Government affairs director – germany

The Government Affairs Director – Germany is responsible for leading and executing the company’s public policy, government relations and regulatory strategy in Germany, fostering a favorable and sustainable regulatory environment and supporting compliant business growth in Germany and the broader European market.
As the senior-most government affairs leader in Germany, this role will lead high-level engagement with federal and state authorities, parliament, regulators and key stakeholders, and provide strategic policy advice to company leadership.
The role requires deep Germany-based lobbying experience, established political networks and strong expertise in regulated sectors, particularly product safety and consumer protection policy, as well as the ability to facilitate cross-border regulatory engagement with international (particularly China-based) corporate functions.
Government Affairs & Lobbying Strategy : Lead and implement the company’s government affairs and lobbying strategy in Germany to support market access, regulatory stability and long‑term business growth; continuously monitor German and EU policy developments and identify risks and opportunities;
Stakeholder Engagement & Political Networking : Develop and maintain long‑term trusted relationships with German federal and state ministries, parliamentarians, regulators, industry associations and relevant NGOs; represent the company in high‑level policy engagement, advocacy and public affairs activities;
Legislative & Regulatory Affairs : Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory processes in Germany; organize and participate in consultations, hearings and advocacy initiatives; promote company positions in policy making and mitigate adverse regulatory risks;
Political Intelligence & Strategic Advisory : Provide leadership with analysis of German political dynamics, regulatory trends and stakeholder positions; deliver policy risk assessments and response strategies to support corporate decision‑making and market strategy;
Policy Issue & Crisis Management : Lead major policy issue management and cross‑functional coordination; develop external positioning and policy response strategies; represent the company in engagements with authorities and key stakeholders;
Regulatory Guidance (Product & Consumer Policy) : Provide expert guidance to product and business teams on German regulatory requirements, particularly product safety, consumer protection, marketing and compliance; ensure new products and business activities align with German law and policy frameworks;
Cross‑Border Regulatory Engagement (China HQ) : Facilitate effective communication and mutual understanding between German regulators and international (particularly China‑based headquarters) teams to support cross‑border compliance and regulatory alignment;
Domestic Travel : Approximately 30-40% domestic travel within Germany to engage federal and state stakeholders.
Qualifications Master’s degree or above in public policy, law, political science, international relations or related field;
10-15 years of government affairs / lobbying experience in Germany;
Registered lobbyist in Germany or eligible for lobbying registration;
Experience in both government institutions and private sector organizations;
Established network within German Bundestag, federal ministries and regulators;
Strong expertise in product regulation, product safety and consumer protection policy;
Experience working with international or Chinese companies preferred;
Deep understanding of German legislative and regulatory processes;
Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and advocacy skills;
Native‑level German and fluent English required;
Preferred Profile Experience in regulated consumer product industries;
Federal and state‑level political engagement experience;
Familiarity with EU policy landscape;
Experience in international or cross‑cultural corporate environments.

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