Director, Government Relations

Director, Government Relations

Location:

Reston, VA, US, 20191 Work Arrangement:
Hybrid Job

At SES Space & Defense, we are a trusted partner ensuring mission success for customers operating in the most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled connectivity, we deliver multi-orbit, end-to-end satellite and technology solutions that provide secure, reliable, and high-bandwidth communications across the globe. Our differentiated multi-orbit architecture combines GEO and MEO satellite systems with integrated terrestrial and network infrastructure to deliver resilient, low-latency, high-throughput connectivity at a global scale.

With more than 120 satellites covering nearly the entire world, a global ground network, and thousands of deployed terminals supporting over 5,000 government missions annually, SES Space and Defense is a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, and agencies including NASA for mission-critical communications. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical and recognize our people as our competitive advantage.

At SES Space & Defense, you'll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, honor, and accountability, delivering real-world impact across today's most critical missions.

In this role, you'll lead SES Space & Defense's government affairs and public policy strategy, advancing the company's interests on Capitol Hill, within the Executive Branch, and across the national security space community. Reporting to the SVP of Product & Innovation, Strategy & Government Relations, this position serves as the company's primary advocate on legislative, budgetary, and regulatory matters affecting our space and defense business, with a focus on protected and resilient SATCOM, multi-orbit architectures, and U.S. Government space programs.

You'll partner closely with Business Development, Product & Innovation, Engineering, and Legal to shape policy outcomes that expand SES Space & Defense's pipeline and protect mission-critical programs supporting DoD, the Intelligence Community, and allied governments.

• Represent SES Space & Defense before Members of Congress, congressional staff, and senior Executive Branch officials on legislative, budgetary, and policy matters affecting the company's space and defense business.
• Develop and execute Hill and Executive Branch advocacy strategies to influence budget allocations, authorization language, and acquisition policy for U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Command, the Intelligence Community, NASA, and other DoD customers of SES Space & Defense.
• Identify and assess emerging public policy, regulatory, and legislative developments — including those affecting commercial SATCOM integration, multi-orbit architectures (GEO/MEO/LEO), spectrum policy, and protected tactical communications — and develop SES Space & Defense's positions and response strategies.
• Partner with Business Development and Capture teams to clear policy, legislative, and budgetary hurdles for specific pursuits, programs, and contract opportunities supporting U.S. Government end-users.
• Build and maintain relationships with key government officials, congressional offices, defense and intelligence committees, industry associations (e.g., SIA, NDIA, AFCEA), and coalition partners to advance the company's policy priorities.
• Coordinate closely with Legal, Security, and Compliance teams on matters relating to the SES Space & Defense Proxy Agreement, ITAR, CFIUS, and other regulatory frameworks affecting foreign-parent ownership of a U.S. defense business.
• Prepare executive leadership for engagements with senior government officials, including drafting briefing materials, talking points, position papers, congressional correspondence, and testimony.
• Create speaking opportunities, participate in industry forums, and represent SES Space & Defense at government, industry association, and coalition meetings on national security space and defense communications matters.
• Track and analyze the congressional defense and…