Government Affairs Director

Overview

Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization plays a critical role in building trust and advancing policies that enable technology to contribute positively to society and the economy.

The Government Affairs Manager, France, will help develop and execute Microsoft’s public policy and government affairs strategy in France. The role will engage with government officials, elected representatives, regulators, public administrations, trade associations, think tanks, customers, civil society organizations and other external stakeholders.

Working as part of the French CELA team, the successful candidate will contribute to Microsoft’s engagement on some of the most significant technology policy issues facing France, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital sovereignty, cybersecurity and resilience, data protection, competition, sustainability, skills and the future of work.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Government Affairs and Public Policy Strategy

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Microsoft’s government affairs and public policy strategy in France, in alignment with the company’s European and global priorities.
• Monitor and assess political, legislative and regulatory developments relevant to Microsoft, its customers and the broader technology sector.
• Identify emerging policy risks and opportunities, evaluate their potential impact on Microsoft’s business and reputation, and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Develop advocacy strategies and engagement plans for priority policy issues, working with internal specialists and senior stakeholders.
• Produce high-quality policy briefings, position papers, stakeholder analyses, executive materials and other strategic documents.
• Operate effectively in a rapidly changing and sometimes ambiguous political, regulatory and industry environment.

Government and Institutional Engagement

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with French government officials, elected representatives, parliamentary staff, regulators, public administrations and other institutional stakeholders.
• Represent Microsoft in meetings, hearings, consultations, conferences and other public policy forums.
• Communicate Microsoft’s positions in a clear, credible and constructive manner, translating complex technical and business issues for non-technical audiences.
• Support engagement with national, regional and local authorities where relevant to Microsoft’s policy and business priorities.
• Prepare Microsoft executives for engagements with senior political and institutional stakeholders and support their participation in major events.

External Partnerships and Coalitions

• Develop and implement strategies that leverage partnerships with trade associations, think tanks, academic institutions, customers, civil society organizations and other influential third parties.
• Build coalitions and identify areas of shared interest that can advance responsible and sustainable technology policy outcomes.
• Manage Microsoft’s participation in relevant trade associations and external policy initiatives, ensuring alignment between external representation and Microsoft’s priorities.
• Develop an external intelligence network and provide timely insights into political, regulatory and stakeholder developments.
• Identify opportunities for Microsoft to contribute constructively to public debate through research, partnerships, events and thought leadership.

Internal Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with colleagues across CELA, including Government Affairs, Legal, Competition, Privacy, Digital Safety, Cybersecurity and Communications.
• Work with business groups, engineering teams and other internal stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of policy developments, business priorities and reputational considerations.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects and campaigns involving stakeholders in France, Europe and Microsoft’s global organization.
• Help resolve competing priorities and build internal alignment around advocacy objectives, positions, resources and engagement plans.
• Provide political and cultural context, strategic advice and policy counsel to senior internal stakeholders.

Program and Operational Management

• Manage public policy projects and external partnerships from conception through execution and evaluation.
• Establish clear objectives, milestones and measures of success for advocacy programs.
• Manage external advisers, associations, partnerships and relevant budgets in accordance with Microsoft’s policies.
• Maintain high standards of operational excellence, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensure that all government affairs activities comply with applicable laws, transparency requirements and Microsoft’s standards of business conduct, ethics and privacy.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, public administration, law, European affairs, business administration, economics, technology or a related field, and significant professional experience in government affairs, public policy, government, regulatory affairs, corporate affairs or a related area;
  • or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of the French political, governmental, parliamentary and regulatory environment.
• Experience developing and executing public policy, advocacy or stakeholder-engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence outcomes through government engagement, trade associations, think tanks, customers, civil society organizations or other external partners.
• Written, reading and conversational proficiency in both French and English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on technology, digital, economic, industrial or competition policy issues.
• Experience within government, parliament, a regulatory authority, a technology company, a trade association, a public affairs consultancy or a comparable organization.
• Strong network within the French public policy and institutional ecosystem.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing or supporting legislative, regulatory or public policy initiatives.
• Experience advising senior executives and preparing them for engagement with high-level political and institutional stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional or international projects involving multiple teams and competing priorities.

Government Affairs IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across France is € 115,600.00 - € 199,000.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/france-corporate-pay.html

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.