Author name: Bara Addison

Job description

We are looking for someone to manage the EMA’s EU advocacy/lobbying activities, from the early stages of proposals, through to completion of trilogue process, and beyond, including EBA RTS and Guidelines.

The Electronic Money Association represents non-bank Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and has been operating for over 20 years. The EMA’s prime objective is to remove barriers to business, with a focus on the regulatory framework. The EMA represents a wide variety of firms, including large technology firms, payment and other platforms, prepaid card issuers, digital wallet providers, online remittance firms, merchant acquirers, payment initiation service provider, and cryptoasset exchanges and custodians. The list of members is on the EMA website. 

The EMA has branches in 6 EU member states as well as the UK, but a large proportion of resource and activity is focused on the EU legislative process. There are currently a number of significant files with major impact on EMA members, and we are looking for someone to coordinate the EMA’s advocacy activity in relation to these files. The individual would be responsible for ensuring the EMA’s policy positions and arguments are made to the right policymakers at the right time.

Ideally the individual should be based in Brussels, but we would also consider someone based elsewhere who is able to travel to Brussels for several days at a time, perhaps weekly.

The individual will need to be able to work independently, be able to contact policymakers and obtain EU legislative documentation with minimal support.

Responsibilities

• Build detailed understanding of the EMA’s policy positions on a variety of issues (see https://e-ma.org/category/publications);
• Monitor several EU legislative proposals on payments, e-money, financial crime, tax reporting, digital ID and others;
• Project manage advocacy activities, ensuring that advocacy submissions and meetings take place at the right time and with the right audiences;
• Make representations to MEPs, MEP assistants, European Commission and Council staff;
• Initiate and drive forward advocacy campaigns that align with the EMA’s policy objectives;
• Review and critically evaluate trends, developments, and policy proposals that impact the EMA’s membership;
• Liaise with EMA member organisations, external partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to build understanding of policy issues being discussed, build alliances where possible, and make policy recommendations in line with the EMA’s strategic objectives and advocacy goals;
• Support the activities of the EMA’s other regional offices in policy, and advocacy development;
• Represent the EMA at external meetings and events with member organisations, external partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders, as required;
• Organise and coordinate monthly meetings of the EMA EU Public Policy WG;
• Other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

Qualifications

• University level education; law degree or similar a bonus
• Several years’ experience at one or more of the EU institutions
• Preferably several years’ experience in an advocacy or lobbying role, preferably in financial services and/or a technology context
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills
• Preferably good French and Dutch language written and verbal communication skills

Please send a CV, covering letter, and indication whether you can start immediately to Judith.crawford@e-ma.org.