Program and Government Relations Manager

Fortune Live Media: Program and Government Relations Manager (Contract Role) Location: Remote or Hybrid (Applicants in APAC or EMEA region preferred) Retainer Period: 1 September 2026 – 1 May 2027 OVERVIEW: Fortune is seeking a Program and Government Relations Manager for a high-level convening of business and policy leaders taking place in the APAC region in 2027. This position serves as a primary liaison to public-sector offices and ensures each engagement reflects strong diplomatic judgment, sound protocol, and a seamless VIP experience. The Manager will identify, invite, and secure senior government officials and multilateral leaders for speaking roles in the program and subsequently manage the full lifecycle of their engagement: from initial confirmation through on-site appearance and meetings. The position will report to the CEO of Fortune Asia and the Executive Director of Global Programming, working alongside programmers and other editorial team leads. WORK SCOPE: Government and Stakeholder Relations Build and maintain relationships with offices of elected and appointed officials, senior civil servants, multilateral institutions, embassies, and consulates relevant to the event. Serve as a primary point of contact for host government and other invited government offices regarding event participation, briefings, information requests, and ongoing engagement. Monitor political calendars, major international meetings, and policy developments to identify timely opportunities for public-sector participation throughout the program. Speaker Programming Manage the full lifecycle of government officials’ participation, including prospecting, invitation, confirmation, bio collection, logistics, briefing calls, run-of-show integration, and post-event follow-up. Develop and manage a strategic target list of high-level public-sector speakers, including heads of state, ministers, agency leaders, mayors, and regulators aligned to event themes and content. Draft tailored invitations, briefing materials, and outreach strategies that clearly communicate audience value and speaking opportunity. Lead discussions with officials’ offices on participation details, format, timing, topics, media conditions, and approvals. Collaborate with programming and editorial teams to place confirmed officials in the right sessions, formats, and moderator pairings. Maintain accurate records in internal speaker trackers, CRM systems, and event platforms. Coordinate the collection and review of talking points, remarks, title confirmations, and any required approvals with government communications teams. Support development of scripts, introductions, and staging plans so VIP segments reflect appropriate protocol and production standards. Protocol and VIP Management Lead protocol planning for confirmed government officials, including order of precedence, forms of address, seating, arrival and departure sequencing, and coordination with security and venue teams. Prepare briefing notes for Fortune executives, moderators, and event staff on protocol expectations, delegation needs, and cultural considerations. Coordinate VIP logistics such as transportation, holding rooms, greenrooms, escorts, walk-throughs, and on-site movement to ensure a smooth experience. Act as on-site protocol lead during events, welcoming officials and delegations, resolving issues in real time, and ensuring execution meets official requirements. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 5+ years of relevant experience in government relations, public affairs, diplomacy, protocol, or executive-level stakeholder engagement. Demonstrated experience supporting high-profile events, delegations, or official visits involving senior government leaders or VIPs. A robust rolodex of contacts in key government offices and knowledge of government structures, policy environments, and executive or legislative processes, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Middle East regions. Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills with the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders. Strong judgment, discretion, and attention to detail in handling sensitive information and high-visibility engagements. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced events environment. Willingness to travel and work outside standard business hours as event schedules require.