Director of Corporate Affairs

**About EIT Manufacturing**:
**Director of Corporate Affairs - EIT Manufacturing ASBL**
- Full-time position at EIT Manufacturing ASBL located in either France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece or Italy._

**About the Position**

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Corporate Affairs to join our Management Team. This pivotal role is responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team covering EU Affairs, Strategic Initiatives focused on European-funded projects, regional activities, and cross-group projects. The Director will play a key role in advancing our mission to accelerate innovation in the manufacturing industry by driving strategic partnerships, influencing policy, and securing funding opportunities that align with our long-term goals.

**Key Accountabilities**:
**EU Affairs & Policy Influence**
- Manage the organisation’s engagement with European Union (EU) institutions, policies, and programmes.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key EU stakeholders, including the European Commission, European Parliament, and relevant EU agencies and associations.
- Develop and execute strategies to advance EIT Manufacturing’s priorities within the EU policy landscape.
- Represent the organisation in EU policy forums to influence decision-making aligned with strategic objectives.

**European-Funded Projects & Strategic Initiatives**
- Lead strategies for accessing and managing EU funding opportunities (e.g., Horizon Europe and other EU Frameworks Programs).
- Conceptualise and coordinate EIT Manufacturing’s involvement in EU strategic initiatives, acting as the primary coordinator where appropriate.
- Provide guidance, coordination, and oversight for EU projects managed by regional offices, ensuring strategic and financial alignment.

**Corporate Communications & Stakeholder Engagement**
- Oversee the Corporate Communications function, ensuring consistency and excellence across institutional, corporate, and business communications.
- Strengthen engagement with internal and external stakeholders to enhance visibility and reputation across EU and global networks.
- Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams and projects to drive innovation and strategic alignment.

**EIT Community and Regional Innovation Scheme engagement**
- Coordinate with regional offices and central teams to enhance focus on Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries.
- Oversee the activities of EIT Manufacturing in EIT Community projects, ensuring alignment and cross-fertilisation with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
- Serve as EIT Manufacturing’s lead contact for global outreach activities.

**Leadership & Strategic Direction**
- Develop and implement the Corporate Affairs and Strategic Initiatives strategy in alignment with the organisation’s mission and objectives.
- Provide strategic leadership to ensure the department’s activities support organisational goals and deliver measurable impact.
- Oversee departmental budget planning, financial control, and resource allocation.
- Monitor project performance and departmental outcomes against established KPIs, reporting progress to management and key stakeholders (incl. EIT).
- Promote a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous development across teams.

**Qualifications**:

- A master’s degree in public policy, preferably in European policy, European affairs, engineering, business or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in corporate affairs, EU Projects, public affairs, or related roles within a public-private environment.
- Proven track record in EU policy engagement, securing European funding, and managing large-scale strategic projects.
- Strong knowledge of European institutions, funding mechanisms (EIT KICs, Horizon Europe, ERASMUS +, etc.), and policy frameworks relevant to manufacturing innovation.
- Experience working in or with public-private partnerships and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives.

**Skills & Expertise**:

- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement high-impact strategies that align with organisational goals.
- Policy & Advocacy: Strong expertise in EU affairs, policy influence, and regulatory engagement.
- Project & Funding Management: Experience in securing and managing European-funded projects and initiatives.
- Stakeholder Management: Exceptional relationship-building skills with public and private sector stakeholders.
- Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop a multidisciplinary team.
- Communication & Representation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to represent the organisation effectively at high-level engagements.

**Desirable Experience**:

- Experience within the manufacturing industry, innovation ecosystems, or technology-driven sectors.
- Previous experience in a senior leadership role within a European-funded initiative or public-private collaboration.
- Established network within Europea