Principal Advisor | Public Affairs | Sonae

ID da requisição: 78681

Cidade: Lisboa

Data: 03/08/2026

Marca: SONAE SGPS

Área: ESTRUTURAS

sonae.pt

To join our Public Affairs Team at the Holding Office, we are currently looking for a:

Principal Advisor | Public Affairs

Purpose of the Role:

The Principal Advisor will take on a significant share of Sonae's institutional and public representation, engaging directly with policymakers, regulators and business associations, and representing the Group autonomously in meetings and forums. The Principal Advisor will translate that engagement into positioning, relationships and institutional presence, extending the reach of the function.

This position is well-suited for someone with the seniority, judgment and presence to operate independently in front of senior decision-makers, and who enjoys representation and relationship-building as much as substance.

Key Responsibilities:

Represent Sonae autonomously in institutional, regulatory and industry meetings and forums
Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, regulators and business association contacts, extending the Group's institutional network
Translate monitoring and analysis into external positioning and talking points
Exercise independent judgment on how to represent and position the Group in real time, in meetings and public settings
Contribute to shaping Sonae's positions on key issues
Help align monitoring priorities across the team with representation needs
Support the development of the team, sharing experience on institutional engagement and representation

Main Requirements:

5 to 7 years of experience in public affairs, policy analysis, institutional relations, regulation, or a related field, with a demonstrated track record of representing an organisation externally
An established network of relevant institutional, regulatory or political contacts is a strong asset
Higher education in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Public Administration or similar; a postgraduate qualification is a plus
Confidence and gravitas engaging with senior government, regulatory and industry figures, including in settings without direct supervision
Strong judgment on when to escalate, position or negotiate on behalf of the organisation, and when to defer to the Head of Public Affairs
Excellent analytical and writing skills, with the ability to work from others' monitoring and translate it into positioning
Ability to work with high autonomy, manage ambiguity, and prioritise independently across multiple, often competing, topics
Fluency in Portuguese and English (written and spoken)
Intellectual curiosity, team spirit, and genuine interest in the intersection of public policy, regulation and business

Work location:

Lisboa. Hybrid mode (following the company policy: 3 days at the office).

If you're curious, strategic, if you like both Portugal and EU politics, and ready to represent meaningful work at Group level, we'd love to hear from you.