As the world's leader in digital payments technology, Visa's mission is to connect the world through the most creative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's dedication to innovation drives the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and fuels the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.

At Visa, your individuality fits right in. Working here gives you an opportunity to impact the world, invest in your career growth, and be part of an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are a global team of disruptors, trailblazers, innovators and risk-takers who are helping drive economic growth in even the most remote parts of the world, creatively moving the industry forward, and doing meaningful work that brings financial literacy and digital commerce to millions of unbanked and underserved consumers.

You're an Individual. We're the team for you. Together, let's transform the way the world pays.

The Government Engagement (GE) team aims to create broad alignment between Visa’s business objectives and public policies that affect the payments industry.  Externally, the GE team engages a wide range of stakeholders from the government and industry associations to raise awareness of and build support for policies that expand access to and usage of digital payments in Vietnam and Laos.  Internally, GE works closely with colleagues across the company including Country management, Products, Merchant Sales and Solutions, Consulting and Analytics, Risk, Legal, Communications, Global Policy, Compliance and Social Impact.

What the Head of Government Engagement Vietnam and Laos does at Visa

The Head of Government Engagement, Vietnam and Laos, is a full-time role responsible for Visa’s government, regulatory and stakeholder engagement in Vietnam and Laos. 

Based in Hanoi, the role will focus on leading development and execution of Visa’s government engagement strategy in Vietnam and Laos by constructively engaging with national and sub-national governments, regulatory bodies, public sector agencies, industry associations and related stakeholders to ensure policy and regulatory frameworks that are conducive to a fair, level and successful operating environment for Visa’s current and future business.

Critical work streams will include:

• Prominently positioning the value of Visa with political, regulatory and policy decision-makers in Vietnam and Laos

• Constructive input and engagement with government stakeholders on existing and new public and regulatory policies, with a view to ensure positive impact on Visa’s business, and the expansion of the electronic payments industry in general

• Identifying partnership opportunities with the government and key stakeholders and ensuring Visa is well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities with national and sub-national government agencies in the delivery of Government payments, expansion of transit and tourism, furtherance of financial inclusion, adoption of e-commerce, small-medium enterprise digitalization, fintech enablement and other potential government programs that may benefit from the application of electronic payments

In this role, you are expected to:

• Lead development and implementation of an overall government engagement strategy for Vietnam and Laos in close coordination with Southeast Asia Government Engagement Team (led by the Head of Government Engagement for Southeast Asia), Head of Government Engagement for Asia Pacific, Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos, and other Visa business leaders to achieve agreed objectives.

• Monitor the regulatory and political landscape in Vietnam and Laos, assess for threats and opportunities to Visa’s business, communicate this intelligence to relevant local, regional or global Visa colleagues and strategize advocacy and engagement approach. Be acutely aware of potential global implications of local issues and coordinate their management with global colleagues. 

• Manage Visa’s relationships with government officials, regulators, and policy makers across key government agencies in Vietnam and Laos relevant to Visa’s business.

• Proactively manage relationship with the payments regulator for policy guidance and advocacy, notifications and approvals for Visa solutions and regulatory reporting.

• Regularly communicate directly with lawmakers, government officials, regulators, and policy makers that may impact Visa’s business to build awareness about the value of Visa, enhance Visa’s reputation and competitive position in Vietnam and Laos. 

• Develop and deliver informative and engaging local communications about the value of Visa and the payments industry in general that is aligned with business priorities and global branding. 

• Coordinate and ensure local, regional and global business subject matter experts conduct regular face-to-face technical issue briefings with relevant regulators and government officials. 

• Support adequate and ongoing Group Country Manager, Country Manager and senior colleagues contact with key lawmakers and regulators. 

• Recommend appropriate contacts and communication channels between Visa country and regional executive leadership with senior government officials. 

• Recommend, engage and manage Visa’s relationships with necessary third-party intermediaries including government affairs advisors, industry associations, broad-based and business trade associations, diplomatic missions and civil society organizations. 

• Establish and maintain appropriate contact with counterparts at other industry participants including clients and partners.

• Contribute to the development of Visa’s Social Impact corporate charitable activities in Vietnam and Laos ensuring reputable positioning of Visa. 

Why this is important to Visa

We believe that inclusive economies uplift everyone, everywhere, which drives our mission to connect the world and enables individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Visa is working with all of our partners in Vietnam and Laos to expand access to the most innovative payment technology powering global commerce. The Head of Government Engagement role is essential to growing our public sector relationships, identifying and managing impact of regulation on Visa’s business, and displaying Visa’s leadership in emerging technology. Through these efforts, we will meaningfully deepen our partnership with policy makers who are shaping the regulatory and operating environment for digital payments.

We are looking for an individual who brings strong leadership skills, exceptional maturity and attention to detail, along with the ability to effectively manage several urgent business priorities and significant regulatory developments simultaneously. The position demands the ability to work constructively in a market, regional and global corporate environment, including working successfully as a leader or member of cross-functional teams. The ability to play an active role in developing strategic policy positions for Visa’s engagement with Government stakeholders will be essential. The ability to work independently but also within a team environment is expected.

As a candidate, you should have:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Advance degree preferred
• 10+ years of relevant corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy serving government stakeholders in Vietnam
• Active network of senior government contacts in Vietnam
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external stakeholders at senior and executive management levels
• Strong financial services and/or technology pedigree preferred, including working knowledge of the digital payments industry
• Political acumen
• Strategic thinking, advocacy and communications planning skills
• Superior interpersonal and presentational skills
• Confident and authoritative manner in all communication channels, with executive presence
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Detailed oriented with strong analytical capabilities
• Execution focused
• The highest standards for ethical conduct, confidentiality and integrity, with a strong professional reputation in the industry
• Outstanding written communication abilities and fluency in English and Vietnamese
• Some travel within and between Vietnam and Laos and to regional meetings (primarily Singapore) are also features of the position

What will also help:

• Crisis management and response skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a challenging, fast-paced environment with limited supervision
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with others across geographic boundaries