EU Government Relations Associate Director

Based in Brussels, Belgium as part of Accenture’s Government Relations team – which belongs to the Legal function – your role will be to lead our Government Relations activities towards the EU Institutions reporting to the Managing Director of Government Relations for EMEA.

In your role, you will work closely with the Managing Director of Government Relations for EMEA and the business leadership across the EU to develop and successfully deliver a comprehensive Government Relations strategy for the market that includes:

• Identifying, shaping and delivering opportunities to build Accenture’s relationships and positive standing with relevant policymakers and opinion-formers.
• Staying ahead of key political and public policy developments, analyzing potential impact to our business, our offerings and/or our market overall and advising our business accordingly.
• Delivering a EU Institutions-focused dimension to Government Relations initiatives being driven at the Europe and/or global level. Develop and execute an engagement strategy in Brussels towards EU Institutions consistent with the company’s priorities.
• Building and managing our relationships with industry / trade associations, think tanks, industry stakeholders and with Government Relations counterparts at Accenture’s clients and partners in Brussels.
• Working as part of a cross-functional internal teams to manage reputational risk issues as they arise.
• Working as a senior member of the global government relations team to work collaboratively to identify and create opportunities that advance shared priorities and objectives.

Qualifications

• EU citizenship
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a combination of government relations, policy, advocacy, and/or business roles.
• Experience delivering strategic outcomes and managing complex issues at the intersection of government and business while working in a relevant government institution, industry / trade association, non-governmental organisation or corporate role.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with policymakers and other relevant political and public policy stakeholders at the EU Institutions.
• Experience representing a company, government or organisation with relevant external audiences and stakeholders.
• Experienced in working efficiently and effectively in a matrixed environment where multiple stakeholders and subject matter experts are involved in reaching decisions or outcomes.

Key skills

• A strong communicator in English (at a minimum), able to convey information effectively – both in writing and verbally – to audiences that have varying degrees of expertise on an issue.
• A strong understanding of the political environment and policymaking process of the European Union and the effective and appropriate ways for business to engage in it.
• A strong strategic leader with the ability to work independently while keeping key stakeholders appropriately involved and informed on progress.
• Sound business judgement, including a strong radar for opportunities and risks and when and how to effectively flag them.
• Ability to translate business goals into results through the development and execution of effective policy strategies.
• Reputation for having the highest ethical standards and integrity.
• Demonstrated leadership in professional setting and proven ability to work with senior company executives, colleagues, outside regulatory officials and industry contacts.
• Strong team building and conflict resolution skills.