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 chance 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.

Team Summary The India and South Asia (INSA) Government Affairs team manages policy, regulatory and government engagement matters to help Visa advance its business priorities across India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Across this diverse and fast-evolving sub-region, the team works to build alignment between Visa’s commercial objectives and the public policies that shape the payments ecosystem.

The team engages governments, regulators, industry bodies and other stakeholders on issues including digital public infrastructure, digital payments, data and technology policy, artificial intelligence, central bank digital currencies, cross-border payments and remittances. Internally, Government Affairs partners closely with market and regional leadership and with Product, Legal, Regulatory, Risk, Compliance, Communications, Visa Government Solutions, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability and Global Policy colleagues.

The role reports to the SVP, Head of Government Affairs, Asia Pacific and the SVP, Group Country Manager, INSA and is a member of both leadership teams.

What the VP, Head of Government Affairs, INSA does at Visa

- The VP will lead Government Affairs across INSA and serve as a senior strategic adviser to market and regional leadership. The role will connect policy insight, government relationships and business priorities to protect Visa’s ability to operate, enable growth and position Visa as a trusted partner to governments across the sub-region.
- Lead the INSA Government Affairs strategy, translating Visa’s business priorities into clear policy, regulatory and stakeholder engagement plans across all markets in the sub-region.
- Build and deepen trusted relationships with senior government officials, regulators, policymakers, industry associations and other influential stakeholders, with particular focus on India.
- Anticipate and assess legislative, regulatory and geopolitical developments; advise senior leaders on their potential implications for Visa, its clients, products and long-term growth agenda.

- Shape policy environments that support secure, inclusive and competitive digital payments, while protecting Visa’s licence to operate and ability to innovate.
- Identify where Visa’s network, technology, data, products and expertise can support public-policy priorities, and develop partnerships and programmes that strengthen Visa’s position as a trusted government partner.
- Provide strategic leadership on emerging technology policy, including artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity, digital identity, digital public infrastructure, digital currencies and new forms of commerce.





Use AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve policy monitoring, scenario analysis, stakeholder insight and the quality and speed of executive advice, while applying appropriate legal, privacy, security and human-judgement safeguards.

- Partner with Visa Government Solutions and business teams to identify government-related opportunities in areas such as social disbursements, tax payments, mobility, travel and tourism, financial inclusion and other public-sector payment programmes.
- Represent Visa at policy forums, industry events, association committees and senior stakeholder meetings.

- Coordinate executive engagement with government stakeholders and ensure senior leaders are well briefed, aligned and positioned for high-impact interactions.
- Ensure INSA perspectives inform Visa’s positions in regional and international forums, including bilateral and multilateral engagements relevant to cross-border payments, remittances, digital trade and emerging technologies.
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing, inclusive Government Affairs team across the sub-region.

Set clear priorities, create accountability, build future-ready capability and coach leaders and team members to deliver with excellence.

- Operate as an enterprise leader across a complex matrix, collaborating as One Visa, constructively challenging where needed and building alignment across market, regional and global stakeholders.
- Manage the Government Affairs budget and external resources with strong commercial discipline, measurable outcomes and an owner’s mindset.

- Ensure the highest standards of ethics, integrity and compliance, including adherence to Visa’s policies governing political participation, lobbying and contributions, and all applicable local laws and requirements.

Why this role is important to Visa India and South Asia are central to the future of digital commerce, with significant opportunity across consumer payments, money movement, value-added services, government solutions and emerging payment technologies. At the same time, the policy landscape is increasingly complex, shaped by rapid innovation, evolving regulation, national digital priorities and heightened expectations of global technology and financial-services companies.

This role is critical to ensuring Visa anticipates change, shapes constructive policy outcomes and converts public-policy insight into business advantage. By building trusted government relationships, protecting Visa’s licence to operate and aligning Visa’s capabilities with national priorities, the VP will help unlock sustainable growth and strengthen Visa’s reputation as a credible, long-term partner across INSA. The role will also ensure Visa engages responsibly and confidently on the next generation of policy issues, including AI, data, digital public infrastructure, digital currencies and new models of commerce.





Qualifications

What you will need

- A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in a senior corporate government affairs or public policy role, a government or regulatory agency, or a consultancy advising multinational organisations; significant leadership experience in India is essential.
- A solid network of senior government, regulatory and policy relationships in India, with the credibility and judgement to represent Visa at the highest levels; broader South Asia and Asia Pacific exposure is highly desirable.
- Deep understanding of India’s political, legislative and regulatory environment, together with the ability to navigate differing policy and market contexts across South Asia.
- Knowledge of payments, banking, financial services, technology or fintech, and a strong grasp of the commercial and policy issues affecting digital payments and emerging forms of money movement.
- Demonstrated understanding of public-policy questions arising from AI, data, cybersecurity, digital identity, digital public infrastructure and other emerging technologies.

- Ability to use AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly to strengthen research, synthesis, scenario planning and decision support, without substituting technology for sound judgement, stakeholder context or accountability.
- Exceptional political and business acumen, with the ability to connect regulatory developments to commercial priorities, client impact, reputation and long-term enterprise value.
- A proven track record of developing and executing sophisticated advocacy strategies that combine long-range thinking with disciplined, high-quality implementation.

- Outstanding leadership capability, including experience building, leading and developing high-performing teams across locations; a commitment to inclusion, succession, coaching and creating opportunities for others to grow.
- Ability to lead through ambiguity and change, make timely decisions, challenge constructively, establish clear accountability and maintain momentum across multiple urgent priorities.
- Exceptional written, verbal, influencing, negotiation and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues and communicate with authority to senior internal and external audiences.

- Strong collaboration skills and a record of creating consensus across complex, matrixed and cross-cultural organisations while retaining independence of thought.
- Impeccable ethics, discretion and integrity, with sound judgement in sensitive, high-profile and confidential situations.
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required; an advanced degree in public policy, law, economics, business, international relations or a related discipline is preferred.

- Fluency in English is required; additional relevant regional language capability is an advantage.

Visa is an EEO Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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📌 VP, Head of Government Affairs, India & South Asia (INSA) (Mumbai)
🏢 Visa
📍 Mumbai