Group Head – Policy Affairs Job Airtel

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Purpose of the Job

The Airtel Money Group Head of Policy Affairs will lead the development and coordination of the Group’s public policy and regulatory strategy. This role is responsible for shaping the Group’s position on evolving regulatory and policy frameworks across mobile money, fintech, and digital financial services sectors. 
The incumbent will proactively engage with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, ensuring the Group’s views are represented in regulatory dialogues, reforms, and multilateral forums across its operating markets.

Key Responsibilities

The Role Holder’s duties will include but not limited to : 

Policy Development and Advocacy

• Coordinate the Group’s internal positions on key regulatory and public policy issues, including AML/CFT, financial inclusion, consumer protection, data governance, KYC, taxation, platform access.
• Lead the drafting of policy papers, position statements, and white papers in support of advocacy objectives.
• Coordinate input into public consultations on proposed laws, regulations, directives, and supervisory guidance issued by central banks, ministries, and regional bodies.
• Ensure alignment of internal regulatory strategy with evolving global, regional, national policy agendas

Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

• Coordinate the Group’s Regulatory Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Represent the Group in public policy forums, regulatory workshops, and working groups at the national and regional levels.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with central banks, ministries, competition regulators, and financial sector development partners.
• Coordinate participation in industry associations, advocacy coalitions, and national/regional taskforces.
• Track policy developments, flag opportunities/risks, and brief leadership on emerging regulatory shift.

Regulatory Environment and Risk Management

• Coordinate the Group’s Regulatory Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Represent the Group in public policy forums, regulatory workshops, and working groups at the national and regional levels.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with central banks, ministries, competition regulators, and financial sector development partners.
• Coordinate participation in industry associations, advocacy coalitions, and national/regional taskforces.
• Track policy developments, flag opportunities/risks, and brief leadership on emerging regulatory shifts.
• Monitor and analyze draft laws, consultation papers, strategy documents, and global standards that may affect the Group’s business model.
• Maintain a structured policy radar across jurisdictions to anticipate regulatory trends in digital payments, mobile money, taxation… ensuring timely escalation per the Group’s Escalation Matrix.
• Contribute to risk identification processes and work closely with Licensing, Legal, Compliance, and Commercial teams to translate regulatory risks into policy solutions.

Policy Intelligence, Briefings, and Governance Reporting

• Maintain a repository of policy briefs, country policy snapshots, and regional position trackers for use by internal stakeholders.
• Develop talking points, intelligence notes, and Q&A materials for C-level engagements with government and regulatory actors.
• Provide periodic reporting to the Director of Regulatory Affairs and the Group’s ERC Committee on strategic policy priorities, industry shifts, and the external operating environment.
• Prepare board briefing packs, engagement summaries, and contribute to reporting obligations relating to external affairs and advocacy.

Qualifications

Education

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Law, Economics, Political Science, International Relations, or related field.
• Preferred: Master’s degree (e.g., MPP, LLM, MBA, or MSc in Regulatory Policy/Development Economics).

Experience

• 10+ years total experience, with at least 5+ years in policy, government affairs, or public sector engagement roles in financial services, fintech, telecom, or digital payments.
• Proven experience influencing legislation, policy, or regulatory frameworks affecting payments, e-money, digital financial services, or financial inclusion.
• Strong relationships or prior engagement with central banks, ministries, regulatory agencies, and industry associations across Africa.

Technical/Professional Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of mobile money, fintech, digital payments, AML/CFT, data privacy, competition policy, and financial inclusion frameworks.
• Familiarity with regional economic blocs (e.g., EAC, ECOWAS, SADC) and their regulatory harmonization processes.
• Experience contributing to public consultations, policy papers, or white papers—

Core Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Policy Development: Ability to shape, influence, and respond to evolving policy landscapes.
• Government & Regulatory Engagement: Skilled at relationship-building and negotiation with policymakers.
• Public Affairs & Advocacy: Experience driving advocacy campaigns, coalition building, and policy messaging.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to interpret legislation and assess business impacts.
• Communication: Excellent writing and presentation skills; able to craft position papers and policy briefs.
• Stakeholder Influence: Ability to navigate complex political environments and align internal/external stakeholders.

How to Apply

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