Director, EMEA Government Affairs & Public Policy

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, EMEA Government Affairs & Public Policy based in France.

This senior role offers the opportunity to establish and lead European government affairs and public policy strategy for a rapidly growing technology organization.
You will shape policy priorities across Europe and the UK as cybersecurity, software supply chain security, and AI regulations continue to evolve.
The position combines strategic policy leadership with direct engagement across governments, regulators, standards bodies, and industry organizations.
You will translate complex technical and regulatory developments into clear implications for business positioning, customers, and product direction.
As the first dedicated European policy leader, you will build the relationships, processes, and intelligence capabilities needed to establish a scalable function.
You will work closely with executives, engineers, product, marketing, and revenue teams while maintaining a strong focus on public policy and government affairs.
The role provides significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape policy engagement across a high-growth, internationally distributed environment.

Accountabilities:
- Define and own the European government affairs and public policy strategy, including priorities, policy positions, target institutions, stakeholders, and engagement narratives.

- Build and maintain relationships with governments, regulators, standards organizations, and senior officials across Europe and the UK.

- Engage with institutions and bodies involved in cybersecurity and technology regulation, including the European Commission, European Parliament, ENISA, CEN-CENELEC, and ETSI.

- Determine when to pursue direct advocacy versus engagement through industry coalitions and trade associations, and represent the organization in relevant forums.

- Monitor emerging political, regulatory, and standards developments and anticipate how policy debates may evolve.

- Develop policy positions, consultation responses, written submissions, and other materials for government and industry audiences.

- Translate complex technical subjects into clear policy language and communicate emerging regulatory requirements back to internal teams.

- Support Product, Marketing, and Revenue teams with policy insights, credibility, and positioning while maintaining a clear government affairs and policy focus.

- Establish repeatable processes for stakeholder engagement, policy intelligence, and regulatory monitoring across the region.

- Build the foundation for a future European government affairs team as the organization expands.

Requirements:

- 8+ years of directly relevant experience in government affairs or public policy within government, a regulatory or standards organization, or a private-sector government affairs function.

- Proven experience building, establishing, or significantly expanding a government affairs program, policy function, or strategic policy initiative.

- Demonstrated ability to develop and advance regulations, standards, policy strategies, or advocacy efforts through meaningful outcomes.

- Experience engaging senior government officials and representing an organization credibly with high-level public-sector stakeholders.

- Strong ability to understand and communicate complex technical subject matter to policy audiences and explain regulatory implications to business and technical teams.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with credibility across executive, engineering, government, and industry audiences.

- Comfortable operating independently in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with limited guidance and a resourceful, action-oriented approach.

- Degree and/or equivalent professional experience in government affairs, public policy, law, technology, or a related field.

- Based in Europe and able to travel frequ