Head of Government Relations

Key Responsibilities:

• Government Relations Strategy: Develop and implement PLUK's government relations strategy in the Philippines, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regional policies. Cultivate relationships with the Philippine government (local and national level units) and other key authorities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with government officials, industry associations, and business councils, etc. Engage with these stakeholders to represent PLUK's interests and advocate for supportive policies.
• Event Participation: Lead PLUK's involvement in major events and other high-profile forums. Ensure effective representation and networking at these events to strengthen PLUK's standing within the local and international business community.
• Policy Monitoring and Analysis: Track, analyze, and interpret local regulatory and policy developments that may impact the insurance industry. Provide regular updates and strategic insights to PLUK's leadership to inform business decisions.
• Internal Collaboration: Collaborate with internal departments, including Compliance, Legal, Risk Management, Investors Relations, Corporate Communications, and Product, to ensure PLUK's activities align with government requirements and support strategic business initiatives in the Philippines.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Identify and mitigate regulatory risks associated with PLUK's operations. Work closely with relevant teams to ensure compliance with local regulations and provide timely guidance on government-related matters.
• Reporting and Communication: Regularly report on government relations activities, emerging regulatory issues, and key developments to senior management. Offer strategic advice on managing relationships with local and provincial government stakeholders.

Critical work streams will include:

• Prominently positioning of PLUK with governmental (national and/or local level), regulatory and policy decision-makers in Philippines.
• Lead strategic engagement with key enabling partners in the market, e.g., Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), different business chambers, and others.
• Proactively shaping the near-term regulatory landscape. Provide constructive input and engagement with government stakeholders on existing and new public and regulatory policies, with a view to ensure positive impact on PLUK's business.
• Proactively identifying partnership opportunities with the government and key stakeholders and ensuring PLUK is well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities with national and regional government agencies in the delivery of insurance protection and investment, expanding insurance penetration, furtherance of financial inclusion and literacy, financial innovation, fintech enablement and other potential government programs that may benefit from PLUK's business strategies.
• Providing strategic inputs on PLUK's strategy with the goal of ensuring PLUK sustains its market leadership in the Philippines.

In this role, you are expected to:

• Support the development and implementation of a robust government relations strategy for the Philippines in close coordination with the PH Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer (CLGSO) and other senior business leaders to achieve PLUK's agreed objectives.
• Monitor the regulatory and political landscape in Philippines, assess for threats and opportunities to PLUK's business, communicate this intelligence to relevant local, regional or global PLUK 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 and enrich PLUK's relationships with government officials, regulators, and policy makers across key government agencies in Philippines relevant to PLUK's business.
• Proactively manage relationship with all relevant regulators and other stakeholders for policy guidance and advocacy, notifications and approvals for PLUK's solutions and regulatory reporting.
• Regularly communicate directly with lawmakers, government officials, regulators, and policy makers that may impact PLUK's business to build awareness and enhance PLUK's reputation and market leading position in Philippines.
• 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.
• Proactively identify opportunities for constructive engagements with senior government officials and PLUK's senior local and regional executive leadership teams, and other senior colleagues with focus on supporting business priorities.
• Recommend, engage, and manage PLUK'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.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of relevant work experience in a corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy serving government stakeholders in Philippines.
• Active and wide network of government contacts in the Philippines.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external stakeholders at senior and executive management levels.
• Outstanding written communication abilities and fluency in English and Filipino, with experience in drafting policy documents, position papers, executive briefings, etc.
• Event management skills, with experience in planning, coordinating, and setting up high-profile events with stakeholders.
• Strong financial services and/or technology pedigree, including working knowledge of the life insurance industry (preferred).
• Strategic thinking with the ability to anticipate policy changes and proactively address challenges.
• Superior interpersonal and presentational skills. Confident and authoritative demeanor in all communication channels, with executive presence.
• Influencing and negotiation skills.
• Detail oriented with strong analytical capabilities.
• Execution focused.
• 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.
• The highest standards for ethical conduct, confidentiality and integrity, with a strong professional reputation in the industry.
• Some travel within and between the Philippines and abroad to regional meetings.