Government Relations and Public Policy Manager

We’re looking for an experienced Government Relations Manager to advance our policy and regulatory objectives in South East Asia and help us get closer to to help us get closer to achieving our mission of low cost and high speed international payments. You will be expected to represent the company with gravitas and be influential in doing so. This job requires active external advocacy, public campaigning and engagement with policymakers and policy influencers to prosecute our interests for direct access to payment systems and transparent pricing of foreign exchange. You will have responsibility for our engagement with the respective government but with potential for further responsibilities in other markets as we grow and expand into different locales. We lead the way in calling for the full implementation of the G20 Cross Border Payments Roadmap through our annual G20 Scorecard Reports, with a heavy focus on driving direct access and price transparency. What you’ll experience You will be based in our Singapore office and work closely with our Product, Banking, Compliance, Public Relations and Legal teams across South East Asian markets - particularly Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand but with potential for responsibility for other markets as we grow and expand into different locales. You will be expected to travel frequently to other markets, particularly Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in order to advance our mission. Wise is an ‘in person’ company, so you will be based in our full stack office in Singapore and report to the APAC Government Relations Lead (also based in Singapore); you will have a high degree of autonomy in how you work to achieve our mission goals. You will also be expected to play an integral part supporting our APAC and global leadership team in their external facing meetings with governments, regulators and trade associations as well as assist in Environmental, Social and Governance compliance processes. You will be part of the global Government Relations team. It is a small but effective group of professionals who prioritise active advocacy to achieve our mission. Qualifications • Be a natural self-starter who can work productively and efficiently without regular direct supervision. You must be capable of identifying problems, developing a plan to solve those issues and then delivering your plan to fulfill our mission. • Be willing to advocate proactively and robustly for Wise’s interests with government stakeholders to the exclusion of all other interests. • Have an ability to constructively challenge, with evidence, those in positions of authority who do not want to see change. • Be capable of identifying potential issues, developing a plan to solve those problems and then delivering on your plan to fulfill our mission. • Have a minimum of 7 years’ of relevant experience in government, politics or public policy roles. • Understand our mission in respect to international payments. • Have an ability to constructively challenge those in positions of authority who do not want to see change. • Be fluent in written and spoken English and preferably in another language. • Have experience operating in at least one South East Asian Market with an established network and an understanding of government structures, regulatory systems and political institutions. • Proficiency in financial services, payments and consumer protection policy is considered a plus. • Be a persuasive advocate and skilled communicator both in speaking and writing - your written work will be both for internal and public consumption and your advocacy may be used in the media. • Be tenacious, inquisitive and have an appetite to learn about new areas of policy and their application to our business. • Have an ability to work across teams and cultures in a dynamic and diverse workplace with respect for and curiosity about other cultures and systems.