Government Affairs

Summary

Job Description

Are you a legal and/or corporate affairs professional with a passion for technology, an obsession for customers and a keen capacity to develop people and lead strong teams through ambitious transformation? Do you look for solutions, make the complex simpler, and empower people to do more?

Microsoft is recruiting a programs professional with these traits to be part of the Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) team in MEA and to support its Government Affairs Program work across Middle East and Africa. The professional will primarily provide support to the Government Affairs Program lead and will oversee program implementation and support across the region. The individual will also be part of the Government Affairs team and have responsibility for supporting the regional strategy. The position will report to the Government and Regulatory Affairs Director of CELA for Microsoft in the Middle East and Africa.

Key attributes necessary in this position

You look forward: you know how to make breakthrough progress by deciding first where we want to go rather than starting with where we are. You understand that part of our role is predictive - we ground our strategies and advice in our best view of where law, regulation and policy are going, not just where they stand today - and part of our role is to have impact in shaping those areas for the future.You have a passion to grow business opportunities through public policy, citizenship and legal support.You have a good sense of how to scale efforts and ensure the sustainability of the programs developed.You have a strong sense of the geopolitical issues and challenges in Middle East and Africa and their implications for doing business, particularly in the IT sector.You relentlessly prioritize: you help your Leadership Team focus on doing a few things very well, with high impact. You thrive in an environment with big tasks and tight constraints on resources. You experiment, adjust to problems quickly, learn and share outcomes with a focus on driving impact.You simplify to minimize complexity and deliver clear, pragmatic understanding and direction.You collaborate to gain necessary input and alignment quickly both within the Middle East and Africa team and with other stakeholders in Microsoft.You leverage by building on the contributions of others and sharing your own contributions to help make others great.You work effectively across diverse markets, distributed teams and a range of cultures.You deliver sound, mature guidance in the face of turbulence, and you are a strong, effective player in crisis management.You deliver on the core Microsoft values:

We will be boldWe will protect Microsoft’s integrityWe’re committed to professionalism and treating other people with respectWe will build on diversity and our global reachWe are committed to people in CELA having great careers

Responsibilities

Role and Responsibilities

Support all GA program efforts, and play a leading role in building on, sustaining, and creating new programs to support depth and breadth engagement across the region.Manage and help coordinate and integrate policy and government relations work with the Public Sector, National Technology Officers, Public Relations, 4Afrika and the CELA team.Identify and advise on changes and trends in law and policy relevant to Microsoft’s business, establishing the policy foundation for the next generation of technology.Represent Microsoft in external forums on policy, regulatory, and similar issues, serving as an interface between Microsoft and senior levels of government in the region on policy.Serve as the point of contact on policy and regulatory program matters for the Middle East and Africa.

Qualifications

Candidate Profile

A Successful Candidate Is Also Likely To Have

The successful candidate will have at least 5 years of relevant experience combining public policy, and government affairs.

Substantial experience in public policy and regulatory issues through private practice, working in-house or leading a function.A strong understanding of legal and regulatory systems as well as the functioning of their related institutions, and an ability to produce concise policy statements and summaries for internal and external customers.A strong understanding of business issues and a pragmatic, commercial orientation, preferably with relevant experience in the IT sector.Experience working with complex PR and image issues and serving as an external spokesperson. Experience building and managing relationships with government officials and those who influence them.Experience building and managing relationships with academic and universitiesAbility to work independently as well as with a variety of functional groups across the organization.Ability to solve complex issues working through a team and in a highly matrixed environment.Experience dealing with diverse cultures.Good judgment and strong interpersonal skills.Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in relevant discipline (Law, Political Science, Public Policy, etc.).Full professional proficiency in English and Arabic is required for this role. Working knowledge in French is preferable.

Location

This role is based in Cairo, Egypt, or Dubai, UAE

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances