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.