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.