Director European Relations

Job Title: Director European Relations

Location: Various locations including Brussels and London. Must be prepared for frequent travel.

Salary: £113,200 dependent on experiences and location plus executive package

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and coordinate the Company’s relationships in Brussels with relevant European institutions and NATO
• Engage with stakeholders in London, Brussels and relevant capitals working on the defence industrial aspects of Euro-Atlantic security and the evolving UK-EU relationship
• Sharing relevant policy and market intelligence to support business development and industrial policy activity
• Educating, informing and advising the company on the evolution of EU defence initiatives and the wider regulatory environment
• Monitoring the UK-EU relationship, and where appropriate, advising on potential interactions with EU instruments
• Engaging on industry topics at NATO such as defence investment, supply chains, and emerging technologies
• Coordinating policy and business engagement both directly, with industry partners and via relevant trade bodies and think tanks
• Participating in relevant defence and aerospace industry forums and events
• Actively participate in the NATO Industry Advisory Group
• Collaborate across the company to help identify, generate, and deliver opportunities for new business at NATO
• Providing expert understanding of EU and NATO procurement processes and terms and conditions

Your skills and experiences:

• Passion for political and regulatory affairs in Europe
• Substantial experience in Government Relations, Public Affairs or Business Development in a high-profile setting
• Expert understanding of geopolitical trends and the European defence industrial landscape
• Considerable knowledge of defence and security institutions in Brussels, with a good understanding of capability trends
• Commercially and politically astute with the capacity to think strategically and deliver impact in international settings
• Capable communicator and writer
• Degree in business administration, politics, international relations or related field

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Group Business Development team:

In your capacity as Director of European Relations, you will oversee BAE Systems’ relations with NATO and relevant European institutions, including stakeholder management, advocacy, and representation across a variety of organizations and topics.

You will work closely with partners, institutions, and other employees throughout the organization. You must be able to convert the geopolitical environment into business insights, form alliances to make progress on key issues, assist in comprehending institutional procedures and rules, and support business growth.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 10th March 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.