Head of Operations

Head of Operations, Toulouse - Build a Space Company's French HQ From the Ground Up

We're working with a rapidly scaling NewSpace company (satellite manufacturer) on a genuinely rare opportunity: the chance to build and own the operational backbone of their Toulouse entity as they expand across Europe.

To be clear on what this role is: this is not a manufacturing, production, or plant-operations role. You won't be running a factory floor. This is entity and people operations, facilities, compliance, HR, local authorities, the commercial and administrative backbone of a country entity.

This company works closely with space-industry agencies, institutions, and specialist partners, and you'll be representing the entity in those relationships. So we need someone who already knows how to navigate the space/aerospace ecosystem specifically, not just any regulated or technical industry. If your stakeholder network is in space or closely adjacent aerospace/defence circles, that's what makes you valuable here, not shop‑floor experience.

The job in short: You'll be Toulouse's go-to person. Full ownership of day-to-day operations, direct line to top leadership and the company owner, and the autonomy to shape how the entity runs as it scales.

You’ll need:

• Operations or general management experience gained within a space, aerospace, or defence-sector organisation (this can be in an operational, commercial, or leadership capacity, not necessarily engineering or production)
• Fluent French and English
• Confidence navigating French regulatory, labour, and administrative territory
• A hands‑on, get‑it‑done mindset, this isn't a role for delegators
• Existing relationships with space‑industry agencies, institutions, or partners in France
• Experience standing up a foreign subsidiary in France