Senior Manager, Public Policy, Malaysia

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers is committed to being a workplace of inclusion, equality, respect, and acceptance. We celebrate diversity and intentionally seek opportunities to learn from one another's experience.

Vantage powers, cools, protects, and connects the technology of the world's well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers, and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America (NAM), Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC), Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency, and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Global Public Policy Department

The mission of Vantage Data Centers' Global Public Policy team is to help deliver the best possible digital infrastructure for the world's leading technology companies. By advocating for positions, advising on issues, and building relationships with stakeholders, through a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, trust, problem-solving, and an outward mindset, we aim to create a more favorable and resilient public policy environment for our company. Our work ensures success across the asset lifecycle, mitigates risks and fosters sustainable, long-term growth for our company and our customers, and establishes the company as a value-adding member of the community.

The Global Public Policy team is a part of our Legal Department and is responsible for government relations, economic development, and community engagement. The team partners with our New Site Development, Construction, Engineering, Tax, People, Operations, and other departments to provide strategic support for business growth, navigate through regulatory and policy developments, mitigate risk, and expand into new geographies. We are a dedicated team of problem solvers who strive for excellence and drive value-creation in our work. We practice empathy, humility, curiosity, and accountability, and we strive to support and empower each other to promote the value that our company generates for our customers, investors, employees, and communities.

Position Overview

In this newly created role, the Senior Manager of Public Policy, Malaysia will be primarily responsible for developing, implementing, and reporting on the company's public policy, economic development, and community engagement programs at all levels of government in Malaysia.

The Senior Manager will partner with various internal stakeholders to determine Vantage's policy priorities and build relationships with key stakeholders in Malaysia. Additionally, the Senior Manager will engage directly and through third parties such as consultants and trade associations at the local, regional and national of government in Malaysia to advocate for Vantage's position on a variety of topics such as energy availability, sustainable development, tax treatment, foreign direct investment, and data sovereignty, among others.

Moreover, the Senior Manager will closely collaborate with Legal colleagues, Finance, New Site Development, Market Strategy, Design & Engineering, Construction, and Operations teams to help mitigate risk, ensure compliance with applicable laws, and assist with the development of quality sites for data center development, including seeking incentives and pursuing site opportunities.

Essential Job Functions

• Build a public policy framework, including a strategy, program, and budget from the ground up, to support Vantage's business in Malaysia.
• Research, identify, and track current and emerging policy and political issues impacting the data center industry in Malaysia, and engage internal stakeholders to determine company's position, priorities, and risks.
• Develop strategy to navigate and impact legislative and advocacy policies and incentive opportunities; engage with government, municipalities, industry, and economic constituents; and build contact plans and stakeholder maps of decision-makers and influencers.
• Collaborate with Vantage's internal teams to mitigate risks and pursue opportunities, establishing a cadence of regular briefings and reporting.
• Engage on pre-development processes, including researching policy drivers in new markets, identifying site and incentive opportunities, and pursuing tax incentive and funding programs for data center development, as well as assisting with permit and zoning applications as necessary.
• Work with Legal colleagues and other internal teams to establish frameworks and processes to ensure Vantage's compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Create and manage a community engagement and social impact programs in Malaysia
• Support additional policy engagements, including in other markets, as needed.

Duties

• Monitor policy and political developments in Malaysia; track and report on issues of importance to Vantage and the data center industry.
• Draft positioning statements and external-facing documents; prepare presentations and talking points for internal and external meetings, as well as manage briefings for executives and key internal stakeholders.
• Research and write white papers and other materials in response to government requests for information and to support applications for economic development incentives and sites.
• Engage with governments in Malaysia by advocating for Vantage's position in full compliance with applicable law and regulations.
• Attend government and industry meetings to testify/comment on Vantage's behalf.
• Participate in chambers of commerce, trade associations, and industry coalitions as a proponent of Vantage and the data center industry.
• Partner with marketing and other business teams to develop messaging, collateral, and public relations materials.
• Promote Vantage's commitment to sustainability, diversity, and inclusion; engage in the community supporting Vantage's role as a good corporate citizen.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in political science, business, economics, law, or a related subject is required. Graduate degree in a related field is a plus.
• Minimum 3-5 years of hands-on experience building or executing a similar public policy program from the ground up in Malaysia is required.
• Experience working in a similar role for a multinational company with business or assets in Malaysia is preferred.
• Solid understanding of policies related to data centers, including energy, taxes, sustainability, construction, workforce, economic development, etc., with the ability to navigate through complex issues at multiple levels of government (e.g. local, regional, national, and international) is highly desired.
• Strong skills in policy analysis and presenting complex ideas clearly in front of large groups and to policy and business executives.
• Demonstrated good judgment and experience in ensuring compliance with local and national lobbying, anti-bribery and corruption laws, and industry best practices for ethical behavior.
• Experience in economic development, including successful pursuit of tax incentives, abatements, or funding requests for projects, is preferred.
• Ability to communicate clearly both in written and verbal forms is required; attention to detail is a must.
• Fluency in English is required, proficiency Malay Bahasa and Chinese is preferred.
• Travel to Vantage offices, events, and potential sites is required.

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other's strengths and respecting each other's weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.