Government Affairs Director - UK and Ireland

Job Description

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.

Boeing is seeking a strategic, commercially minded business influencer to join and lead our UK & Ireland Government Affairs & Strategy team based in Westminster, London. This role combines stakeholder engagement, industrial policy leadership, and market-shaping initiatives to strengthen Boeing’s position as a trusted partner in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and innovation across the UK. This position sits as member of UK & Ireland Leadership Team and reporting directly to Boeing’s UK & Ireland President.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-level strategy and government affairs across commercial and defence portfolios.
• Lead and manage UK & Ireland Government Affairs team (including Short Brothers).
• Adviser to President, Boeing UK & Ireland and Managing Director Boeing Defence UK, and ad hoc enterprise business unit leaders on political, policy, regulatory, and other strategic issues, shaping business and public affairs strategies.
• Active member of Boeing UK Leadership Team, and Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) Leadership Team. 
• Cohere, develop and shape regional business strategies, including M&A, investment decisions, strategic intelligence gathering and sharing, and coalition building for business growth in UK&I. Covering:
  • Business development
  • Ecosystem development
  • Innovation
• Build and manage relationships with ministers, senior officials, politicians and policymakers to drive advocacy and shape/deliver policy outcomes.
  • Departmental focus: No10, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Transport.
  • Political focus: Constituency MPs, Committees (defence, transport, public accounts and Northern Ireland), APPGs (Armed Forces, etc.).  
  • Ecosystem focus: ATI, ADS, Airlines UK, Universities, AMRC, InvestNI, Scottish Enterprise, etc.
• Design and execute integrated campaigns with business units, with a focus on BDS & BDUK.
• Build relationships internal to Boeing, to integrate Boeing UK into the wider enterprise, and advance Boeing’s growth in the UK.
• Support Agile Conops operating model in the UK, working to navigate internal Boeing UK politics for more successful working environment.
• Shape and negotiate strategic agreements with UK Government, e.g. ATI R&D partnerships.
• Support UK&I integration of Short Brothers.
• Develop and execute strategy to deliver trade issues.
• Co-ordinate political and policy crisis response, e.g. defence programme cancellation.
• Liaise with GovOps, and regional BG teams (e.g. Europe Government Affairs).

Basic Qualifications (Skills/Experience):

• Deep understanding of UK (and to lesser extent Irish) political, policy and legislative institutions and associated ecosystems.
• Relationship/trust building, advocacy.
• Critical thinking/analytical acumen.
• Communication.
• Negotiation.
• Team Leadership.

Preferred Qualifications (Skills/Experience):

• Deep understanding of Boeing’s commercial and defence products and services.
• Understanding of structures and priorities of Boeing business units and functions

This job will require regular evening work (e.g. attending events and receptions), occasional weekend work (e.g. air shows); regular UK & Ireland travel (e.g. to Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow), and occasional international travel (e.g. to Seattle or Washington DC).

The Boeing benefits package goes above and beyond, focusing on your physical, emotional, financial and social well-being. Here’s a snapshot of what we offer:

• Competitive salary and annual incentive plans
• Continuous learning - you’ll develop the approach and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you - we’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• An inclusive culture - you’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.
• Excellent Adoption and Parental leave options.
• 23 days plus UK public holidays and a Winter Break between Christmas and New Year.
• Pension Plan with up to 10% employer contribution.
• Company paid BUPA Medical Plan.
• Short Term Sickness: 100% pay for the first 26 weeks.
• Long Term Sickness: 66.67% of annual salary from 27th week.
• 6x annual salary life insurance.
• Learning Together Programme to support your on-going personal and career development.
• Access to Boeing’s Well Being Programs, tool and incentives.

Work Authorisation: This requisition is for a locally hired position in the UK. Candidates must have current legal authorisation to work immediately in the United Kingdom. Boeing will not attempt to obtain Immigration and labour sponsorship for any applicants. Benefits and pay are determined at the local level and are not part of Boeing U.S. based payroll

Applications for this position will be accepted until Mar. 16, 2026

Export Control Requirements:

This is not an Export Control position.

Relocation

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to acquire a UK Secret security Clearance for which the UK Government requires UK residency. The successful candidate will hold, or have the ability to acquire, Security Clearance (SC).

Visa Sponsorship

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Shift

Not a Shift Worker (United Kingdom)

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not accept unlawful discrimination in our recruitment or employment practices on any grounds including but not limited to; race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military and veteran status, or other characteristics covered by applicable law.

We have teams in more than 65 countries, and each person plays a role in helping us become one of the world’s most innovative, diverse and inclusive companies. We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. Applicants are encouraged to share with our recruitment team any accommodations required during the recruitment process. Accommodations may include but are not limited to: conducting interviews in accessible locations that accommodate mobility needs, encouraging candidates to bring and use any existing assistive technology such as screen readers and offering flexible interview formats such as virtual or phone interviews.

Experience Level
Manager
Contingent Upon Program Award
No, this position is not contingent upon program award

Schedule
Full time

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.