Senior Manager, External Affairs - UAE

Company Description We’re Checkout.com . You might not know our name, but companies like eBay, Spotify, Klarna, Uber, and Sony do, because we’re behind many of the digital experiences you use every day. We are where the world checks out, enabling over 10 billion transactions yearly for more than one billion global shoppers. Whether you want to book a holiday, order food, renew a subscription, or check out online, there’s a good chance our tech powers the payments behind the scenes. Our platform helps the most ambitious businesses deliver effortless digital experiences, at scale. If you want to do career-defining work, you’ve come to the right place. We move fast, think globally, and believe great teams are built by hiring exceptional people with conviction, curiosity, and the desire to make an impact. With 20 offices across six continents and London as our HQ, we’re shaping the future of fintech – and we’re just getting started. Job Description You will be leading the external affairs function in one of Checkout.com ’s most important geographies. The External Affairs team sits within the Legal, Risk and Compliance department, and manages Checkout.com ’s engagement with regulators, governments and other third parties. External Affairs at Checkout.com covers regulatory affairs, public policy, government relations and licensing. This is Checkout.com ’s first External Affairs role in the MENA region, meaning you can really make your mark. You will be working with all areas of the business and be the primary architect of the company’s reputation in a strategic growth market. You will have a seat at the table with local executives and the freedom to shape how Checkout.com is perceived by the government and regulator. If you thrive in high-stakes environments, enjoy solving difficult problems, excel at building relationships and influencing people, and want to be the face of our public policy strategy in the region, this is the role for you. What you’ll do: Build relationships : Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with regulators, government bodies and relevant third parties. You will ensure Checkout.com is viewed as a strategic partner. Regulatory affairs : Work with the Legal and Compliance team to handle regulatory enquiries, with a particular focus on narrative and positioning. Advocacy : You will design and execute advocacy campaigns to secure Checkout.com ’s regulatory priorities, delivering positive commercial outcomes. Public policy: Analyse legislation to understand opportunities and risks. Influence fintech policy in the MENA region before it becomes law. Narrative : Craft a UAE specific external narrative and then tell the Checkout.com story. Industry advocacy : Represent Checkout.com in industry associations, forums and conferences. What we are looking for Several years of experience working in external affairs (public affairs agency, in-house role, trade body), or in government or a financial services regulator. A strong understanding of the UAE political and regulatory machinery, with an ability to navigate the local landscape effectively A proven ability to build deep relationships and influence decisions The ability to analyse complex technical policy and create actionable strategies ( You do not need to be a financial services expert but you must prove that you have the ability to understand a new and complex subject quickly ) A track record of keeping calm under pressure A practical, solutions-oriented focus and enthusiasm for taking on new challenges Impeccable written communication skills to be able to deliver a message succinctly Being comfortable using data is a strong advantage Fluency in Business Arabic (spoken and written) is a strong advantage Previous FinTech, payments, software, e-commerce and/or bank experience is desirable but not essential Experience working in a start up or other fast-paced and dynamic environment is desirable but n