Head of Public Policy

About this role

Responsibilities

• We are looking for a Head of Public Policy to shape the regulatory and institutional landscape around European sovereign cloud infrastructure and lead Aiven's company-wide policy work. Your mission is to influence how 'sovereign cloud' is defined in European policy, ensuring that sovereignty means more than data residency. In practice you will be creating the narrative and forming the landscape for a new category around truly sovereign and open-source cloud infrastructure.
• Policy Strategy & OwnershipDefine and execute Aiven's public policy strategy centred on true European sovereignty and open-source
• Ensure this strategy is tightly integrated with Aiven's roadmap and commercial objectives
• Create the True Sovereign Cloud categoryPush the open-source sovereignty narrative into new audiences like government decision makers, universities, and the next generation of public sector technology leaders to build long-term category ownership
• Position Aiven as a credible and trusted voice in European cloud sovereignty and AI infrastructure policy through exceptional thought leadership
• Government & Institutional RelationshipsEngage with EU institutions, national governments, and standards bodies to advocate for sovereign cloud definitions that prioritise European ownership, control and open-source principles
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with senior government officials and institutional stakeholders
• Policy Intelligence & Strategic ActionTrack certification timelines, procurement frameworks, budget signals, and political developments across European markets
• Translate these into actionable intelligence that enab