Director, Strategic Initiatives - EMEA

Director, Strategic Initiatives - EMEA

Loft Orbital

Toulouse or Remote, France

In this role, you will operate at the intersection of corporate development and strategic business growth, working directly with senior leadership from major partners, primes, technology companies, and government stakeholders. You will be a trusted architect of Loft’s most critical partnerships - those that not only generate substantial near-term revenue but also establish recurring, sustainable streams for years to come.

About the Role:

• Strategic Origination: Identify and develop wide-scope, long-term revenue opportunities - such as multi-year partnerships, regional collaborations, and strategic distribution agreements - that align with Loft’s growth objectives in EMEA;
• Sales Alignment: Work closely with the Sales team to advance large total contract value (TCV) deals, particularly those that serve as entry points to broader strategic relationships;
• Executive Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with senior decision-makers in government, prime contractors, and commercial space companies across EMEA;
• Capture Strategy: Shape and support capture plans for strategic pursuits, from initial opportunity identification through deal closure;
• Corporate Development Support: Contribute to ongoing corporate development activities, including M&A, venture investment assessments, and strategic partner negotiations;
• Market Intelligence: Monitor industry developments, competitive moves, and market trends to inform both immediate pursuits and Loft’s long-term positioning;
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with product, engineering, and operations teams to ensure proposed opportunities are both feasible and accretive to Loft’s capabilities, particularly on AI applications and other ecosystem plays.

Must Haves:

• Experience: 6+ years in space, aerospace, defence, or government-driven sectors, with direct exposure to multiple parts of the value chain (e.g., space primes, satellite operators, space agencies, MoDs);
• Strategic Track Record: Demonstrated success in originating and/or executing complex business opportunities involving multiple stakeholders;
• Sector Insight: Passion for the space and Earth observation market, including procurement dynamics in both government and commercial contexts;
• Business Acumen: Proven ability in at least one of the following areas - sales/business development, corporate strategy/strategy consulting in A&D or GovTech, or M&A/venture in government-driven sectors;
• Leadership Presence: Skilled at engaging with senior executives, influencing decision-making, and fostering long-term trust-based relationships;
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation abilities in English;
• Collaboration Skills: Adept at working across cross-functional, geographically dispersed teams;
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness to travel up to 30% across EMEA for client meetings, events, and partner engagements.

Nice to Haves:

• Established Network: Existing relationships with leadership at EMEA space agencies, MoDs, and major space primes;
• Technical Familiarity: Understanding of satellite system architectures, Earth observation mission requirements, and integration challenges;
• Language Skills: Proficiency in one or more additional European languages and/or Arabic (MSA);
• Government or Defence Background: Experience in government procurement, program management, or policy roles in the space or defence sector.