Microsoft Hiring: Government Affairs Policy Lead for Africa
Location: Nairobi, Nairobi City, Kenya (with two additional possible locations)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: Two days per week in-office
Travel Requirement: 25–50%
Role Type: Individual Contributor
Profession: Legal & Corporate Affairs
Discipline: Government Affairs
Date Posted: October 29, 2025
Job Number: 1898550
Introduction
Microsoft, one of the world’s leading technology companies, is seeking an accomplished and experienced professional to join its Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) division as the Government Affairs Policy Lead for Africa. This role presents an exciting opportunity for an individual with exceptional policy and strategic engagement capabilities to help shape Microsoft’s policy agenda across the African continent.
The successful candidate will report to the Head of Government Affairs for Africa and will play a central role in managing public policy issues, engaging with governmental and institutional stakeholders, and developing strategies that advance Microsoft’s mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
This position requires a dynamic individual capable of navigating complex political, legal, and regulatory landscapes while ensuring alignment between Microsoft’s corporate priorities and evolving policy developments across Africa.
The Government Affairs Policy Lead for Africa will serve as a key representative of Microsoft in discussions with policymakers, thought leaders, and institutions, driving initiatives that support responsible innovation and digital transformation throughout the region.
Role Overview
The Government Affairs Policy Lead for Africa will provide leadership and strategic guidance on public policy engagement across multiple African markets. The individual will work closely with internal business teams, external stakeholders, and regional partners to promote policies that support technological innovation, digital inclusion, and sustainable development.
This position requires deep understanding of the intersection between technology, governance, and society. The successful candidate will influence policy development processes, build coalitions, and contribute to shaping the future of digital economies across the continent.
The role involves managing diverse portfolios—ranging from government relations and advocacy to intelligence analysis, coalition-building, internal collaboration, and strategic communications.
Detailed Job Description
1. Strategy and Program Management
The Government Affairs Policy Lead will be responsible for designing and executing Microsoft’s policy engagement strategies across Africa. This includes managing complex policy issues that touch on social, political, legal, and technological domains.
Key functions include advocating for and managing priority policy initiatives, coordinating engagement with senior internal stakeholders, and overseeing campaigns that align with Microsoft’s strategic objectives.
The role also involves shaping and contributing to Microsoft’s policy agenda within the African context, addressing government-related challenges and identifying innovative solutions to advance Microsoft’s business and social priorities.
The individual will steer government affairs projects by developing outreach strategies, narratives, and political communication frameworks that reflect Microsoft’s values and commitments.
Additionally, the position requires identifying and leveraging opportunities for Microsoft’s technology and cloud services to support government leaders in addressing policy and operational challenges. This includes conducting competitive analyses of Microsoft’s offerings within the broader African political and digital landscape.
2. Intelligence and Analysis
The successful candidate will be tasked with establishing and maintaining a robust intelligence network to gather and analyze information on emerging policy developments, government priorities, and technological trends.
This role demands an ability to monitor, interpret, and anticipate legislative and regulatory movements that could affect Microsoft’s operations and broader industry interests.
The Government Affairs Policy Lead will be expected to produce detailed insights and reports that inform business strategies, ensuring that Microsoft’s leadership and internal teams remain well-informed of relevant developments.
Regular analysis of external and internal data will be a central component of this responsibility. The insights generated will help guide Microsoft’s engagement and decision-making processes across its regional operations.
The individual will maintain a clear understanding of technology policy trends, such as those involving data protection, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, and evaluate their implications for Microsoft and its customers.
3. External Relationships and Coalition-Building
Building and maintaining strategic relationships is fundamental to this position. The Government Affairs Policy Lead will engage extensively with policymakers, regulatory agencies, pan-African institutions, trade associations, and thought leaders to shape outcomes favorable to Microsoft’s policy objectives.
The role involves influencing partnerships with relevant coalitions and interest groups, ensuring that Microsoft’s perspectives are represented in policy discussions that impact the technology sector.
The individual will also lead the implementation of initiatives that incorporate feedback from external stakeholders, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of Microsoft’s policy engagement.
Managing relationships with consultants, partners, and allies engaged in legislative or business-related initiatives will form an important part of this role.
The position requires a strong capacity for diplomacy, negotiation, and consensus-building across diverse stakeholders and institutions.
4. Internal Collaboration and Cross-Group Alignment
Internally, the Government Affairs Policy Lead will serve as a key link between Microsoft’s government affairs function and its various business units across Africa.
The role will involve advocating for policy positions within Microsoft, coordinating efforts among internal teams, and ensuring consistent messaging and alignment across departments.
The individual will collaborate with senior leaders to address cross-group challenges, resolve priority conflicts, and foster a unified approach toward public policy matters.
Advising executive leadership on political landscapes and related risks or opportunities will be an essential duty.
Additionally, the position entails supporting the planning and coordination of executive visits, public events, and strategic engagements within the region, often in partnership with other members of the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs team.
The ability to navigate complex organizational structures and maintain effective communication across multiple internal stakeholders will be crucial.
5. Communication and Representation
The Government Affairs Policy Lead will play a prominent role in representing Microsoft in key public and policy forums across Africa.
The individual will be responsible for developing and executing communication strategies that enhance Microsoft’s reputation, clarify policy positions, and strengthen relationships with policymakers and influencers.
This involves preparing and delivering clear and persuasive messaging around Microsoft’s commitments, initiatives, and contributions to the African digital ecosystem.
The role also includes contributing to the planning and execution of internal and external events that advance Microsoft’s government affairs objectives, including those focused on social media engagement and stakeholder education.
Strategic partnership engagements will be coordinated to ensure that Microsoft maintains a visible and credible presence in discussions concerning the future of technology and governance in Africa.
Representing the company in conferences, meetings, and collaborative policy dialogues will form a key part of this function.
6. Change Management and Adaptability
Given the rapidly evolving policy and regulatory environment across Africa, the role requires a strong degree of adaptability and resilience.
The Government Affairs Policy Lead will be expected to remain agile in responding to shifting political and legal dynamics, proactively identifying potential risks and opportunities.
The individual must demonstrate the capacity to operate effectively in high-pressure and fast-paced environments, where ambiguity is often present and decisions must be made with incomplete information.
A willingness to innovate, experiment, and learn from experience will be essential for success in this role.
This includes fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation within Microsoft’s regional government affairs operations.
Work Environment and Collaboration
The position will require working two days per week in the office and may involve travel between 25 and 50 percent of the time. This reflects the importance of direct engagement with policymakers, institutions, and partners across multiple locations in Africa.
The Government Affairs Policy Lead will collaborate closely with diverse teams, including legal, external relations, communications, and business development units, to ensure coherence and effectiveness in policy advocacy and strategic alignment.
The role also emphasizes collaboration with Microsoft’s global policy and government affairs teams to align African strategies with broader corporate goals.
Compensation and Benefits
Microsoft provides competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support its employees’ professional and personal well-being.
Benefits may include:
- Industry-leading healthcare coverage
- Educational resources for professional development
- Discounts on Microsoft products and partner services
- Savings and investment programs
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Generous paid time off and holidays
- Employee giving and volunteer programs
- Opportunities to network and connect across the Microsoft global community
The specific benefits may vary depending on the country of employment and the nature of the employee’s contract.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity of background, perspective, and experience.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.
Microsoft is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and recruitment process.
Closing Statement
This opportunity offers an exceptional platform for an experienced professional to influence public policy and promote technological advancement across Africa. The role combines strategic engagement, relationship-building, and analytical responsibilities, making it ideal for a candidate who thrives in dynamic, complex, and cross-cultural environments.
The Government Affairs Policy Lead for Africa will have a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the digital future of the continent while representing one of the world’s most impactful technology organizations.
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the position is filled.
