Head of Corporate Affairs & Regulatory

About the role

The Head of Corporate Affairs & Regulatory develops and executes the market's external affairs, public policy, regulatory, reputation, communications and stakeholder engagement strategy. The role safeguards the company's license to operate, drives favourable regulatory and fiscal outcomes, protects corporate reputation and acts as a strategic advisor to the Country Leadership Team. It is based in the Accra and Tema region.

Key responsibilities

• Lead regulatory affairs and public policy: drive advocacy for a stable, predictable regulatory environment, monitor legislative and fiscal developments, and lead engagement with regulators and policymakers
• Develop positions on alcohol regulation, excise taxation, licensing, labelling, environmental regulation, trade policy and sustainability regulations, and coordinate cross-functional responses to proposed regulations
• Manage illicit alcohol, counterfeiting, tax stamp and sector formalisation programmes
• Build relationships with government ministries, parliamentarians, municipalities, diplomatic missions and industry associations, and represent the company in industry forums
• Develop and run the market reputation strategy, including reputation monitoring, issues management, crisis preparedness and crisis communications
• Oversee internal and external communications, media relations, press engagement, spokesperson coordination and corporate narrative development
• Support sustainability advocacy (circular packaging, environmental management, water stewardship) and responsible drinking initiatives
• Act as a member of the Country Leadership Team, advise senior leaders on risks, and embed external affairs in business strategy
• Lead Corporate Affairs, Communications and Regulatory teams, manage budgets and external service providers, and build team capacity

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Communications, Public Administration or Business Administration
• 8-12+ years of experience in Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs, Public Policy, External Affairs or Communications
• Experience engaging senior government stakeholders, leading cross-functional projects and managing reputational and regulatory risks
• FMCG, beverages, tobacco, telecommunications, energy, pharmaceuticals or other highly regulated industries preferred

Required skills

• Regulatory affairs, public policy development and government relations
• Strategic communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement
• Crisis and issues management, negotiation and influencing
• Leadership, business acumen, strategic thinking and decision making