VP, Corporate Affairs

About Tala
Tala is a global technology company building the world’s most accessible financial services. With more than $350 million raised from visionary investors, we are serving millions of customers around the world who have been overlooked by traditional financial institutions – and our plan is to serve millions more, and have been named by the Fortune Impact 20 list, CNBC’s Disruptor 50, and Forbes’ Fintech 50 list for five years running. We are expanding across product offerings, countries and crypto and are looking for people who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are passionate about the mission.
By creating a unique platform that enables lending and other financial services around the globe, people in emerging markets are able to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Currently, more than 7 million people across Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India have used Tala products. Due to our global team, we have a remote-first approach, and also have offices in Santa Monica, CA (HQ); Nairobi, Kenya; Mexico City, Mexico; Manila, the Philippines; and Bangalore, India. 
Most Talazens join us because they connect with our mission of enabling financial agency for underbanked people around the world. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Tala, we’d love to hear from you!
Tala is looking for a VP, Corporate Affairs to lead the development and execution of strategies that continue to establish Tala as a trusted, mission-driven fintech and enable the success of Tala’s business and social impact objectives. Reporting to the SVP, Brand and Communications and sitting on Tala’s global leadership team, this position will work through a broad and diverse coalition of external parties to build a long-term business and brand advantage through creative strategies spanning communications, government relations, and regulatory affairs. In addition to directly managing a nimble, high-impact corporate communications team, you will lead through influence to enable the success of Tala’s global external affairs teams in Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India. 

What you'll do:

• Lead the corporate communications team in the development and execution of strategies that continue to position Tala as a trusted, mission-driven fintech and support business growth and expansion
• Build external relations and communications programs to address key risks impacting Tala’s brand reputation and business objectives
• Oversee external relations programs for key corporate stakeholders including investors, government officials, partners and key global influencers to ensure consistency and alignment globally
• Working closely with the global external affairs team, provide strategic direction for communications, advocacy and other activities with policymakers, legislators, regulators, industry trade associations and peer companies
• Ensure consistency and execution across Tala’s communications, regulatory affairs, and government relations efforts
• Foster an ecosystem where Tala’s mission and business interests can flourish 
• Build strong relationships to enhance Tala’s reputation and image as a trusted resource with key external parties such as government entities, industry associations, multilateral organizations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, etc
• Develop and manage a strategic plan for successfully achieving specific results which support and enable Tala’s business and product strategies to succeed
• Ensure organizational alignment on Tala’s issue priorities
• Collaborate with key global business leaders in order to advise on risks and opportunities concerning Tala’s reputation and operations
• Provide insights to aid Tala’s senior leaders in making informed investment decisions that mitigate near-term risks and build a long-term advantage in a rapidly changing global environment
• Lead through influence as much as through formal authority in a complex, matrixed organization
• Develop advocacy materials, position papers, and briefing documents as appropriate to aid in external affairs strategies and ensure consistency and alignment with Tala’s global objectives
• Partner with internal leaders across the legal, finance, compliance and people teams on matters related to corporate governance and sustainability
• Develop research and scholarship with internal teams and external partners to enable Tala’s external affairs strategies and contribute more broadly to emerging literature on technology, financial inclusion and global development

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 12 years in public affairs, strategic communications, government affairs, or a related field
• Minimum of 4 years leading a public relations/public affairs or government affairs function in-house
• Substantive experience in poli