VP of Public Affairs

About the role

Airalo is seeking a leader to establish our public affairs function from the ground up. You will manage our global relationships with regulators and policymakers, ensuring our business interests are represented as we expand into new markets. This is a strategic role focused on advocacy and policy navigation rather than general communications.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Create and execute a global public affairs strategy that supports our business growth and market entry goals.
• Build the department by defining internal processes, hiring a team, and managing external lobbying firms.
• Monitor regulatory trends across APAC, EMEA, LATAM, and North America to identify risks and opportunities.
• Engage directly with telecom regulators, government ministries, and consumer protection agencies.
• Represent the company in public hearings, parliamentary inquiries, and industry working groups.
• Define our official policy positions on eSIM licensing, data privacy, and digital market regulations.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and Commercial teams to integrate policy insights into business decisions.
• Manage memberships and participation in industry associations like the GSMA and MVNO groups.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in public affairs, government relations, or regulatory policy within the tech or telecom sectors.
• Proven history of influencing regulatory outcomes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Expertise in digital economy regulations and telecom policy.
• Ability to function as an autonomous first hire and build infrastructure without existing support.
• Strong political intuition and the ability to translate business goals into policy-friendly narratives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, remote environment across different time zones.

Nice to have

• Experience building a public affairs department from scratch.
• Experience managing external consultants and agencies across various geographic regions.

Skills & tools

• Government relations and advocacy
• Regulatory horizon scanning
• Policy development
• Stakeholder management
• Cross-functional leadership

Practical notes

• Employment in Spain and the UAE is managed via Deel as the employer of record.
• Employment in the UK is via a local contract.
• Successful candidates will be subject to a background check, contingent on consent and local laws.
• Airalo is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the hiring process.