At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic engagement across Europe & Africa, building relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
- Company: Join Shield AI, a pioneering deep-tech company focused on defence technology.
- Benefits: Be part of a mission-driven team with a focus on AI and autonomy in defence.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to collaborate on complex operational challenges.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on international growth and strategic defence partnerships.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in government, diplomacy, or advanced technology with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
The Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for Europe & Africa is a senior regional leader responsible for advancing Shield AI's strategic position across Europe & Africa through high-value external engagement, relationship development, market insight, and business enablement. This role works across the regional business development organization to expand access to senior stakeholders, strengthen Shield AI's brand, inform regional strategy, and support the pursuit of new business opportunities across the company's technology portfolio. This position operates at the intersection of business development, government relations, strategic communications, and executive relationship management. The Senior Director of Strategic Engagement does not own an individual sales quota but is expected to contribute meaningfully to team success through pipeline generation, closed bookings, opportunity shaping, senior-level access, and the quality and frequency of external engagements.
What you'll do:
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior defense, government, diplomatic, political, and industry stakeholders across Europe & Africa to increase Shield AI's strategic access and long‑term market position.
- Create opportunities for the regional business development team by opening doors with key decision makers, facilitating senior introductions, and helping position Shield AI in priority accounts, markets, and partner ecosystems.
- Represent Shield AI at external engagements such as conferences, panels, roundtables, executive meetings, and government or industry forums, strengthening the company's visibility, credibility, and thought leadership in the region.
- Identify and help shape new business opportunities by surfacing customer priorities, partnership pathways, and regional developments that can influence pipeline creation and long‑term growth.
- Advise the Shield AI executive team, fellow business development leaders, and other internal leaders on regional strategy by bringing forward actionable insight on market dynamics, stakeholder sentiment, policy context, and competitive positioning.
- Partner closely with regional business development leaders and cross‑functional teams to align external engagement activity with campaign priorities, product positioning, and broader market expansion efforts.
- Help address complex or sensitive customer, partner, and market challenges by applying sound judgment, senior presence, and strategic problem‑solving to move critical initiatives forward.
Qualifications:
- 15+ years of experience in government, diplomacy, defense, aerospace, national security, international affairs, or advanced technology business development or strategic engagement roles.
- Demonstrated success working with senior government, military, diplomatic, or industry stakeholders in complex international environments.
- Strong understanding of the defense, security, or public‑sector landscape in Europe and/or Africa, including the importance of stakeholder relationships, market access, and institutional decision‑making.
- Proven ability to influence outcomes without direct authority through credibility, judgment, communication, and relationship management.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills, including the ability to represent an organization effectively in high‑profile external settings.
- Experience operating cross‑functionally and supporting strategic initiatives across business development, partnerships, product, and leadership teams.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently across Europe & Africa to support customer, partner, and industry engagement.
- Experience serving as a public‑facing representative for an organization in policy, defense, diplomatic, or international business settings.
- Established network across relevant defense, government, diplomatic, and industrial stakeholders in Europe & Africa.
- Experience supporting international market expansion, strategic partnerships, or regional growth initiatives in defense or dual‑use technology sectors.
- Deep familiarity with AI, autonomy, unmanned systems, aerospace, or related defense technology markets.
- Advanced degree in international affairs, public policy, business, engineering, or a related field.
About Shield AI:
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture‑backed deep‑tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V‑BAT and X‑BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia‑Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
Why join Shield AI:
- Help build the defining defence technology company of this century.
- Work at the forefront of AI, autonomy, and next‑generation defence systems.
- Operate in a highly entrepreneurial and mission‑driven environment.
- Make a direct impact on international growth and strategic defence partnerships.
- Collaborate with exceptional teams solving some of the world’s most complex operational challenges.
Director of Strategic Engagement employer: Lever
At Shield AI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a highly entrepreneurial and mission-driven work culture. As the Senior Director of Strategic Engagement, you will have the unique opportunity to shape international growth and strategic defence partnerships while collaborating with exceptional teams at the forefront of AI and next-generation defence systems. Our commitment to employee development, coupled with our dynamic environment across Europe & Africa, ensures that you will not only make a meaningful impact but also grow alongside a defining technology company of this century.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Strategic Engagement
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Lever!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Director of Strategic Engagement position at Lever via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Strategic Engagement
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Lever.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Lever’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lever
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Lever. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Lever. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Lever.
