Associate Director, Global Government Relations (EU & NATO)

Position Summary 

We are seeking a high-caliber, Brussels-based government relations executive to serve as Associate Director, Global Government Relations, with primary responsibility for engagement across the European Union and NATO ecosystem. 

This is a mission-critical role at the intersection of policy, geopolitics, and industrial strategy. The successful candidate will operate as a multi-domain policy leader and influencer, shaping outcomes across defense, commercial aerospace, and horizontal EU policy areas (including trade, sustainability, industrial policy, labor, and taxation) that directly impact a complex European footprint of 21,000 employees, 11,000 suppliers and 65 manufacturing sites across Europe. 

While the role spans multiple domains, the core priority is deep expertise in EU policymaking and influence, including the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council processes. This will be complemented by engagement with NATO to ensure coherence in transatlantic defense and industrial priorities. This individual will act as a strategic operator in Brussels, capable of navigating regulatory complexity, building coalitions, and driving outcomes that enhance the company’s competitiveness and positioning in Europe. 

The role requires an experienced policy leader who combines policy depth, political acumen, and business orientation, and who can engage credibly with senior EU officials, NATO stakeholders, industry leaders, and internal executives. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Support and execute the company’s EU engagement strategy, with direct focus on building trust with external stakeholders, influencing policy, regulation, and funding frameworks impacting aerospace and defense. 
• Build and maintain high-trust relationships with key stakeholders across: European Commission (Cabinets, DG DEFIS, DG MOVE, DG TRADE, DG GROW, etc.) 
• European Parliament (relevant committees, rapporteurs, political groups) 
• Council and Permanent Representations 
• NATO civilian and military staff: Key NATO bodies, including the Innovation and Armaments Division (D2IA), Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), and NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), as well as relevant civilian and military staffs. 
• Monitor, analyze, and proactively shape EU legislative and regulatory developments across defense, aerospace, and cross-cutting corporate policy domains while tracking complementary NATO initiatives. 
• Act as a strategic advisor to internal leadership, translating EU and NATO policy developments into business implications and actionable strategies. 
• Support and coordinate NATO engagement efforts, in alignment with senior leadership, ensuring coherence across transatlantic priorities and NATO defense industrial efforts. 
• Identify and drive strategic opportunities linked to EU funding mechanisms (e.g., EDF, EDIP, SAFE), industrial policy, and dual-use innovation as well as NATO capability development and innovation platforms such as DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund. 
• Partner with business units to align policy positioning with commercial priorities, ensuring early positioning in regulatory and funding cycles. 
• Represent the company in industry associations, coalitions, and high-level forums in Brussels. 
• Contribute to corporate positioning on sensitive geopolitical dynamics, including EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic industrial relations. 
• Coordinate internally across global Government Relations, business units, and functional teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment. 
• Prepare high-impact briefing materials for senior executives, including concise policy summaries, stakeholder insights, and recommended actions. 
• Ensure consistency and alignment of key messages and narratives across leadership communications and external engagements. 

 Required Qualifications 

Extensive experience (+10 years) in EU policymaking and advocacy, ideally in Brussels within: EU institutions 

• A leading aerospace/defense company/technology or regulated industry
• A top-tier consultancy, trade association, or public affairs firm 
• Demonstrated ability to influence EU policy and regulatory outcomes across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. 
• Deep understanding of EU institutional processes, including Commission decision-making, Parliament dynamics, and trilogues. 
• Solid understanding of principal NATO bodies and their role in European defence and interactions with the EU 
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense sectors, or a regulated industry 
• Proven capability to operate across multiple policy domains (defense, commercial aerospace, trade, sustainability, etc.). 
• Established network in Brussels across institutions, industry, and policy circles. 
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills without formal authority. 
• Fluency in English, ideally French (working level); additional EU languages are a strong advantage. 

Leadership & Personal Profile 

• Top-tier government relations professional: strategic, credible, and results-driven 
• High level of political intelligence and geopolitical awareness 
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity with precision 
• Strong business acumen; understands how policy translates into competitive advantage 
• Executive presence with the ability to engage at senior institutional levels 
• Collaborative, effective leader capable of working across a matrix global organization 
• High integrity, discretion, and resilience in a high-pressure environment 

Additional Background: This is not a traditional lobbying role. It is a strategic position at the center of European policy influence, with primary emphasis on the EU and NATO priorities, directly shaping the environment in which the company competes, invests, and grows. You will be expected to deliver outcomes, not just access, translating influence into tangible business impact across one of the company’s most important global regions.