Head of Government Relations

Prudential’s purpose is to be partners for every life and protectors for every future. Our purpose encourages everything we do by creating a culture in which diversity is celebrated and inclusion assured, for our people, customers, and partners. We provide a platform for our people to do their best work and make an impact to the business, and we support our people’s career ambitions. We pledge to make Prudential a place where you can Connect, Grow, and Succeed.

About the role:

In order to strengthen Prudential’s growth momentum, the company is now looking to bring onboard a Head of Government Affairs for India with deep financial services and insurance policy and regulatory expertise in the Indian context. The incumbent will be responsible for leading Prudential’s engagement with national and state government bodies, key regulators and policy makers, with clear accountability for influencing regulatory outcomes and enabling business objectives in India.

Dual reporting into the India business and the Group Chief Government Relations & Policy Officer, based in Singapore, this role will act as a senior and strategic advisor to top management, representing Prudential in public fora, consultatively with relevant regulatory bodies, draft and present impactful position papers to create a robust Government Relations strategy. The incumbent will work as a senior level autonomous contributor, shaping and developing internal relationships along with the aforementioned public sector entities and agencies.

This is a highly strategic and visible position within Prudential India and the Group. It is not a management role in the traditional sense of the word. It is a senior internal expert role, and thus will require strong subject matter expertise, strong network and the deportment to work across the corporate business units to shape policy initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Prioritise and address Prudential’s regulatory issues, assessing short-term, medium-term and long-term policy opportunities and risks in India, partnering with colleagues across the company to create clear policy and regulatory objectives, measurements and outcomes.

• Own and lead engagements with external parties to shape business goals, including attaining licences, expansion into new areas or states; identify key governmental stakeholders relevant to Prudential’s India operations; develop and drive a structured stakeholder engagement strategy with clear business outcomes.

• Build and maintain direct relationships across various levels with MoF, IRDAI, RBI, SEBI, DFS, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Monitor, track and report policy and regulatory developments potentially impacting the India operation; analyze positive or negative impacts and provide recommendation of actions, ensuring the business is positioned to leverage opportunities and conversely, protect the company’s interest from any undue risk.

• Provide clear, concise, commercially sound and actional able counsel on government policy issues related to the regulation of Prudential’s business and its commercial partners.

• Draft and present high quality briefing documents and related policy position papers and other relevant content for distribution (including responses to public consultations)

• Actively engage with government organisations, industry bodies and regulators to build a sphere of influence for effective advocacy and as a key representative for Prudential India and the Group in India.

• Grow Prudential’s reputation with excellent tactical and strategic thinking, through knowledgeable and diplomatic communication and public engagement.

• Have end to end ownership for Government affairs in India, leveraging an established and active network within MOF, IRDAI, RBI and other financial services stakeholders to drive regulatory access, insights and outcomes while exercising strong judgement in navigating complex policy environments.

• Working with Group colleagues, support and advise on engagement by India with international bodies and government-to-government relationships, particularly with the UK (e.g. in the financial and commercial dialogues), Prudential’s wider markets, and international fora and institutions.

Requirements:

The successful candidate will have at least 12 - 15 years of relevant experience in public policy and government affairs within BFSI or insurance sector. Mandatory experience engaging directly with MOF, IRDAI, RBI, DEA and other financial services stakeholders.

• Demonstrated track record of influencing or contributing to financial sector policy or regulatory outcomes in India

• Established credible network within MOF, DFS, IRDAI, RBI, SEBI and other key policy stakeholders is required

• Prior experience in insurance or financial services organisations, regulatory bodies or policy advisory roles focused on BFSI with strong understanding of India’s financial regulatory architecture across insurance, banking and capital markets.

• An appreciation of technology, its applications and uses, and an understanding of the trends that shape policies and regulations in the financial services and insurance fields.

• A combination of public and private sector work experience would be of interest.

• Experienced in building and managing trustworthy relationships with key government officials and regulators in India.

• Ability to translate complex regulatory developments into business strategy and risk mitigation actions along with strong understanding of India’s financial regulatory architecture across insurance, capital markets and other frameworks.
• Must possess the maturity and stature required to deal with senior level professionals, internally and externally.

• High integrity and credibility with the ability to manage complex senior stakeholder relationships across government, regulators and industry

• Outstanding English fluency is mandatory, which will be apparent through written and verbal excellence.

• A  learner, willing to engage in a wide range of subjects, including financial and insurance regulations, technology regulation, trade policy, macroeconomics, evolving geopolitics and trade policy issues and regulations.

• A motivated self-starter, with creative and sound judgement, unimpeachable integrity, professionalism and high positivity.

• An advanced degree in public policy, law, international relations or other relevant studies is required.                      

Personal Characteristics:

• The chosen candidate should be well-read, curious and open minded; self-aware; and able to apply social perceptiveness when guiding, facilitating or instructing others to achieve agreeable outcomes.

• High credibility with government stakeholders; seen as a serious and trusted policy counterpart

• Strong executive presence with ability to engage senior government stakeholders

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting policy submissions and briefing senior leadership

• A high level of corporate professionalism, gravitas; confident with political agility and antennae; able to analyse, negotiate and influence appropriately.

• Positive, highly energetic, diplomatic, tenacious, with sound judgment, EQ and the patience to not merely listen, but hear. He or she must be able to work autonomously and collaboratively, balance competing tasks and agendas properly, as well as understand how to bring clarity to ambiguous regulatory or political situations, acting decisively, maturely and mindfully.

• Exemplary networking and influencing skills, able to partner effectively and form roubust relationships across Prudential’s business units.

• Strong project management skills, showing a track record of managing complex policy programmes with speed, accuracy, and efficiency.

• It is expected that the chosen candidate will have the aptitude to think and act sensibly, execute broad strategies while keeping an eye firmly on the details, embody an uncompromising and unequivocal commitment to ethical business practices at all times.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equality of opportunity of benefits for all who apply and who perform work for our organisation irrespective of sex, race, age, ethnic origin, educational, social and cultural background, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, disability or part-time / fixed-term work, or any other status protected by applicable law. We encourage the same standards from our recruitment and third-party suppliers taking into account the context of grade, job and location. We also allow for reasonable adjustments to support people with individual physical or mental health requirements.