Director Government Affairs (Infrastructure Policy)

Overview

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and build on our values of respect, integrity and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive.

Asia is among its fastest-growing regions for Microsoft commercially and for our investments in the digital infrastructure that will power the next generation of technologies and innovation that will empower customers, countries and communities across the region.

We are seeking a senior government affairs leader to take leadership on Microsoft's infrastructure policy agenda across Asia: shaping the multi-year roadmap with the teams who deliver against it, recommending where Microsoft engages and on what terms, and representing the company to government leaders, regulators, industry organizations and stakeholders spanning the ecosystem.

Success comes from convening, aligning and amplifying the deep subject matter expertise that already exists across Microsoft in groups such as Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I), Microsoft Customer and Partners Solutions (MCAPS) and, importantly, the many CELA teams spanning environmental sustainability, legal affairs, government affairs, public affairs, and corporate communications.

Responsibilities

• Regional policy strategy:. Take leadership on helping shape and coordinate Microsoft's infrastructure policy agenda for Asia, shaping with teams a multi-year roadmap that ranks markets, defines the outcomes Microsoft is seeking and sequences engagement against the infrastructure investment pipeline.
• Executive government engagement: Build trusted relationships at ministerial, regulator and agency-head level across national governments, grid operators, planning authorities and economic development agencies which individual facilities depend.
• Alignment with AI, sovereignty and cloud policy: Anticipate and shape the debates that determine where infrastructure can sit and what it may serve: AI governance and compute policy, digital sovereignty, data residency and cross-border data flows, cybersecurity and public sector procurement.
• Internal convening and cross-functional leadership: Work seamlessly with and through Microsoft's subject matter experts and internal constituents and sustain an operating rhythm with these communities, align positions ahead of external engagement, and give Microsoft a single coherent voice.
• Coalitions and industry leadership: Help direct Microsoft's participation in datacenter and technology trade associations, coalitions, chambers of commerce and multi-stakeholder forums, and build partnerships with interest groups and research institutions that carry credible independent evidence into regulatory processes.
• Reputation, community and communications: Shape the messaging and communications framework for infrastructure policy covering community engagement, media and third-party voices, and executive events. Act on community feedback to keep Microsoft a trusted provider and a welcome long-term investor.
• Senior leadership counsel, risk and escalation: Advise CO+I, CELA and regional and Area leadership on political and regulatory risk, site selection and market entry, providing the policy and regulatory assessment behind the business case and negotiating the public sector commitments needed before capital is committed.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications;

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Technology, Law, Liberal Arts, Engineering or related field AND 6+ years work experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, government, or related area
• OR equivalent experience
• Experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, or government.

Preferred Qualifications;

• Experience in developing and managing strategic relationships to advocate and influence public/technology policy priorities.
• Experience working across multiple markets, with cultural fluency and the ability to navigate diverse legal systems, political environments, and market structures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Business Acumen - The ability to understand the parts of the business and their interrelationships. This includes skill in understanding the industry, competition, and expected future developments and challenges, the business's competitive strengths and weaknesses, opportunities to grow the business and reduce operating costs; and awareness of the environment for opportunities.
• Formal Presentations - The ability to create and deliver formal presentations to others. This includes sharing information on a range of topics in a clear, concise, engaging and convincing manner; commanding the audience's attention; developing effective presentation materials (e.g., handouts, visual aids); and handling questions or argumentative positions from the audience.
• Corporate Partnerships - The ability to develop and leverage strategic internal and external partnerships and networks to maximize the achievement of business goals. This includes the ability to lead key community outreach and involvement initiatives; engage key stakeholders in the development, execution, and evaluation of business plans and initiatives; and support associate efforts in these areas.
• Networking - The ability to build and maintain a professional network internally and with individuals outside the organization to share information, promote collaboration, and optimize individual and organizational effectiveness.
• Relationship Management - The ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with supervisors, staff, managers, customers, and vendors. This includes expressing empathy and compassion when dealing with the needs and problems of others, being approachable, taking time to address the concerns of coworkers, and treating others with respect and dignity.
• Government Operations - Knowledge of government operations, practices, and stakeholders. This includes the ability to utilize this information in the planning and execution of company activities and events.
• Technology Policy - The ability to understand, anticipate, and forecast the impact of technology on policy. This includes knowledge and awareness of technology concepts, evolution, innovation, and internal and external technological advancements and trends; and of policy related to technology, including Cloud, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, devices, accessibility, privacy, telecommunications, and internet topics.

Additional information

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.