Senior Manager, Government Affairs (Japan)

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

Job Description

Overview:

The Government Affairs (GA) team aims to achieve broad alignment between Visa’s business objectives and public policies that affect the payments industry. Externally, the GA team engages a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness of and build support for policies that expand access to and usage of digital payments in Japan. Internally, GA works closely with colleagues across the company including Communications, Global Policy, Compliance, Visa University, Social Impact, Risk, Legal, Product, and Sales.

What a Government Affairs Senior Manager does at Visa:

Based in Tokyo, the Senior Manager of Government Affairs will report to the Head of Government Affairs for Japan, Korea and Mongolia (JKM). The successful candidate will serve as an important point of contact both internally and externally for Visa’s GA activities across all forms of government and will support key elements of Visa’s engagement with government agencies and regulators, including the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), industry bodies, and other stakeholders that influence the future of payments and digital commerce in Japan. The role combines day-to-day GA operations, advocacy, policy analysis, project management, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional leadership to advance Visa’s business objectives and government affairs agenda.

S/he will partner closely with Visa colleagues in market, regional hub, and global headquarters, exercising critical judgment to help shape and implement Visa’s business strategy for digital commerce and the future of payments in Japan. Responsibilities (detailed below) range from day-to-day communications and engagement to ownership of key initiatives supporting long-term business strategy. The successful candidate must demonstrate exceptional maturity, sound judgment, and attention to detail, along with the ability to proactively manage several urgent business priorities and significant regulatory developments simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and help implement key elements of a robust Japan GA plan, building vital partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders and enhancing Visa’s reputation as a long-term partner committed to advancing the payments ecosystem and broad-based economic growth.
• Advise the Head of GA for JKM on Japan’s regulatory developments and other measures that affect Visa’s business with regard to digital payments, emerging technologies, economic development and financial inclusion.
• Shape Visa’s policy engagement on Agentic Commerce and emerging industry standards, working with internal experts and external stakeholders to identify policy opportunities, manage regulatory considerations, and support market development in Japan.
• Maintain regular contact at the local, regional, and global levels with key internal stakeholders, as well as external agencies, institutions, and partners.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives with Visa colleagues, including business strategy, sales, policy, product, and legal teams, to develop commercial and strategic responses to emerging technology and market developments.
• Draft position papers, issue briefs, and talking points on a variety of financial services/technology policy and regulations.
• Monitor international, regional, and domestic trends.
• Represent Visa’s perspective and further our mission at industry events.
• Liaise with global colleagues and coordinate domestic contribution to global initiatives.

Why this is important to Visa:

Visa is committed to advancing the Government of Japan’s cashless agenda and helping Japan lead the way towards a future of digital commerce. This high visibility role is essential to grow and display Visa’s policy engagement and thought leadership work especially in emerging technologies and meaningfully deepen Visa’s partnership with policymakers shaping the regulatory and operating environment for digital payments.

Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

What you will need:

• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, regulatory affairs, corporate communications, financial services, fintech, consulting, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of Japan’s policy and regulatory environment, preferably in payments, banking, fintech, digital technology, or related sectors.
• Experience engaging with government agencies, regulators, industry associations, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Japanese and English.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, and ability to adapt communication style to multiple audiences.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience drafting persuasive policy and advocacy materials.
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, and strong analytical skills.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and build credibility across local, regional, and global organizations.
• Experience handling commercially sensitive and confidential materials.
• Strategic advocacy and communications planning skills.
• Proficiency in productivity tools, including Microsoft Office applications and AI-enabled tools.
• Willingness to travel as required, where and when appropriate.
• Willingness to undertake other duties on GA team as needed.

Projects you will be a part of:

• Designing and implementing a robust GA strategy for Visa in Japan.
• Building and maintaining deep partnerships with relevant stakeholders in key areas.
• Leading policy and regulatory support for new products, services, Agentic Commerce, and other strategic business initiatives.
• Creating new engagement platforms and compelling content that advances Visa’s role as a thought leader in digital commerce.

Visa is an EEO Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.