Director, Government Affairs and Policy, Digital

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses, and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Government Affairs and Policy, Digital

Overview

Mastercard’s Public Policy team protects and defends Mastercard’s reputational and regulatory interests in markets around the world, working closely with regulatory, privacy, and other business colleagues. We build programs that earn the goodwill of governments, regulators, merchants, and consumers through direct policymaker and other stakeholder engagement and public-private partnerships. Our aim is to reduce the threat of negative regulation and build the platform for policies that build Mastercard’s business by supporting and advising Mastercard’s business strategy, working to ensure that when regulation is sought, it is done so sensibly and fairly.

We are a team who partners across Mastercard to help shape and execute against our strategy, working cross-functionally across a global organization. We demonstrate decency and personal accountability to help lead the business forward through hands-on engagement, partnership, and strategic value creation.

The ideal candidate must thrive in a fast-paced environment and with a diverse workload. The candidate must have extensive experience providing both tactical and strategic advice to both external stakeholders and internal executive-level business professionals.

Role

The Director, Digital Policy will be a direct report of the Executive Director, Global Public Policy & Community Relations and help drive thought leadership on emerging trends at the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and trade. The Director will be responsible for developing a comprehensive global digital advocacy and engagement strategy on issues such as cybersecurity, digital identity, and new payment flows in light of new policies and technology developments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring emerging digital policy trends.
• Developing internal and external thought leadership.
• Managing engagement with relevant industry bodies and trade associations.
• Briefing senior executives on emerging digital policy issues and data-driven advocacy.
• Contributing to the Policy Center for the Digital Economy (PCDE), Mastercard’s external platform dedicated to advancing dialogue on critical public policy issues.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of Mastercard’s thought leadership, network of relationships, and brand in the digital public policy ecosystem.
• Work cross-functionally to identify and respond to both current and emerging digital policy issues.
• Collaborate with regional public policy colleagues and ecosystem stakeholders to understand local market challenges and opportunities.
• Develop a digital advocacy and engagement strategy, along with proactive and reactive policy positions on a broad range of digital tech policy issues.
• Manage the production of research and drafting of responses to consultations and inquiries, bringing in expertise from across the business.
• Develop thought leadership platforms in partnership with trusted third parties where appropriate.
• Increase internal and external visibility of target digital policy issues and their importance.
• Develop strategies and tactics to address policymakers and public sector institutions seeking to supplant the role of the private sector in payments.
• Work with the Policy Center for the Digital Economy to create engaging social content and thought leadership that can help Mastercard reach influential audiences.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and contribute to the development of high-quality materials and messages for stakeholder engagement.

All About You

• Experience in public policy, public affairs, or government relations in a consultancy, agency, in-house, or trade association role.
• Demonstrated affinity for technology-based solutions and their governance.
• Knowledge of public policy issues in the payments, FinTech, or banking sectors is a plus.
• Strong familiarity with driving policy change, establishing principles and frameworks, and developing consensus among stakeholders.
• High political acumen with an understanding of the decision-making processes of executive and legislative branches of government.
• Experience working with elected officials, community leaders, industry associations, and corporate executives.
• Ability to analyze the market and competition to determine business implications.
• Skilled at explaining technical issues succinctly and clearly.
• Strong relationships with leaders and experts in digital technology policy.
• Well-developed influencing skills and recognized success in effective communication.
• Ability to work independently and constructively as a collaborative team player.
• Maturity, tact, judgment, and strong negotiation skills.
• Genuine interest in public policy, current events, and the global geopolitical environment.
• Degree-level education with management experience in Public Policy or Government Relations roles.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Mastercard is an inclusive equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require accommodations or assistance during the application or recruitment process, please contact [email protected]. Do not include any medical or health information in this email.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks come with inherent risk. Every person working for or on behalf of Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices.
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of accessed information.
• Report any suspected information security violations or breaches.
• Complete all mandatory security training in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Compensation

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary based on location, experience, and other qualifications. The candidate may also be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions, depending on the role.

Mastercard benefits for full-time (and certain part-time) employees include:

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
• Paid leaves, including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 paid days of bereavement leave.
• 10 annual paid sick days.
• 10+ annual paid vacation days based on level.
• 5 personal days.
• 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays.
• 401(k) with a best-in-class company match.
• Deferred compensation for eligible roles.
• Fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities.
• Eligibility for tuition reimbursement.
• Gender-inclusive benefits and more.

Pay Ranges

• Washington, DC: $187,000 – $300,000 USD
• Purchase, NY: $187,000 – $300,000 USD

Learn more here