About the role
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
As Government Affairs & Public Sector Business Development Manager for Germany, you will lead Bitdefender's engagement with German government institutions, cybersecurity authorities, defense organizations, and strategic industry partners.
Working closely with the European Government Affairs Director, you will translate European strategy into local execution by strengthening government relationships, supporting policy engagement, and driving business opportunities within Germany's public sector and regulated industries.
The role combines government affairs, public policy, strategic partnerships and business development.
Key Responsibilities
Government Relations
Develop trusted relationships across:
- Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Federal Ministry of Defence
- Federal Chancellery
- BSI
- BKA
- BBK
- BND (where appropriate)
- Bundeswehr Cyber Command (CIR)
- State governments (Länder)
- Municipal digitalization initiatives
- Public procurement organizations
Represent Bitdefender in:
- Government meetings
- Industry associations
- Working groups
- Security conferences
- Public-private initiatives
Public Sector Business Development
Identify and support opportunities across:
- Federal government
- State governments
- Critical infrastructure operators
- Healthcare
- Utilities
- Defense ecosystem
- Public research organizations
Support enterprise sales teams by:
- Opening executive relationships
- Positioning Bitdefender with government stakeholders
- Removing political and regulatory barriers
- Supporting large strategic opportunities
Policy & Regulatory Engagement
Monitor developments relating to:
- German implementation of NIS2
- KRITIS regulation
- BSI legislation
- Cloud sovereignty initiatives
- AI governance
- Digital sovereignty
- Procurement requirements
Provide local market intelligence to corporate leadership.
Partnership Development
Develop relationships with:
- BDSV
- Bitkom
- eco Association
- German Cyber Security Council
- Research institutes
- Universities
- Bundeswehr innovation ecosystem
- German defense contractors
Support strategic partnerships with organizations such as:
- Rheinmetall
- Hensoldt
- Airbus Defence
- Rohde & Schwarz
- Deutsche Telekom
- SAP
- Schwarz Digits
Market Positioning
Increase Bitdefender's visibility by:
- Speaking at conferences
- Supporting media opportunities
- Developing thought leadership
- Engaging with influencers
- Supporting executive visits
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Political Science, Public Administration, International Relations, Cybersecurity, Law, or Business.
- 8+ years in:
- Government Affairs
- Public Affairs
- Public Sector Sales
- Defense
- Cybersecurity
- Government consulting
- Strong network across German government and cybersecurity institutions.
- Understanding of public procurement.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Fluent German and English.
Preferred Experience
- Cybersecurity
- Defense
- Telecommunications
- Sovereign cloud
- Critical infrastructure
Success Measures
- Executive relationships established
- Public-sector opportunities influenced
- Qualified pipeline generated
- Strategic partnerships created
- Participation in government initiatives
- Increased Bitdefender visibility
- Policy intelligence delivered to leadership
Key Competencies
- Relationship builder
- Political awareness
- Executive communication
- Business development
- Strategic thinking
- Public speaking
- Collaboration
- Results orientation