Chief of Staff – Corporate Affairs (f/m/d)
Location: Darmstadt, DE
Employment Type: Full time
Location Type: Hybrid
Department: Corporate Affairs
About Focused Energy
Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by our $240M Series A, the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry, we are scaling rapidly across multiple geographies.
Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.
Your Role
We are looking for a Chief of Staff – Corporate Affairs (f/m/d): the first point of contact and the engine room of our Corporate Affairs unit. You will report directly to our Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (CCAO) and run the day-to-day work that keeps a growing, cross-border agenda coherent and moving. This frees the CCAO to focus on relationships and strategy.
You will own ambiguous, cross-functional execution independently. Strategic positioning and external representation remain with the CCAO.
What You'll Do
- Own the CCAO's agenda and priorities, acting as her first point of contact internally and externally.
- Drive project management for Corporate Affairs initiatives across Brussels, Berlin, Hesse, and international markets, including tracking dependencies and milestones across locations.
- Run planning, OKR, and reporting processes for the unit on a reliable cadence.
- Build decision-ready briefings, talking points, and papers for senior management and the Board, prepared ahead of need.
- Prepare and follow up on meetings with government bodies, EU institutions, parliament, and industry associations.
- Partner with the CEO Office, Finance, Investor Relations, Legal, and technical teams on cross-functional initiatives.
- Manage relationships with external partners such as agencies and advisors.
- Enable rapid, coordinated responses to short-notice political and stakeholder developments.
What You Bring
- Proven senior-level experience in chief of staff, executive support, corporate affairs, public affairs, or government relations roles.
- Solid understanding of political processes at federal, state, and EU level, and of public affairs fundamentals. Interest in energy and technology policy is a plus.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to keep many cross-market threads moving without dropping details.
- Experience with OKR-based planning, stakeholder mapping, and cross-functional coordination, plus confidence with planning and project management tools.
- Clear, precise written communication in English and German, with a focus on decisions. You prepare materials that senior leaders and the Board can act on without rework.
- Ownership and initiative: you anticipate needs, flag issues before they are asked about, and take full accountability for the unit's execution.
- Sound judgment on operational decisions such as scheduling, sequencing, and partner management, with the ability to work without close supervision.
- Discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive political, regulatory, and Board-level information.
- Willingness to travel regularly to Brussels and Berlin.
Nice to Have
- Experience in a scale-up or early-growth company.
- Experience in energy, fusion, or other deep-tech sectors.
- Experience with EU-level, parliamentary, or industry association engagement.
- Experience supporting a C-level executive in a cross-border organization.
What We Offer
Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.
Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you'll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.
Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.
Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company.
Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.
Vacation Days: We support your work-life balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.
Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a canteen with delicious lunch options daily.
Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 20% on top of your monthly contributions, plus loyalty incentives.
Equipment: We offer state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptops. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.
Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.
Mobility with NAVIT: We partner with NAVIT to support your flexible commuting needs, whether it's a public transportation ticket, taxi rides or car-sharing. You choose what fits your lifestyle.
Fitness with Wellhub: We care about your health. Get access to a wide range of gyms, fitness studios and wellness services across Europe through our partnership with Wellhub.
