Senior Vice President, Government Engagement, LAC

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

Government Affairs Team Overview

Global Government Affairs drives Visa's business by shaping the policy and regulatory environment to accelerate digital payments, ensuring Visa is the best way to pay and be paid for everyone, everywhere. The team works with clients, governments, and partners to enable full participation in the digital economy, delivering economic growth, innovation, and positive social impact. It is a diverse and inclusive organization committed to being a best-in-class global government affairs team.

Throughout the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, a team of highly qualified government affairs professionals supports the continued growth of Visa's business by proactively engaging a wide range of stakeholders; promoting Visa's capabilities and contributions to governments; shaping the policy environment to minimize regulatory risk; and partnering with governments on their digital payments priorities.

The Senior Vice President will lead the Government Affairs team in LAC and serve as a member of the LAC Leadership Team. Working closely with regional business leaders, this executive will ensure Visa's public policy priorities and interactions with national and sub-national government officials align with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements to drive business impact.

Strategic Advisory and Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as a member of Visa's LAC Leadership Team, providing strategic advice and direct support on matters of legislative and regulatory interest.
• Serve as a member of Visa's Global Government Affairs Leadership Team and help develop and shape proactive advocacy plans that advance the company's policy agenda, while remaining closely connected to global regulatory trends affecting the business.
• Build strategic engagement plans for Visa's executive leadership in the region with key government stakeholders across LAC.
• Provide subject matter expertise on primary public policy matters and serve as a key resource to public officials, clients, and industry associations.

People Leadership

• Provide strong people leadership for LAC Government Affairs colleagues, with a focus on talent development and supporting and attracting a best-in-class team.

Drive Business Outcomes through Engagement and Thought Leadership

• Promote Visa's reputation and profile by representing the company at public events, policy forums, industry conferences, association committees, roundtables, and other relevant venues.
• Engage regularly and directly with lawmakers, regulators, and other external stakeholders who may affect Visa's business to enhance the company's reputation and competitive position.
• Develop and deliver compelling government affairs narratives about the value of Visa and the payments industry, aligned with Visa's business priorities.
• Develop strategic policy positions, in partnership with Visa's Global Government Affairs team, that foster potential business partnerships with national and sub-national government agencies in the delivery of social services, payment of taxes, and other government programs that may benefit from electronic payments.

Partnership, Collaboration, and Influence

• Partner and collaborate with the LAC Leadership Team, country management throughout the region, and key global stakeholders to advance Visa's local and regional policy priorities.
• Facilitate interactions and briefings between regional and global business subject matter experts and relevant regulators and government officials.
• Manage compliance with all relevant corporate policies and legal requirements related to political participation and activity throughout the region. Ensure the highest standards of ethical behavior within the LAC Government Affairs team and the broader LAC business.
• Establish and maintain appropriate contact with counterparts and other industry participants, including client institutions, fintechs, and other payment-sector stakeholders.
• Coordinate the management of potential global, regional, and local issues.

This position is full-time and based in Miami, Florida, with extensive travel across the LAC region. The role reports to the Global Head of Government Affairs and the Regional President, LAC.

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

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

15 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree or at least 12 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Master's, MBA, JD, MD) or a minimum of 10 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications

• 18 or more years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Master's, MBA, JD, MD, PhD).
• Minimum of 20 years of experience in a relevant corporate position, regulatory or government agency, and/or consultancy providing related services to multinational corporate clients.
• Deep experience in global government affairs and managing complex international issues.
• Strong combination of political and business acumen, with an understanding of both corporate and political motivations.
• In-depth knowledge of the electronic payments, financial services, and/or technology industries.

• Extensive understanding of legislative and regulatory processes, with experience analyzing complex legislation, regulation, and business planning documents.
• Proven track record of building and managing public policy teams.
• Experience working effectively in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Ability to build consensus around strategic initiatives through a collaborative, inclusive, and engaging decision-making process.
• Highly organized leader with a proven ability to manage public policy processes in a complex environment and a deep network of government stakeholders.
• Leadership style that generates respect and loyalty from peers, senior leaders, and team members, with a strong commitment to collaboration.
• Cross-culturally sensitive leader with a strong focus on people development, talent management, and team building.
• Impeccable ethics and a high level of integrity.
• Exceptional strategic advocacy and planning skills.
• Strong intellectual curiosity and the ability to navigate complex policy challenges with a problem-solving mindset.
• Exceptional judgment, with the ability to act independently and within a team environment.
• Superior interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Fluency in multiple languages.

Leadership Characteristics

• Hands-on approach with genuine passion, high energy, agility, and comfort adapting to different environments.
• Courageous and innovative, with the creativity and resourcefulness to overcome barriers and unexpected roadblocks.
• Authentic leader who creates an inclusive environment and enables the business to achieve ambitious goals.
• Values diversity of thought and experience, continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, and takes an inclusive approach.
• Maintains high personal standards of ethics and integrity in interactions with employees, stakeholders, and customers.
• High learning agility and a genuine interest in developing relationships with progressive businesses, combined with a technology- and digital-first approach.
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable in ambiguous, change-led environments; self-confident, authentic, and willing to champion change.
• Eager to take on challenges and expand frontiers; brings a visionary approach and sets a high bar for goals and principles.
• Servant leadership mentality, with a deep commitment to serving and listening to others and a natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity.

Key Relationships / Stakeholders

• LAC Leadership Team
• Global Government Affairs Team
• Regional business leaders, including Regional Managing Directors and Country Managers
• Regional and global business and corporate functions, including Legal, Marketing, Sales, Communications, and Social Impact & Sustainability
• undefined

Work Hours

Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements

This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer

Why work here?

If you thrive on rapid growth and enjoy working alongside positive, driven teammates, you’ll feel right at home here.

Help us to uplift everyone, everywhere. Whether you’re starting your career, pushing your capabilities or are a seasoned professional, learn how we can partner to reimagine the world.

About Us

At Visa, we are driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid. Our evolving technology keeps us at the heart of the digital economy, connecting people to 80+ million businesses worldwide. Backed by a resilient, proven model, our expanding network fuels growth—for Visa and for your career.

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