Lead European Institutions and French Public Affairs

The Lead – European Institutions & French Public Affairs is responsible for designing and executing the company’s public affairs strategy at EU and French levels, in close coordination with the Chief Government Officer

In a fast-growing startup environment, this role combines strategic policy leadership, direct institutional engagement, and hands-on execution. The position requires strong autonomy, political judgement, and the ability to translate complex regulatory developments into clear business and strategic implications for executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Executive Advisory

• Co-define EU and French public affairs strategy with the CGO, aligned with the company’s growth, funding, and market-access objectives.

• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team on political, regulatory, and institutional matters.

• Identify policy-driven risks and opportunities (regulation, funding, industrial policy, sovereignty, public procurement).

• Anticipate regulatory roadmaps and translate them into actionable business recommendations.

European Institutions Leadership

• Lead engagement with EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU) and key ecosystem stakeholders.

• Own priority EU policy files end-to-end: monitoring, analysis, positioning, and advocacy execution.

• Draft and validate position papers, consultation responses, and strategic briefings for senior leadership.

• Represent the company in EU forums, industry coalitions, and strategic alliances.

French Public Affairs Leadership

• Lead relationships with French ministries, Parliament, regulators, agencies, and institutional partners.

• Drive French public affairs actions in close alignment with EU-level strategy.

• Support CEO and CGO in high-level French institutional meetings, including preparation of messaging and briefings.

Hands-On Execution in a Startup Context

• Personally execute key public affairs actions (no large team or heavy hierarchy).

• Build lightweight but effective public affairs processes adapted to a startup environment.

• Contribute to funding-related policy work (EU programs, national schemes, public support mechanisms).

Internal Alignment & Communication

• Work closely with future projects, legal, business development, and communications teams.

• Ensure consistent messaging across EU and French public affairs activities.

• Provide concise, decision-ready updates to leadership (CEO, CGO, ExCom when relevant).

Required Experience & Profile

• Master’s degree in European Studies, Political Science, Law, Public Policy, or equivalent.

• 5-7+ years of experience in EU and/or French public affairs, ideally with exposure to startups, scale-ups, or fast-moving regulated sectors.

• Proven experience engaging directly with EU institutions and French public authorities at senior level.

• Track record of advising executives and operating in politically sensitive, ambiguous environments.

• Strong understanding of how public policy impacts business models, funding, and market access.

Key Skills & Mindset

• Strategic thinker with a builder’s mindset: comfortable creating structure from scratch.

• Highly autonomous, pragmatic, and execution-oriented.

• Excellent political judgement and stakeholder management skills.

• Clear, concise communicator able to brief effectively.

• Comfortable switching between big-picture strategy and detailed policy work.

Languages

• French: native or fluent

• English: fluent

• Additional EU languages are a plus

Why Join Us

• Direct impact on the company’s strategic positioning and growth

• High visibility role with the CEO and leadership team

• Opportunity to shape public affairs in a fast-scaling startup environment

• Exposure to EU and French policymaking at the highest level

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind