ST Engineering iDirect is a global leader in IP-based satellite communications and provides the technology and solutions that enable our service provider and satellite operator partners to optimize their networks, differentiate their services and profitably expand their business. Our business provides innovation focused on solving satellite’s most critical economic and technology challenges and expands a shared commitment to shaping the future of how the world connects. With your talent and energy paired with our vision and technical leadership, the most fulfilling work of your career is waiting for you at ST Engineering iDirect…the sky is truly the limit!

The satellite industry is evolving at an extremely high rate of change, with new satellite and ground access technologies and a drive to more cloud-based solutions and standards generally only seen within more established telco and IT industries. These changes are driving and providing even greater capabilities, reaching far more markets and consumers than ever before. These changes are also driving the way that our technologies are consumed moving from a more product based to a service subscription-based model removing many of the access barriers to more markets and new consumers.

All these exciting changes are driving our need to add more talent and specifically change leaders into our team with the addition of an innovative experienced Sr. Director of Government and Defence Programs, based in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. We are looking for someone that is ready for an exciting journey filled with challenges, responsibilities and expectations with great rewards helping us grow, develop, and expand our presence in the Government and Defence segment within the APAC region. This position requires a proven experienced change leader that has the required communication and transformational skills to help drive, develop, and grow our market position.

The Senior Director Asia Pacific (APAC) Government Programs & Defence is responsible for developing, maintaining and enriching key government and strategic relationships with a focus on Regional Programs with MoDs, APAC Armed Forces and all applicable influence stakeholders in order to properly position STE iDirect for key Global Government programs and activities. At the same time the role will be responsible for the G2 high level strategy in APAC and will lead the APAC Programs as capture manager and coordinator. The person in this role will operate independently but maintain a dotted line of responsibility into the Regional Vice President of APAC. The position will need to have current customer/political relationships in place, satellite communication knowledge and have experience in developing winning capture strategies.  

G2 Market/Business Development

• Identifies and pursues new business opportunities within the government sector with the goal of increasing market share and growing revenue in Asia Pacific region.
• Leads Capture Teams in pulling the right connections with the consortia, industry players, ecosystem partners and government & defence players in order to enter into large APAC opportunities;
• Leads and coordinates large program opportunities and consortia from early identification, throughout the qualification and bid phases until deployment;
• Supports the Asia Pacific region account managers, the iDirect partner program (bePART) and global account team in achieving their regional goals and targets by providing expertise and addressing the government and defence partners and customers;

Stakeholder Management

• Directs engagement objectives to develop and maintain productive relations with all levels of gov’t authorities that will support and enhance the global gov’t groups business goals in both government and military satellite networks
• Develops plans and policies to build relationships and liaise with government agencies, national government entities and ministries of defence
• Collaborates with industry groups and (stakeholder management) organizations with complementary objectives
• Hosts and organizes meetings and events with gov’t and defence end-users and ecosystem players together with Global Gov’t team
• Coordinates participation in associations and bodies important to STE iDirect with the goal of influencing standards, requirements and policies, in close coordination with the Global Gov’t team

Strategy

• Defines and develops the high-level global government market access and growth strategy in APAC in line with the corporate and G2 strategy
• Provides 360°market understanding for APAC (programs, use cases, trends, opportunities/customers, business cases, competitive, GTM, technology, solution, eco-system, …).
• Evangelizes, influences and educates the role of ST Engineering iDirect (and satellite) in the corresponding domains.
• Provides guidance/identify gaps for product/solution roadmap developments towards product management and engineering

Communication

• Collaborates with the marketing teams to tailor value proposition and campaigns to meet government needs
• Creates communication vehicles and delivers thought leadership and messages to inform and support business and government end-user leaders
• Drafts government correspondence, pre-budget submissions, position papers, etc
• Develops public policy positions focusing on the competitiveness of the satellite industry
• Participates in government meetings, consultations, roundtables and conferences.

Regulatory and Policy

• Directs ongoing monitoring and analysis of proposed legislation, emerging issues and trends to determine the potential impact on the organization
• Informs and supports internal organization on compliance to regulations to be eligible for large government and defense programs

Internal

• Work with the Global Gov’t Team on the development and implementation of a government strategy and engagement plan for APAC
• Draft communications pieces including content for internal newsletters giving status of the APAC G2 market
• Leads and coordinates APAC national space programs and informs Global Gov’t Team, Executive Members and any required stakeholders on their progress

Required Skills

• Senior stakeholder manager with 5-8+ years of experience in space technology
• Deep knowledge of APAC space programs, APAC individual nations space policies and programs, the APAC security environment, having a network with APAC institutions key personnel as well as APAC nation MoDs.
• Superb written and oral communication skills
• Experience in government advocacy/ lobbying, including developing policy positions, drafting submissions and letters
• Knowledge of APAC culture/international trade, manufacturing and/or economic issues.
• Multi-lingual (English minimum) is an asset
• Understanding of the APAC national government legislative, regulatory, political and public processes
• Easy access to institutions (APAC based)