French Public Affairs Lead for Space Startup

The Exploration Company; France; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is seeking a Lead French Public Affairs to design and execute our public affairs strategy at the French level, working closely with the Chief Government Officer and country leads. The role blends strategic policy leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-growing startup environment.

Ideal candidates have 5–7+ years of experience in EU and/or French public affairs, with a track record advising executives and directing policymaking activities that impact funding,

Qualifications

• 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 startups or fast-moving regulated sectors.
• Proven experience engaging with French public authorities at senior level.
• Track record advising executives in politically sensitive environments.
• Strong understanding of how public policy impacts business models, funding, and market access.

Responsibilities

• Co-define French public affairs strategy with the CGO, aligned with growth, funding, and market-access objectives.
• Act as 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.
• Lead relationships with French ministries, Parliament, regulators, agencies, and institutional partners.
• Drive French public affairs actions in alignment with EU-level strategy.
• Draft and validate position papers, consultation responses, and strategic briefings for senior leadership.
• Support CEO and CGO in high-level French institutional meetings, including messaging and briefings.
• Personally execute key public affairs actions and build lightweight processes suitable for a startup context.
• Contribute to funding-related policy work (EU programs, national schemes, public support mechanisms).
• Work closely with future projects, legal, business development, and communications teams to ensure consistent messaging across EU/French activities.

Skills

Public policy

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Policy analysis

Executive advisory

Education

Master’s degree in European Studies / Political Science / Law / Public Policy

Job description

The Exploration Company is seeking a Lead French Public Affairs to design and execute our public affairs strategy at the French level, working closely with the Chief Government Officer and country leads. The role blends strategic policy leadership with hands-on execution in a fast-growing startup environment.

Ideal candidates have 5–7+ years of experience in EU and/or French public affairs, with a track record advising executives and directing policymaking activities that impact funding,