Senior Specialist, Government Relations and Public Affairs

Senior Specialist Government Relations

Job Purpose:
• As Group Regulatory Affairs (GRA), our work is to ensure that OpCos are able to effectively manage key regulatory issues and mitigate risks arising from changing Government and regulatory environment.

• GRA needs to build successful engagements with OpCo regulatory teams; as well as to be able to track, monitor and intervene directly on issues affecting Axiata as an investor.

• Effective stakeholder management of relevant Government of Malaysia ministries and agencies is core to Axiata’s investment protection efforts.

• This role is being responsible Government Relations. Scope & authority:

• Make decisions regarding administrative matters within the scope of the role, seeking approval from HOD and / or SLT, when necessary.

• Prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently to ensure deadlines are met. • Manage resources efficiently and effectively to accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities.

• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, providing information, updates, and reports as required.

• Participate in performance management processes, including goal setting, performance reviews, and development planning.

• Provide accurate and timely reports on job-related activities and achievements as required.

• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies in carrying out job duties.

• Access and handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism, maintaining strict confidentiality at all times.

Key accountabilities:

Strategic Government Relations & top-level relationship building

• Primary key responsibility is to build, nurture and deepen key relationships with the Prime Minister’s office, key Cabinet Senior Ministers and relevant top civil service officers that Axiata needs to regularly engage with. This includes Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Malaysia’s missions abroad.

• Strategize and spearhead key initiatives to ensure Axiata’s ability to effectively engaged with government and regulatory stakeholders.

• Protect Axiata’s reputation, mitigate current and long-term regulatory risks, thus creating a favorable environment to safeguard Axiata’s growth. Key result area:

• Able to network and be recognized by top senior politicians and relevant government officials such as but not limited to: Prime Minister’s Office, key Cabinet Senior Ministries and relevant ministries and agencies, Parliamentary Committees responsible for ICT and Investments at the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, Malaysian embassies and High Commissions abroad.

• Able to advise Axiata’s Board Chairman and Senior Management on engagement strategy, including advise from political and business linkages perspectives.

• Engage with business teams and management to identify and advise on new Government policy and regulatory issues. Ability to obtain relevant intelligence and understanding of internal workings of various stakeholders including relevant national councils, government task forces and committees.

• Be part of the internal decision-making process for such strategic advocacy campaigns, and provide recommendations to Axiata senior management, including instances of Crisis Management.

• Protect Axiata’s reputation, mitigate current and long-term regulatory risks, thus creating a favourable environment to safeguard Axiata’s growth.

• Responsible in maintaining a complete database of the relevant Government contacts which are beneficial to Axiata.

• Evaluate and recommend all requests for financial/CSR sponsorship support requested by the government.

Job requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree in either Business Administration, Public Policy or related fields.

• At least 10 years of direct experience in government stakeholder role; Mandatory experience in a government agency or ministry (minimum 5 years).

• Driven, self-managed, with extensive network in Malaysian civil services.

• Good personality and able to engage with senior level professionals.