Overview
Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy Jobs in Le Faubourg de Bruxelles, Walloon Region, Belgium at Bitdefender
Title: Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy
Company: Bitdefender
Location: Le Faubourg de Bruxelles, Walloon Region, Belgium
Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumer, enterprise, and government environments, Bitdefender is one of the industry’s most trusted experts for eliminating threats, protecting privacy, digital identity and data, and enabling cyber resilience. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers hundreds of new threats each minute and validates billions of threat queries daily. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence and its technology is licensed by more than 180 of the world’s most recognized technology brands. Founded in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in 170+ countries with offices around the world. For more information, visit https://www.bitdefender.com
We are seeking a highly connected and influential Government Affairs & Policy Business Development executive to drive our engagement with European institutions, national governments, defense stakeholders, and cybersecurity policymakers across Europe and the United Kingdom, preferably based in Brussels, France, or Germany.
This strategic leadership role sits at the intersection of public policy, government relations, cybersecurity, defense, and business development. The successful candidate will strengthen the company's position as a trusted cybersecurity partner for governments and regulated industries while identifying new business opportunities, partnerships, and market access initiatives.
The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in European cybersecurity policy and regulatory affairs with a strong network across government, defense, and industry ecosystems.
Key Responsibilities
Government & Institutional Engagement
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders across:
- European Commission (DG CONNECT, DG HOME, DG DEFIS and related directorates)
- European Parliament members and advisors
- ENISA, ECSO, and other relevant European agencies
- National cybersecurity authorities and ministries (e.g., BSI, ANSSI, NCSC)
- NATO and European defense organizations
- Europol and fraud-related authorities
- UK government and cybersecurity agencies
- Defense industry leaders
- Represent the company in:
- Policy consultations
- Government meetings
- Industry working groups
- Conferences and public affairs initiatives
- Develop and execute engagement strategies with policymakers and public-sector stakeholders across Europe and the UK.
- Identify and develop new government and public-sector business opportunities.
Policy Monitoring & Regulatory Influence
Monitor And Assess Developments Relating To
- NIS2 Directive
- DORA
- Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
- AI Act
- Data protection and cloud sovereignty
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Broader cybersecurity legislation and regulation
Additional Responsibilities Include
- Evaluating business impact of emerging regulations
- Advising executive leadership on strategic implications
- Contributing to policy papers, position papers, and consultation responses
- Identifying opportunities to influence policy discussions aligned with business objectives
Strategic Positioning & Market Influence
- Increase the company's visibility and credibility within the European cybersecurity ecosystem.
- Position the company as a trusted cybersecurity partner for governments and regulated industries.
- Support executive leadership in public affairs and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Collaborate with marketing, legal, product, and sales teams on thought leadership initiatives.
- Develop articles, blogs, and external content that strengthen industry presence and community engagement.
- Establish and nurture trusted relationships with key government and defense stakeholders.
Partnership & Ecosystem Development
Develop Strategic Relationships With
- Industry associations
- Think tanks
- Academic and research institutions
- Public-private cybersecurity initiatives
- Defense contractors and integrators
- National cybersecurity agencies
Key Objectives Include
- Identifying participation opportunities in EU-funded projects and programs
- Supporting access to public funding mechanisms and cybersecurity initiatives
- Developing strategic partnerships with organizations such as Thales, Leonardo, Airbus, Rheinmetall, Atos, and similar industry leaders
- Supporting government frameworks and defense-related initiatives across Europe
Internal Advisory & Business Enablement
- Advise executive leadership on geopolitical, regulatory, and cybersecurity developments.
- Support sales and business development teams in public-sector pursuits.
- Provide guidance on compliance positioning and market readiness.
- Deliver internal briefings and training on European cybersecurity policy trends.
- Transfer knowledge and market intelligence to support strategic planning and growth initiatives.
Required Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's Or Master's Degree In
- Political Science
- International Relations
- Public Policy
- Law
- Cybersecurity
- Or a related discipline
Experience
- 10+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
- Government affairs
- Public affairs
- Cybersecurity policy
- Regulatory affairs
- Technology advocacy
- Defense sector engagement
- Strong understanding of:
- EU and UK institutions
- Legislative and policymaking processes
- European cybersecurity regulations and frameworks
- Experience within one or more of the following sectors:
- Cybersecurity
- Defense
- Telecommunications
- Cloud technology
- Critical infrastructure
- Established network within European cybersecurity and policy communities.
- Existing relationships within the European defense ecosystem are highly desirable.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with EU institutions or multinational organizations.
- Familiarity with public procurement processes.
- Knowledge of EU (and UK) funding mechanisms.
- Understanding of digital sovereignty and geopolitical issues impacting cybersecurity markets.
Languages
- Fluent English (required)
- French and/or German (strongly preferred)
Key Competencies
- Strategic influence and executive presence
- Business development and opportunity creation
- Political acumen
- Relationship building and networking
- Stakeholder management
- Public speaking and communication
- Cross-functional leadership
- Diplomacy and discretion
- Analytical thinking
- Strong written communication skills
Success Metrics
The Successful Candidate Will Be Measured Against
- Growth and quality of government stakeholder relationships
- Influence on policy discussions and industry positioning
- Increased visibility within the European cybersecurity ecosystem
- Strategic partnerships established
- Public-sector business pipeline generated
- Participation in key cybersecurity initiatives and programs
- Contribution to regulatory readiness and market alignment
- Development of a Government Advisory Board
- Expansion of relationships across government, defense, law enforcement, and cybersecurity institutions
- Creation of new funding, partnership, and business opportunities
