VP of Sovereign Affairs
Business - Villeneuve, CH
The position
- Crew
- Business
- Location
- Villeneuve, CH
- Type of contract
- Full-time
Your role
At a time when space is becoming a strategic priority for public actors, the ability to deploy and sustain sovereign capabilities is gaining importance. This shift creates a need for reliable and responsive infrastructure. PAVE Space aims to contribute to this effort by aligning its solutions with the requirements of governmental stakeholders.
With IBEX, we are building advanced space capabilities tailored to sovereign and institutional customers. As VP of Sovereign Affairs, you will establish IBEX’s positioning within governmental ecosystems while driving early revenue. Your priority is to secure initial contracts—through public tenders and direct engagement with prime contractors—and translate them into long-term strategic programmes.
You will own
Build relationships across the sovereign and institutional space ecosystem, including ministries, space & defence agencies, and prime contractors
Understand procurement processes, decision structures, and operational needs within these organisations
Work with customers to shape mission concepts and requirements, and bring this feedback into product development
Own the full sales cycle, from opportunity identification to tender responses and contract signature
Manage long sales cycles, with a focus on early agreements such as MoUs or pilot contracts with the aim of scaling over time
Track relevant regulatory and export control frameworks (e.g., ITAR, EAR, national rules) with the support of Legal
What we are looking for
10+ years of experience in the space sector or with institutional customers
Solid understanding of public procurement and contracting processes
Background in a prime contractor (e.g., Airbus Defence and Space, OHB SE, Thales Alenia Space) or a similar environment
Good technical understanding of space systems, including orbital mechanics and mission design
Proven experience closing large contracts (100M+) in long sales cycles (6–12+ months)
Ability to work across technical and institutional stakeholders
Existing network in institutional or governmental space programmes
Experience with export control or regulatory frameworks
Experience translating customer input into product or mission requirements
You will fit if
You understand how institutional customers make decisions in practice, not just on paper
You are able to turn early discussions into committed programmes
You move comfortably between technical detail and commercial negotiation
You can build structure in an environment that is still forming
You stay effective over long cycles where progress is incremental rather than linear
Shape how next-generation space systems reach institutional markets. If you can turn early deals into lasting programmes, join us at PAVE Space.
We are a fully on-site company, and all roles require daily in-person work at our office in Villeneuve (VD) - Switzerland