Head of Public Policy, Sub Saharan Africa

October 18, 2024

Uber

Johannesburg

FULL TIME

About the Role

We are looking for someone to join our Public Policy Team in the Sub Saharan Africa Region (SSA) based in Johannesburg. You will report directly to our Head of Policy for the Middle East, Africa & Pakistan (MEA).

Our public policy team is responsible for working with policymakers, regulators and third parties to make the positive case for Uber as a platform. That's about building lasting relationships in the cities where we operate with politicians and their staff, so they understand the benefits of Uber's services. Policy at Uber is business critical and has a real impact in our markets. It is for people who are keen to have skin in the game on business decisions and are passionate about being an advocate for change to unlock the full potential of our technology.

What You'll Do

Support Uber's government affairs and policy work primarily in South Africa and also look after the rest of the SSA countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire) where Uber operates
Establish Uber's brand and profile with policy makers-including governments, third parties and academics
Work to ensure that the regulatory framework in every country supports technology platforms like Uber
Own relationships with other teams throughout the company, including Operations, Communications, Legal, Tax, etc., offering strategic advice to business partners in those functions
Build lasting links with key partners, lead campaigns to change regulatory scenarios, and define strategies to react to new circumstances

Basic Qualifications

Ideally you would have at least 10 years experience working with institutions and government officials, and understanding and handling policy issues, but we will consider less experience if you meet our other requirements
Experience developing the regulatory infrastructure for highly regulated industries and be comfortable coping with sophisticated legal and political topics
Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English with a proven track record to engage policy concepts with diverse partners is essential
Private sector experience, especially in a multinational context, is a plus

Preferred Qualifications

A self starter: Uber is a company of entrepreneurs, and we want to work with people who enjoy building things from the bottom up. Projects change fast in our world so you'll need to be highly adaptable as well as calm under pressure.
A great advocate: We're looking to create new regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation and alternatives to individual car ownership. You'll need the intellectual curiosity to grasp complex policy issues as well as the ability to articulate clearly and simply how apps like Uber can help improve and facilitate transportation for everyone-both orally and in writing.
A strong campaigner: Smartphone apps are innovative, and the interests being disrupted are deeply entrenched. So you'll need to put together proactive campaigns involving passengers, drivers and third parties that demonstrate there's a better alternative to today's outdated status quo. That means having a bias for action in everything you do-and a willingness to engage in debates, that can often become heated.
A great teammate: Success at Uber depends on the ability to organize different teams (internally and externally) around shared goals. It's why we're looking for well-organized people who enjoy working with others to get stuff done - and who can deal with the ambiguity that sometimes comes from working cross-functionally.