• Location: Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Frequent travel required)
• Salary: Competitive Market Salary + Performance Bonus + Excellent Benefits
• Function: Corporate & Regulatory Affairs

The Role

We are seeking a strategic and high-caliber External Affairs Director to lead the national regulatory agenda in Vietnam. This is a critical leadership role focused on protecting the company’s reputation, navigating complex legal frameworks, and building trust-based partnerships with high-level government stakeholders. You will act as a key advisor to the leadership team, ensuring the business is positioned as a responsible investor and a preferred partner in the industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Regulatory Leadership: Lead and manage the national regulatory affairs agenda, ensuring all initiatives align with global corporate priorities and local business strategies.
• Government Relations & Advocacy: Build and maintain strong, transparent relationships with government officials at all levels. Position the company as a credible and proactive stakeholder in policy discussions.
• Stakeholder Mapping: Support the Cluster Head in designing and executing long-term reputation strategies, including sophisticated stakeholder mapping, classification, and engagement frameworks.
• Policy Analysis: Monitor and interpret public policy trends and regulatory shifts. Evaluate short- to medium-term implications for the business and develop proactive mitigation plans.
• Compliance & Licensing: Provide expert guidance to commercial and cross-functional teams to ensure full compliance with Vietnamese laws. Secure necessary licenses and endorsements to support ongoing operations.
• Business Intelligence: Gather primary insights from government sources and secondary market data to provide a competitive edge and inform executive decision-making.
• Team Development: Coach and mentor the wider Corporate Affairs team, fostering a culture of functional excellence and knowledge sharing.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of proven experience in government relations or external affairs, with at least 5 years in a senior management capacity.
• Industry Background: Direct experience within a multinational FMCG, or a highly regulated industry (e.g., alcohol, pharmaceuticals, energy) is essential.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Law, Economics, International Relations, or a related field.
• Network: An extensive and active network within Vietnamese government agencies and a deep understanding of governmental administrative processes.
• Competencies: Exceptional commercial acumen with the ability to translate complex regulatory insights into business impacts.
• Communication: Fluent in Vietnamese and English (both written and spoken) is mandatory for high-level negotiations and reporting.

What’s on Offer?

• Market-leading Rewards: Competitive base salary plus a high-performance annual bonus scheme.
• Holistic Benefits: Comprehensive health plans, flexible holiday schemes, and transportation support.
• Career Progression: A culture that thrives on internal advancement and "Global Returner" programs for those re-entering the workforce.
• Growth Environment: Access to global online learning platforms and personalized leadership development programs.

About the Client

Our client is a Global Multi-Category FMCG Leader currently undergoing a massive strategic transformation. With a presence in over 180 markets, they are committed to innovation and long-term sustainability within a highly regulated sector. Certified as a Global Top Employer, the organization prides itself on a culture of inclusion, internal mobility, and professional development. Our client is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in all forms. Career breaks are seen as opportunities, not obstacles.