The Deputy Country Manager – Ukraine will support Shield AI’s in-country leadership by driving strategic government engagement, managing cross-functional execution, and helping grow the company’s footprint in Ukraine. This bilingual role (Ukrainian - English) is critical to supporting the company’s programs, government relations, and operational tempo in one of the most dynamic defense markets in the world.
You will serve as a close partner to the Country Manager, ensuring execution of Shield AI’s mission in Ukraine and helping shape the long-term vision, growth, and influence of Shield AI across the Ukrainian defense ecosystem.
What you'll do
Act as a trusted deputy to the Country Manager, helping lead cross-functional initiatives across Business Development, Legal, Program Management, PX, and Customer Operations.Engage frequently with senior stakeholders across the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, government institutions, Brave1, and international partner programs to drive influence and opportunity creation.Represent Shield AI at official engagements, conferences, working groups, and technical demonstrations across UkraineHelp coordinate and manage in-country operations, ensuring contract execution, customer satisfaction, and program delivery are achieved to the highest standards.Drive business intelligence collection and analysis, providing the broader team with insights into Ukrainian procurement processes, defense budget allocation, and policy changes.Translate strategic objectives into executable plans and communicate them across internal and external stakeholders in both English and Ukrainian.Draft and support government submissions, licensing requests, policy memos, talking points, and briefing decks for key engagements.Support the planning and execution of V-BAT and Hivemind product demonstrations, joint training initiatives, and local sustainment activities.Ensure operational and legal compliance across in-country activities in coordination with Shield AI Legal and Regulatory teams.
Required qualifications
Fluent in Ukrainian and English, with outstanding communication and presentation skills in both.Strong understanding of Ukrainian defence, security, and government structures, with a proven ability to navigate and build relationships across key ministries and institutions.At least 6 years of relevant experience in military, defense industry, government affairs, or a related field, with exposure to international business or program delivery.Experience supporting or leading cross-functional teams in high-tempo environments.Self-driven and highly accountable, with a bias for action and results.Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to engage effectively with military and political leadership, partner companies, and internal teams.Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them clearly to a diverse set of stakeholders.Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally, including to operational and military sites.Bachelor's degree or equivalent military/defense education.
Preferred qualifications
Direct experience working with or inside the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, General Staff, or affiliated defense agencies.Experience supporting U.S. or NATO defense cooperation initiatives in Ukraine.Familiarity with UAV systems, AI/ML-enabled technologies, or electronic warfare.Strong understanding of U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS), FMF, or other U.S./EU-funded security assistance programs.Experience engaging with or supporting Brave1 or other Ukrainian defense innovation platforms.
