Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, UK

Job Description

Job title: Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, UK

Company: IBM

Job description: Introduction
At IBM, work is more than a job – it’s a calling: To build. To design. To code. To consult. To think along with clients and sell. To make markets. To invent. To collaborate. Not just to do something better, but to attempt things you’ve never thought possible. Are you ready to lead in this new era of technology and solve some of the world’s most challenging problems? If so, lets talk.

Your Role and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead the UK Government and Regulatory Affairs team on key
public policy and regulatory issues that impact the company in the UK. S/He will oversee the
development of proactive public policy strategies to favorably impact the company’s operating
environment in the UK. Though this is not a sales position, in the context of the company’s
Global Government Relations Business Development strategy s/he will also build effective
relationships that can support the UK team in achieving new business with government
customers and identify potential business/investment opportunities and/or partnership
opportunities through their networks.

High-level relationships in the UK will be critical given the strong emphasis placed on an
overall strategic approach to public policy and government affairs. In addition to senior-level
engagement with Ministers and government officials, the candidate will also be expected to
manage, develop and grow relationships with relevant UK trade associations, companies,
think-thanks and other relevant external stakeholders.

The Director for Government and Regulatory Affairs (GRA) UK will work with the Country
General Manager and colleagues in the global GRA organisation to develop and implement
the company’s strategies as they relate to issues including, but not limited to: technology policy
such as responsible AI, quantum, data and data privacy, cyber security, tax and corporate
governance; competition, market access and trade; workforce flexibility; intellectual property;
healthcare and sustainability; and public sector spending plans in areas such as healthcare
IT, efficient energy infrastructure and other procurement areas. In addition, s/he will be
responsible for driving policy alignment with company’s key objectives and partnership
strategy.

The position will report to the Vice President, GRA, EMEA and will have strong functional
guidance from the UK Country General Manager. S/He will be expected to consult with and
advise members of senior management team on all governmental programme matters to
ensure alignment of company goals and objectives. Significant business and stakeholder
relationship experience is critical, as well as the ability to build effective external and internal
relationship networks.

An understanding of the IT industry would be an important plus; however, deep functional
experience in global public policy, with proven relationships and coalition building skills, is
considered essential. Strong analytical skills and in-depth understanding of decision-making
mechanisms of the UK government and public policy settings are also of great importance of
the success for this role.

Additionally, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs will:

• Act as a key external messenger who can effectively translate and communicate the direction of the company and its strategy to senior external stakeholders in government, trade associations and the corporate community.
• Oversee the creation and execution of government relations strategies and programmes to ensure access to senior policy makers, politicians and Ministers, such that resulting government actions are aligned with company goals.
• Provide thought leadership externally and internally in key public policy areas.
• Develop appropriate policy issues to help set the agenda and shape future events.
• Devise and implement an aggressive and pro-active strategic plan for successfully achieving specific results that are locally relevant in the UK, while remaining globally consistent with the company’s business strategy.
• Contribute to the company’s overall global government affairs strategy; provide context on how the UK fits into the European and global landscape.
• Collaborate with corporate functions and business units to analyse and manage political risk in the UK; this covers new projects and scenarios, as well as existing and
• ongoing programmes.
• Effectively position the company as world-class, with high integrity, competitive and
• sustained performance, and as a valued partner.
• Establish and maintain high-level contacts with a wide variety of industry and non-industrial individuals and groups who are in a position to compel/promote public, community, and government actions favourable to the company; work closely with senior management to assist in the development of those policy positions and relationships that increase the profile of the company in support of the company’s business objectives, customer initiatives, and reputation.
• Maintain strong communications between the various line units, functions and the Country General Manager.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, advocate and spokesperson for the company in the UK.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role that involves government or government affairs.

The ideal candidate will also be/have:

• The ability to persuasively communicate complex concepts and programs at the highest levels of government and business.
• A demonstrated ability to “move the needle” with regard to political and policy matters.
• The ability to work across the full range of company’s business operations that can be affected by government policies and regulations; a keen interest in learning the business and building effective internal networks to become effective.
• The ability to both develop and execute a strategic plan.
• A persuasive communicator, yet with the ability to understand and accommodate diverse viewpoints and to deal with ambiguity.
• An ability to anticipate changes in public policy and government regulation that could affect the company, and to develop proactive solutions to address those changes.
• Executive presence and the ability to inspire confidence in senior managers within the company, and confidence around the company with external constituencies.
• Confidence engaging effectively at the most senior levels of the UK government.
• The ability to represent company with integrity and stature.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Maturity and sound business judgment.
• A commercial outlook.
• Flexibility, drive and an energetic and dynamic approach to problem solving.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• Experience working for a large corporation is preferred, and senior level experience within government is a plus.
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required, and an advanced degree in public policy will be considered favourably.

Expected salary:

Location: London

Job date: Sat, 23 Dec 2023 23:57:45 GMT

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