Senior Manager, Policy

Job Overview

This role is responsible for developing and sustaining the DFSA's comprehensive policy framework encompassing diverse financial regulatory domains such as capital markets, securities, funds, technology and innovation, AML/CFT, banking, insurance, digital assets, and ESG based on organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Craft and uphold the DFSA's policy framework aligned with international standards and organizational risk appetite to support emerging financial sectors in the DIFC.
• Carry out internal policy and legislative development processes, including preparing policy and consultation papers and articulating policy stances.
• Lead regulatory policy projects ensuring timely and quality delivery of necessary reforms.
• Perform comparative evaluations of global standards and other jurisdictions’ regulations to identify areas needing alignment or change.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders such as market participants, regulators, standard-setting bodies, and industry groups to shape and consolidate policy positions.
• Monitor and analyze international regulatory developments, contribute to shaping standards through responses to consultations, and report outcomes.
• Forge and manage relationships with local, regional, and international regulators and standards setters, addressing queries and consultations.
• Analyze and recommend policy or strategic changes through evaluation of alternatives, proposing actionable options to senior management and the Board for policy, strategy, or risk framework development and implementation.
• Communicate effectively and clearly on pertinent regulatory issues to various stakeholders both inside and outside the organization.

Eligibility & Qualifications

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines such as economics, finance, law, or international relations.
• At least 8 to 10 years’ experience within a comparable financial services regulator or an equivalent specialized environment.

Essential Skills & Attributes

• Comprehensive insight into financial regulation, its motivations, and policy framework functions.
• Technical expertise in at least one DFSA regulatory area (banking, insurance, capital markets, securities, funds, tech/innovation, AML/CTF, corporate governance, ESG) or strong ability to quickly gain such expertise.
• Experience in interacting with international standard setters and contributing to global regulatory processes.
• Strong analytical skills to dissect complex problems, evaluate options critically, and choose optimal strategic solutions.
• Creative strategic thinker able to formulate practical resolutions to both familiar and novel challenges.
• Exceptional communication skills to present complex concepts clearly and concisely in both oral and written formats tailored to various organizational tiers.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality work within tight deadlines.