Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Summary

Join Loft Orbital as the Manager, Strategic Initiatives for EMEA and become a catalyst for transformative partnerships expanding Loft’s reach across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Leverage your deep understanding of the space and Earth observation value chain to identify, structure, and execute high-impact collaborations. Operate at the intersection of corporate development and strategic business growth, working with senior leadership from major partners. Architect Loft’s most critical partnerships, generating substantial near-term revenue and establishing recurring, sustainable streams. Engage with organizations to explore prime collaborations, national and regional programs, commercial & distribution agreements, and corporate development opportunities. This role requires strategic thinking, strong executive engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• 4+ 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)
• Demonstrated success in originating and/or executing complex business opportunities involving multiple stakeholders
• Passion for the space and Earth observation market, including procurement dynamics in both government and commercial contexts
• 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
• Skilled at engaging with senior executives, influencing decision-making, and fostering long-term trust-based relationships
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation abilities in English
• Adept at working across cross-functional, geographically dispersed teams
• Willingness to travel up to 30% across EMEA for client meetings, events, and partner engagements

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• Build and maintain relationships with senior decision-makers in government, prime contractors, and commercial space companies across EMEA
• Shape and support capture plans for strategic pursuits, from initial opportunity identification through deal closure
• Contribute to ongoing corporate development activities, including M&A, venture investment assessments, and strategic partner negotiations
• Monitor industry developments, competitive moves, and market trends to inform both immediate pursuits and Loft’s long-term positioning
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

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

Benefits

• Equity, we want you to have an active role in our success
• Up to 35 days of Paid Time Off (vacations & RTT ) and flexible working hours, we want you to be at your best
• Health and life insurance, we care about your health
• Lunch Vouchers, because let’s be honest, we love food! (we even have a slack channel about it #loft-gourmand )
• Cross-office travel opportunities between San Francisco, Colorado, and Toulouse to learn from our differences
• Company and team off-sites and many other events to work & celebrate together
• Relocation assistance to Toulouse when applicable