Director EU Affairs

Employment Type: Permanent
Contract Duration: 

About the team you are joining

You will report to the Senior Vice President, External Affairs and, as Head of the EU Affairs Office in Brussels, you will play a pivotal role in shaping aviation policy and representing the airline industry before EU institutions.

IATA strives to improve the understanding of the air transport industry among decision-makers and increase awareness of the benefits that aviation brings to national and global economies. Within this team, you will be advocating for the interests of airlines across the globe, challenge unreasonable rules and charges, hold regulators and governments to account, and strive for sensible regulations.  

What your day would be like

Develop and drive IATA’s EU advocacy strategy: define and lead IATA’s EU policy and regulatory strategy, ensuring alignment with and influence on emerging legislative and regulatory trends in the EU in collaboration with IATA’s regional team and subject matter experts;

Coordinate EU advocacy: guide and coordinate the advocacy of the Brussels Office, in sync with national and regional efforts in advocating effectively with policymakers, legislators, and EU regulatory bodies;

Strengthen EU advocacy: support IATA building and sustaining strong relationships with EU government officials. Act as the central point of contact for EU high-level political inquiries and negotiations;

Foster strategic alliances: build coalitions and partnerships with industry groups, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to advance shared policy objectives;

Elevate executive thought leadership: support the positioning of IATA’s Leadership in relevant EU circles;

Plan high-impact political engagements: assist in organizing and coordinating strategic events such as forums, panels, and meetings with key political figures to promote IATA’s vision and priorities;

Monitor and analyze legislative and policy developments - assess implications for the business and develop response strategies;

Inspire and lead a small team of EU External Affairs Managers and experts, as well as inspire colleagues across countries, fostering collaboration across the function;

Build strong bridges across business units, functional teams, and regional offices to ensure a cohesive, agile, and forward-looking public affairs strategy;

Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to colleagues and the senior management team, bringing political affairs insight and strategic guidance to the table. 

We would love to hear from you if you have

A university degree in Law, Engineering, Economics, Political Science or International Relations. A postgraduate diploma will be an advantage;

Minimum 15 years in public affairs, government relations, communications or event management, ideally within a multinational, matrixed organization. Aviation sector experience is highly desirable;

Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver integrated public affairs and communications strategies;

Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders;

Deep understanding of political institutions and lobbying practices, particularly within the EU;

Proficiency in using digital platforms and social media to support reputation, engagement, and business goals;

Ability to connect public affairs initiatives to broader business and association strategies;

Experience working across cultures with excellent interpersonal and networking skills;

Ability to influence and represent as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and at executive levels;

Great communication skills with a track record of impactful engagement across government, industry, and internal stakeholders;

Strong network within EU institutions and national capitals; deep familiarity with the Brussels lobbying landscape;

Fluency in English; additional European languages are a strong asset.

Travel Required: no

Diversity and Inclusion are one of our key priorities and we want to role model it. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills in which you can contribute at your best and be who you are. The more inclusive we are, the better we will be able to thrive to represent, lead and service the airline industry. If there is anything we can do to create a more comfortable interview experience for you, please let us know.

Learn more about IATA’s role in the industry, our benefits, and the team at iata/careers/. We are looking forward to hearing from you