Head of Government Affairs

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

Role Summary:

Visa's Government Affairs team helps shape the environment in which digital commerce can grow responsibly and inclusively. We connect public policy, government priorities, and Visa's capabilities to create shared value for governments, consumers, businesses, and the broader payments ecosystem.

Across Vietnam and Laos, the team works at the intersection of policy, technology, and business.

We work closely with governments, regulators, industry bodies, and other partners, while collaborating closely with Country leadership, Product, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Consulting and Analytics, Communications, Social Impact, Global Policy, and regional Government Affairs colleagues.

What the Head of Government Affairs Vietnam and Laos does at Visa:

The Head of Government Affairs, Vietnam and Laos is responsible for strengthening Visa’s operating environment and enabling sustainable business growth across both markets.

Based in Hanoi, the successful candidate will be a trusted adviser, an enabling partner, and a hands-on executor. They will be equally comfortable setting direction, building coalitions across Visa, engaging senior external stakeholders, and driving disciplined follow-through from idea to impact.

Critical work streams will include:

Prominently demonstrating the value of Visa with political, regulatory, and policy decision makers in Vietnam and Laos;

Constructively engaging with government stakeholders on existing and new public and regulatory policies, with the aim of ensuring a conducive environment for Visa’s business and the electronic payments industry more broadly;

In this role, the individual will be expected to:

• Lead Government Affairs for Vietnam and Laos with autonomy and accountability, setting direction and exercising sound judgment while proactively communicating, consulting, and building alignment with regional leadership, Country Management, and relevant business and functional partners.

• Develop and execute on a forward-looking Government Affairs strategy for Vietnam and Laos, with clear priorities, stakeholder plans, milestones, and measures of impact aligned to market and regional business objectives.

• Anticipate and shape policy, regulatory, political, and technology developments, identify opportunities early, and turn insight into practical recommendations and coordinated action, including licensing, approval, data, foreign exchange, government procurement, and other government-related dependencies.

• Partner closely with Country Management and business teams to understand growth priorities and develop Government Affairs approaches that help move initiatives forward,

• Build and sustain trusted, senior-level relationships with government officials, regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders across Vietnam and Laos, grounded in credibility, consistency, and shared objectives, and translate these relationships into measurable progress against Visa’s policy, regulatory, reputational, and business priorities.

• Design purposeful engagements for Visa leaders and subject-matter experts, ensuring each interaction has a clear objective, strong preparation, and effective follow-through.

• Work across business functions and geographies within Visa as an enabling partner, bringing relevant functions together, building alignment, communicating clearly, and helping teams convert strategy into execution.

• Develop compelling, evidence-based policy positions and narratives that demonstrate how open, secure, and interoperable digital payments can support government and economic priorities.

• Recommend, engage, and manage strategic third-party relationships, including Government Affairs advisors, industry and business associations, diplomatic missions, and non-government organizations to support Visa’s policy, regulatory and business objectives.

• Leverage approved AI, automation, data, and Government Affairs tools to strengthen regulatory horizon scanning, stakeholder intelligence, evidence-based advocacy, knowledge management and the speed and quality of policy analysis and executive briefing.

Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

What you will need:

We are looking for an individual who brings strong leadership skills, exceptional maturity and attention to detail, along with the ability to effectively manage several urgent business priorities and significant regulatory developments simultaneously.

The position demands the ability to work constructively in a market, regional and global corporate environment, including working successfully as a leader or member of cross-functional teams.

The ability to play an active role in developing strategic policy positions for Visa’s engagement with Government stakeholders will be essential. The ability to work independently but also within a team environment is expected.

As a candidate, you should have:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Advance degree preferred
• 12+ years of relevant corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy serving government stakeholders in Vietnam
• Active network of senior government contacts in Vietnam and Laos
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong business relationships with internal and external stakeholders at senior and executive management levels
• Strong financial services and/or technology pedigree, including working knowledge of the digital payments industry
• Political acumen 
• Strategic thinking, advocacy and communications planning skills 
• Superior interpersonal and presentational skills 
• Confident and authoritative manner in all communication channels, with executive presence
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Detailed oriented with strong analytical capabilities
• Execution focused
• The highest standards for ethical conduct, confidentiality and integrity, with a strong professional reputation in the industry
• Outstanding written communication abilities and fluency in English and Vietnamese
• Some travel within and between Vietnam and Laos and to regional meetings (primarily Singapore) are also features of the position

What will also help:

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

Why this is important to Visa:

We believe that inclusive economies uplift everyone, everywhere, which drives our mission to connect the world and enables individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Visa is working with our partners in Vietnam and Laos to expand access to the most innovative payment technology powering global commerce.

The Head of Government Affairs role is essential to growing our public sector relationships, identifying and managing the regulatory and operating environment for Visa, and displaying Visa’s leadership in emerging technology. Through these efforts, we will meaningfully deepen our partnership with policy makers who are shaping the regulatory and operating environment for digital payments.

Visa is an EEO Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.