Program Manager, German Civil Government

Planet; Berlin (NH); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Wellness program

Home office reimbursement

Monthly phone and internet

Tuition reimbursement

Equity

Volunteering paid time off

Job summary

Planet is seeking a Civil Government Program Manager for the Global Professional Services team in Berlin. The role focuses on scaling governmental adoption of Planet Platform and data products, coordinating cross-functional teams, and defining project strategy across a diverse portfolio.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in PM, German and English fluency, and experience with remote sensing or geospatial data. This is a full-time, hybrid position requiring three days in the Berlin office.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant project management experience, including government/defense proposals.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Fluency in German and professional working proficiency in English.
• Experience with remote sensing, EO data, or imaging tech.
• Experience with civil government community.
• Ability to manage complex cross-functional projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to balance priorities in dynamic environments.
• Continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Professional Services Engineers, PreSales, Product Management to design and deliver platform and data solutions.
• Define project scope, objectives, and success metrics with stakeholders.
• Translate business and technical requirements into deliverables.
• Create detailed project schedules, manage scope, risks, and budgets.
• Provide regular progress updates to customers and internal teams.
• Design processes for operational excellence and scalability.
• Improve workflows and identify inefficiencies.
• Manage subcontractor contracts, task assignments, deliverables, and budgets.
• Measure performance and customer satisfaction for future delivery.

Skills

Project management

Government contracts

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

German language

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.

Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.

As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.

We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role:

As a Civil Government Program Manager on the Global Professional Services team at Planet, you will drive complex projects focused on helping scale governmental customer adoption of the Planet Platform and its data products. You will work with cross-functional teams, both technical and non-technical, to define project methodology and strategy across a project portfolio.

This position will appeal to candidates with a keen interest in civil government and applications of remote sensing data. The ideal candidate is process-driven and has a desire to improve ways of working to scale development cycles. Ideal candidates are excited to work as part of a global team, adapt quickly and have a growth mindset.

This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our Berlin office 3 days per week.

Impact You’ll Own:

• Collaborates closely with Professional Services Engineers, PreSales, Product Management, and other teams to design and deliver reliable platform and data solutions
• Partners with internal and external stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and success metrics
• Translates business and technical requirements into actionable and clear deliverables
• Scopes and manages detailed project schedules; drives execution of project scope; proactively identifies and mitigates risks; tracks project costs and budget
• Delivers consistent project updates to customers and internal stakeholders on progress, adjustments and strategy
• Designs and implements processes for operational excellence and scalability
• Improves ways of working and processes by monitoring business workflows and identifying inefficiencies
• Manages contracts with subcontractors, including task assignment, deliverable tracking, and budget management
• Measures project performance and customer satisfaction to improve future delivery

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of relevant project management experience, including experience supporting proposal development for government or defense-sector customers
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Fluency in German and professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company.
• Experience with remote sensing, EO data, or imaging technologies
• Experience working with or as part of the civil government community
• Ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects in a technical or product development setting
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to adjust your tone and communication depending on audience
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities and adapt quickly in dynamic environments
• A continuous improvement mindset with the ability to balance day-to-day responsibilities with forward-looking improvements

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Understanding of platform development, platform integrations, or geospatial data-as-a-service offerings
• Ability to be proactive in initiating efforts to improve existing programs or develop new initiatives
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills
• Experience working with globally distributed teams

Application Deadline:

11:45p / 23:45 CET on the date stated below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. For this reason, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to.

Benefits While Working at Planet:

These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off
• Employee Wellness Program
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

Compensation:

The expected starting gross salary range for this role is listed below. Individual placement within this range is determined objectively based on gender-neutral criteria such as your skills, qualifications, and professional experience. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or equity.

In addition to the salary range listed below, this role is also eligible to receive commission.

Germany Salary Range €72.990—€91.260 EUR

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Why we care so much about Belonging.

We’re dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams. That’s why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging—dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. If this job intrigues you, but you’re thinking you might not have all the qualifications, please... do apply! At Planet, we are looking for well-rounded people from around the world who can contribute to more ways than just what is listed in this job description. We don’t just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people’s careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. We are a few orbits around the sun before we get to where we want to be, so we hope you’re excited to come along for the ride.

EEO statement:

Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Know Your Rights.

Accommodations:

Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.

AI in Our Interviewing Process

Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We currently use Metaview to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes. As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Should an interview involve use of AI interview technologies, the candidate will receive notification and have the ability to opt out both in advance and/or real-time. Opting out will not affect one's candidacy.

Candidate AI Policy

Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. We understand that candidates may use various resources, including AI tools, to prepare for interviews and assessments. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools—e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If you are unsure about acceptable use, please contact your recruiter for clarification. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact [e-mail] with your request for assistance. Your message will be confidential, and we will be happy to assist you. Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.