Director of Government Relations (UAEN)

Job Purpose

1. Strategic Government Relations & Stakeholder Management

• Develop and execute e7 Group's Government Relations strategy, aligned with the Group's corporate strategy, growth ambitions, and shareholder priorities.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with federal and local government entities and other key authorities and shareholders.
• Serve as the Group's principal point of contact for senior government stakeholders, royal offices, and regulatory bodies, representing e7 Group at high-level meetings, official engagements, and national forums.
• Anticipate and assess the impact of regulatory, policy, and geopolitical developments on e7 Group's businesses, providing strategic counsel to the GCEO, Board, and Executive Committee.

2. Regulatory Compliance & Government Approvals

• Lead the Group's engagement with regulatory authorities to secure licenses, permits, approvals, and exemptions required for business operations and strategic initiatives across all e7 Group entities.
• Oversee the timely renewal and maintenance of all trade licenses, commercial registrations, immigration files, and establishment cards across the Group.
• Ensure full compliance with UAE federal and local laws, labor regulations, immigration, customs, and security requirements, mitigating regulatory and reputational risks.

3. Government Affairs Advisory & Policy Intelligence

• Provide strategic advice to the GCEO, Board, and ExCom on government affairs, public policy, and regulatory matters impacting e7 Group's strategic agenda.
• Monitor and analyze legislative, policy, and economic developments at federal and emirate level, providing timely intelligence and recommended actions to leadership.
• Represent e7 Group's position in policy consultations, industry working groups, and government-led task forces, ensuring the Group's interests are appropriately represented.

4. Strategic Projects, Shareholder & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead Government Relations input into strategic projects, M&A activity, joint ventures, and new market entries, ensuring regulatory considerations are addressed from inception.
• Support engagement with Group shareholders, sovereign entities, and government-related entities (GREs), ensuring alignment with shareholder priorities and reporting requirements.
• Partner with Corporate Communications and Marketing to ensure the Group's external messaging, official correspondence, and public positioning are aligned with government expectations and protocol.
• Manage the Group's representation at high-profile national events, exhibitions, and state visits (e.g., GITEX, IDEX, UAE National Day, government summits).

5. Functional Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Government Relations team, including PROs, specialists, and coordinators, fostering a high-performance and service-oriented culture.
• Establish and oversee policies, procedures, SLAs, and KPIs for the Government Relations function, ensuring operational excellence and audit readiness.
• Manage the function's annual budget, vendor relationships (e.g., typing centers, legal translators, consultants), and operational expenditures.
• Drive digitization and process improvement within the function, including automation of PRO workflows and integration with HR, Legal, and Compliance systems.

6. Governance, Risk & Reporting

• Ensure all government-related matters are managed in line with the Group's governance framework, Code of Conduct, and ethical standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive risk register for regulatory and government-related risks, escalating critical matters to the GCEO, Board, and Audit & Risk Committee as appropriate.
• Prepare and present periodic Board, ExCom, and shareholder reports on Government Relations performance, regulatory developments, and strategic engagements.
• Ensure all government correspondence, approvals, and documentation are properly archived and audit-ready.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Master's degree (MBA, MPA, or LLM) is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in Government Relations, Public Affairs, or Corporate Affairs, including at least 5–7 years in a senior leadership role, preferably within a UAE government entity, GRE, or large diversified group.
• Proven track record of engaging at senior levels with UAE federal and Abu Dhabi government entities, regulators, and shareholders.
• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken) is mandatory.