Director Public Policy & Government Affairs

We are hiring a Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs to lead talabat’s regulatory and government engagement across priority GCC and MENA markets.

This is a senior leadership role for a policy professional with a proven track record of influencing regulatory outcomes in complex, highly regulated environments. You will work closely with senior leadership to anticipate policy risk, shape government frameworks, and position talabat as a credible, long-term partner to regulators and public institutions. The role combines external influence, policy strategy, and internal leadership, with direct exposure to C-suite decision-making.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead engagement with government entities, regulators, competition authorities, and public sector stakeholders across the region.

• Shape and influence policy and regulatory frameworks impacting:

  • competition and pricing

  • platform regulation

  • labour and workforce models

  • consumer protection

  • digital, data, and sustainability policy

• Develop and execute policy and advocacy strategies aligned with business priorities.

• Represent talabat in industry associations, councils, and working groups.

• Anticipate regulatory and political risks; advise senior leadership on timing, likelihood, and impact.

• Support crisis response and regulatory escalations that affect operations.

• Partner closely with Communications, Legal, Operations, Finance, and Strategy teams.

• Act as an internal centre of excellence for government engagement and public policy standards.

• Coach and guide market teams on effective and compliant government relations.

Preferred candidates will be: 

• 10+ years’ experience in public policy, government affairs, regulatory strategy, or public sector. leadership

• Demonstrated success influencing policy or regulatory outcomes in the GCC and/or wider MENA region.

• Hands-on experience engaging with ministers, regulators, senior civil servants, and competition authorities.

• Background in highly regulated sectors (technology platforms, telecoms, mobility, energy, financial services, or similar).

• Strong understanding of how regulation impacts growth, margins, market structure, and investor confidence.

• Credible, discreet, and trusted at senior levels, with the judgement to operate in politically sensitive environments.

• Executive presence, clear communication style, and the confidence to challenge constructively.

• Experience working in or alongside multinational or regional businesses is a strong advantage.

• Fluency in verbal and written English and Arabic is mandatory.