VP of Sovereign Affairs

PAVE Space SA.; Villeneuve (VD); Vor Ort; CHF 180.000 - 280.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

PAVE Space SA, a Swiss space-tech company, seeks a VP of Sovereign Affairs to position IBEX within governmental ecosystems and drive early revenue. You will own the full sales cycle, build relationships with ministries, space & defence agencies, and prime contractors, and translate feedback into product requirements.

You will manage long sales cycles, track export controls with Legal, and secure initial contracts through public tenders and direct engagement with prime contractors.

Qualifikationen

• 10+ years of experience in the space sector or with institutional customers.
• Deep understanding of public procurement and contracting processes.
• Background in a prime contractor or similar environment.
• Strong technical grasp of space systems, including orbital mechanics.
• Proven experience closing large contracts (100M+).
• Ability to engage across technical and institutional stakeholders.
• Existing network in institutional or governmental space programmes.
• Experience with export control or regulatory frameworks.
• Experience translating customer input into mission requirements.

Aufgaben

• Own the full sales cycle, from opportunity identification to tender responses and contract signature.
• Build relationships across the sovereign and institutional space ecosystem.
• Understand procurement processes, decision structures, and operational needs.
• Work with customers to shape mission concepts and requirements, feeding them into product development.
• Own the full sales cycle and drive early revenue to scale programs.
• Track relevant regulatory and export control frameworks with Legal support.
• Secure initial contracts through public tenders and direct engagement with prime contractors.

Kenntnisse

Space sector experience

Public procurement

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Export controls

Space systems basics

Long sales cycles

Networking in government programs

Jobbeschreibung

At a time when space is becoming a strategic priority for public actors, the ability to deploy and sustain sovereign capabilities is gaining importance. This shift creates a need for reliable and responsive infrastructure. PAVE Space aims to contribute to this effort by aligning its solutions with the requirements of governmental stakeholders.

With IBEX, we are building advanced space capabilities tailored to sovereign and institutional customers. As VP of Sovereign Affairs, you will establish IBEX’s positioning within governmental ecosystems while driving early revenue. Your priority is to secure initial contracts—through public tenders and direct engagement with prime contractors—and translate them into long-term strategic programmes.

You will own

Build relationships across the sovereign and institutional space ecosystem, including ministries, space & defence agencies, and prime contractors

Understand procurement processes, decision structures, and operational needs within these organisations

Work with customers to shape mission concepts and requirements, and bring this feedback into product development

Own the full sales cycle, from opportunity identification to tender responses and contract signature

Manage long sales cycles, with a focus on early agreements such as MoUs or pilot contracts with the aim of scaling over time

Track relevant regulatory and export control frameworks (e.g., ITAR, EAR, national rules) with the support of Legal

What we are looking for

10+ years of experience in the space sector or with institutional customers

Solid understanding of public procurement and contracting processes

Background in a prime contractor (e.g., Airbus Defence and Space, OHB SE, Thales Alenia Space) or a similar environment

Good technical understanding of space systems, including orbital mechanics and mission design

Proven experience closing large contracts (100M+) in long sales cycles (6–12+ months)

Ability to work across technical and institutional stakeholders

Existing network in institutional or governmental space programmes

Experience with export control or regulatory frameworks

Experience translating customer input into product or mission requirements

You will fit if

You understand how institutional customers make decisions in practice, not just on paper

You are able to turn early discussions into committed programmes

You move comfortably between technical detail and commercial negotiation

You can build structure in an environment that is still forming

You stay effective over long cycles where progress is incremental rather than linear

Shape how next-generation space systems reach institutional markets. If you can turn early deals into lasting programmes, join us at PAVE Space.

We are a fully on-site company, and all roles require daily in-person work at our office in Villeneuve (VD) - Switzerland