Senior Public Affairs Specialist

The role

As Senior Public Affairs Specialist - France, you will support and help deliver Nebius' public affairs strategy at national, regional and local levels. You will build trusted relationships with the Élysée, Matignon, relevant ministries, Parliament and central government agencies, while developing strong partnerships with regional councils, prefectures, municipalities, economic-development bodies, universities and communities. With an initial regional focus on Hauts-de-France and Béthune, you will connect national policy engagement with regional delivery, support Nebius' strategic investment and infrastructure priorities, strengthen our license to operate and position the company as a responsible, long-term partner in France. The role is based in Paris, with regular travel across the country. 

Your responsibilities will include:

• National government engagement. Support the development and execution of Nebius' public affairs strategy in France. Build relationships across the Élysée, Matignon, relevant ministries, Parliament and central government agencies, and prepare leadership engagement with ministers, senior officials and parliamentarians. 

• Regional and local engagement. Drive engagement in Hauts-de-France and Béthune with regional and departmental authorities, prefectures, municipalities, economic-development agencies, universities, workforce partners and community stakeholders. Develop initiatives that support local employment, skills, education and long-term trust. 

• Infrastructure and regulatory support. Anticipate and address public affairs issues related to data-centre development, grid access, energy, permitting, planning and community impact. Monitor political, legislative and regulatory developments and translate them into clear recommendations for the business. 

• Strategic advocacy and coalition building. Develop policy positions on AI infrastructure, cloud, industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy, energy and sustainability. Build coalitions with industry associations, technology partners, infrastructure providers, think tanks and universities. 

• Executive advice and internal alignment. Provide leadership with concise advice on political developments, stakeholder priorities, risks and opportunities. Prepare briefings, talking points and policy materials, and coordinate closely with Infrastructure, Legal, Compliance, Communications, Finance, HR, Sustainability and commercial teams. 

We expect you to have: 

• At least five years of relevant experience: in public affairs, government relations, public policy, political advisory or external relations. 

• French government engagement experience: and a strong understanding of decision-making within the Élysée, Matignon, ministries, Parliament and public administration. 

• Proven national, regional and local operating capability: including the ability to connect political strategy with infrastructure delivery and community engagement. 

• Relevant sector experience: in technology, AI, cloud infrastructure, data centres, energy, telecommunications, industrial development or another regulated infrastructure sector. 

• Excellent political judgment, discretion and stakeholder presence: with strong writing, presentation and stakeholder-management skills. 

• Strategic judgment & political acumen: Connects the political environment and public affairs priorities directly to business objectives. 

• Stakeholder presence & discretion: Represents Nebius credibly with national, regional and local decision-makers and handles sensitive matters appropriately. 

• Relationship building & coalition leadership: Builds trust across government, industry and communities and brings stakeholders together around practical outcomes. 

• Ownership, execution & clear communication: Takes work end-to-end and turns complex technical and policy issues into concise, persuasive actions and messages. 

It will be an added bonus if you have: 

• Experience supporting major investment or infrastructure projects, including permitting, grid access, employment or regional-development matters. 

• Established relationships across French national institutions and/or the Hauts-de-France public and economic ecosystem. 

• Experience coordinating external advisers, trade associations or public-private partnerships; a relevant master's degree is an advantage.