KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Operations Associate, International Government Affairs will report to the Head of International Government Affairs for Alibaba. This role will manage the back-office operations of the global government affairs function. S/He will work directly with IGA teams and internal finance, procurement and legal teams around the globe in order to oversee and execute IGA’s budget priorities each FY. They will need to handle detailed tasks and processes in a high paced environment cross culturally and across multiple business units. This role will include day-to-day engagement with external resources, such as consultancies and trade associations, as well as any relevant third-party relationships. It is important that s/he be able to anticipate risks and opportunities, advise IGA team members on potential challenges and risks and pursue the highest levels of compliance and transparency.
The responsibilities for this position will be centered around the management and execution of Alibaba IGA’s budget, and includes building and sustaining relationships with key internal teams, including but not limited to finance, procurement, legal, admin, IT, and external representatives of IGA government affairs such as consultancies, trade associations and coalitions around the globe. In this role you will also provide support to Alibaba IGA’s political compliance programs, including but not limited to the EU Transparency in Europe, and the Lobby Disclosure Act (LDA) in the U.S. This role will also provide other related administrative and logistical support for the Head of International Government Affairs for Alibaba.
In addition, the Operations Associate, International Government Affairs will:
- Work within the IGA team to develop and execute a government affairs program for Alibaba in the region, which advances the company’s business growth, protects its brand and builds an enduring reputation centered on a customer first perspective, integrity, agility and adaptability.
- Support Alibaba’s ongoing political compliance program as it relates to internal executives and external lobbyists, including monitoring and promoting compliance with the range of applicable government ethics and lobbying regulations.
- Assist in budget planning and will analyze procurement data and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements. They will evaluate supplier proposals and conduct market research to identify potential vendors.
- Process purchase requisitions and convert them into purchase orders, track and manage the status of purchase orders, ensuring timely delivery and accurate fulfillment, maintain accurate records of all procurement transactions and assist external clients with submitting invoices through Alibaba’s internal procurement platform.
- Process and manage all contracts signed by Alibaba IGA and any membership agreements with third party organizations. This person will also handle renewals for such agreements and contracts.
- Provide administrative support for the Head of International Government Affairs, including setting up conference calls, coordinating team meetings, calendar maintenance, preparing documents, submitting expense reports, and organizing and maintaining files.
- Coordinate and manage travel arrangements for the Head of International Government Affairs, including preparing travel itineraries and ensuring seamless communication with other IGA team members when they travel with the executive.
- Offer backup to other team members during internal and external engagement, such as local events, executive visits to the US, and site visits by stakeholders.
This candidate should have strong organizational and multitasking abilities, analytical skills with attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities. A proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, and Zoom will be important.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
Qualification considerations include:
- Strong cultural adaptability and keen learning capacity.
- Strong decision-making and strategic thinking skills; ability to quickly grasp, address, prioritize and anticipate emerging issues – as well as recommend positions on issues and suggest changes in strategies as relevant legislative and regulatory processes unfold, with an ability to navigate complex and competitive policy issues.
- Any Mandarin language proficiency or willingness to learn the languages would be an additional plus.
- A collaborative style with an ability to work cross-functionally with subject matter experts, senior leaders and key stakeholders; interactive with the courage and conviction to challenge and defend ideas and strategies; clear reputation for ethical conduct and unquestionable integrity.
- Possess a keen attention to detail and accuracy in a fast-moving and challenging political and policy environment, with international dimension.
- Must demonstrate a sense of urgency with the ability to maintain a clear head in stressful situations.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple ongoing projects at once while appropriately allocating time and resources.
EDUCATION
An undergraduate degree is required. An advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided to attract outstanding candidates.
Alibaba is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant due to race, ethnicity, gender, protected status or on the basis of disability or any other directive, national laws or local ordinances with respect to protected classes.
