Public Affairs Manager (d/f/m) for R&T & Digital Policy, Berlin

Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus champions innovative technologies and offers some of the world’s most fuel efficient and quiet aircraft. Airbus has sold over 13.800 aircraft to more than 360 customers worldwide. Airbus has achieved more than 8,000 deliveries since the first Airbus aircraft entered into service. Headquartered in Toulouse, France.

Tasks

• R&T & Digital Policy Leadership (75%): Orchestrate and ensure consistent alignment of Airbus's political narrative and corporate statements on R&T and digital policy with German political entities and government agencies.
• Funding & Synergy Management: Identify and secure public funding opportunities for research and advanced technology projects (mainly from BMWE, BMFTR, BMV) and steer the Airbus’ cross-divisional German R&T public affairs network.
• Strategic Positioning & Thought Leadership: Shape Airbus's position as a leader in European high-tech, focusing on CO2-neutral aviation, technological sovereignty, sovereign cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and defense tech.
• Lobbying & Legislative Accountability: Lead German national lobbying efforts regarding EU and federal digital legislative frameworks (e.g., AI Act, EUCS, NIS2) in close collaboration with the Airbus Brussels office.
• Commercial Public Affairs Strategy (25%): Support the Head of Public Affairs Germany, Commercial Aircraft, on the overall strategy, providing business background and messages fully adapted to German administration standards.
• Executive Briefings & Top-Level Engagements: Prepare high-level briefings, speeches, and strategic papers for the Executive Committee and German Management Board, and manage engagements between senior leadership and key government representatives.
• Network & Association Representation: Cultivate relationships within critical industry associations (e.g., BDLI, BDI, Bitkom, Acatech, Stifterverband), research organizations (e.g., DLR, FhG), and host political delegations at Airbus sites.
• This role will involve some travel for business and as such you must be able to travel accordingly.

Profile

• Education: Educated to a Master’s degree level in Science, Technology, Engineering or Political Science, Economics, Law, or an equivalent field of study.
• Professional Experience: Proven track record in a Public Affairs, Government Relations, or Policy role within a complex, multinational organization or political institution, with deep expertise in R&T, digital policy, and public funding.
• Network & Relations: Extensive existing network within the German federal government, relevant ministries (e.g., BMWE, BMFTR, BMV, BMUKN), political parties, industry associations, and/or the tech ecosystem.
• Target-Group Communication: Outstanding ability to communicate complex political and technical topics precisely on point, with a proven track record of adapting messages seamlessly to the respective audience level.
• Strategic & Diligent Mindset: Ability to anticipate political developments and translate them into strategies, paired with a highly conscientious and structured approach to managing governance and policy frameworks.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, drive consensus across diverse stakeholders, and prepare senior executives for high-level engagements.
• Languages: Fluency in German and English is mandatory; proficiency in French is a plus.