Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Corporate Development (m/f/x)

Circus Group

OUR MISSION At Circus, headquartered in Munich, we are pioneering global developments in on-demand autonomous food production. Everything from creation to production and operation – enabled by seamlessly integrated cutting-edge robotics and transformative AI technology. Our foundation rests in the extensive developments of groundbreaking robotics driven by artificial intelligence, previously the missing link in achieving true autonomous food automation. This is the moment for a new status quo: Just as autonomous driving will disrupt how we build cities, organize our days, and live our lives, so will we shift our whole reality around food. Our Team is backing a paradigm shift in one of humanity's most important sectors with the sharpest minds in Robotics, AI, Engineering and Culinary, collaborating closely with industry-leading partners to revolutionize every aspect of the food service experience. Join us as we forge ahead, crafting a future where the art of cooking and the science of technology converge to create a world that thinks differently about food than it has for thousands of years—a world where food means something new. ABOUT THE ROLE Circus's Munich HQ is where our teams builds the future of autonomous food production and where partners, investors, and customers come to see it for themselves. This role owns that experience.  As our Front-Office & Operations Manager, you're the operational anchor of the office and showroom: the person visitors meet first, the one who keeps coordination running smoothly, and a key enabler for demos that turn heads and close conversations. This is an on-site role with direct impact across Office Operations, Showroom Management, and stakeholder-facing coordination. We are open to both part-time and full-time arrangements. YOUR DAILY BUSINESS * Welcome and manage all visitors and guests — from coordinating access to ensuring a professional, warm first impression every time * Own mail, package, and invoice processing, including matching and routing incoming documents * Manage meeting room coordination and office scheduling across the Munich HQ * Support Office Management and Operations — vendor coordination, service providers, facilities, and day-to-day office flow * Handle inbound phone and communication management with clarity and professionalism * Coordinate showroom readiness and manage logistics for demos and product showcases * Take on project management and ad hoc tasks alongside steady operational responsibilities BASE QUALIFICATIONS * 2+ years of experience in a front-office, office management, reception, or guest relations role * Fluent in German and English (C1 minimum in both, written and spoken) * Confident with MS Office and/or Google Workspace * Tech-savvy enough to support demo and showroom coordination in a robotics environment * Strong communicator – composed, professional, and service-minded in every interaction * Highly organised with the ability to multitask and work independently PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * Additional languages * Experience in a startup, tech, or showroom environment * Background in events, hospitality, or customer experience OUR OFFER * Personal Development: personal budget for training, in-house trainings, and growth opportunities in a fast-paced environment. * Impact: Be part of a team that's redefining how the world produces and experiences food - from our HQ where it all comes together. * Mobility: monthly budget for mobility or other expenses, and a subsidized Mobility Subscription for E-Bike/E-Moped. * Well-Being: Discounted Urban Sports Club membership and Wellhub for a variety of well-being offerings. * ...

IONITY

YOUR MISSION IONITY is building the backbone of electric mobility in Europe.  Founded by leading automotive manufacturers, we operate Europe’s largest high-power charging network across 24 countries, enabling seamless long-distance travel for EV drivers. With thousands of charging points already in operation and significant expansion ahead, IONITY is evolving beyond charging infrastructure into a broader mobility, energy and digital platform.  As EV adoption accelerates, new opportunities emerge at the intersection of mobility, energy markets, technology and customer experience. We are uniquely positioned to shape how people, vehicles and energy systems interact across Europe.  This is where you come in.  About the Role  As Director Strategy & Innovation, you own IONITY’s strategic agenda from development through execution.  Reporting directly to the CEO, you will help define the next chapter of the company and ensure strategy translates into measurable business outcomes. You will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning Strategy, Market & Business Intelligence, M&A, Governmental Affairs, Public Funding and Shareholder Relations.  This role combines strategic vision, analytical rigor and execution excellence. You will identify where IONITY can create value next, evaluate new business models, lead strategic transactions and drive company-wide transformation initiatives.  You will work on some of the most important questions shaping the future of mobility, energy and digital services in Europe.    Key Responsibilities  Strategy Development & Identification of Strategic Playing Fields  * Continuously identify, analyze and evaluate strategic playing fields for IONITY, reading market trends and business opportunities and translating them into clear strategic options and recommendations for the business.  * Explore and assess opportunities across key domains, including: * Energy strategy: analyze and define how a CPO can integrate more deeply into the energy market, develop new business models and turn them into related commercial models. * Mobility sector: analyze how IONITY can position itself in emerging mobility segments and translate these trends into new business opportunities. * Digital Platform Services: Define how IONITY can leverage its network, customer base, operational data and software capabilities to create new digital revenue streams. Identify recurring-revenue business models that extend IONITY’s role from infrastructure provider to mobility and energy platform. * Act as a strategic thought partner and sparring partner to the CEO and senior leadership, challenging assumptions and ensuring strategic coherence across topics. Market & Business Intelligence  * Lead the “Market & Business Intelligence team”, responsible for the analysis of internal revenue, network and energy data. * Own all major company forecasts, including market development forecast, revenue forecast and energy forecast. * Oversee competitive analyses, as well as analyses supporting M&A activities and special projects. * Translate complex data into clear insights and decision-ready recommendations for executive stakeholders. Mergers & Acquisitions  * Take ownership of M&A projects within the department. * Lead and structure transactions, including business case development, valuation and purchase price negotiations. Governmental Affairs & Public Funding  * Steer governmental affairs activities and represent the company's interests toward relevant public and regulatory stakeholders. * Identify, secure and manage opportunities. Shareholder Relations  * Manage shareholder relations, ensuring transparent communication and strong alignment with shareholder expectations. YOUR PROFILE * A visionary strategic leader with 10+ years of leadership experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, transformation or a comparable senior role. * Proven M&A experience, with strength in purchase price / valuation negotiations. * Strong analytical and quantitative skills; confident working with revenue, network and energy data and complex forecasting models. * Experience in, or strong affinity for the energy, mobility, infrastructure or technology sectors. * A track record of not only designing strategy but driving its implementation to tangible results. * Excellent stakeholder management across executives, shareholders and public / governmental bodies. * Strong leadership skills, with the ability to build, develop and inspire a multidisciplinary team. * Fluent in English

iBanFirst

WHO ARE WE? iBanFirst is a fast-growing European fintech that is revolutionizing international payments for SMEs. Founded in 2016, our platform empowers Small & Medium Multinationals (SMMs) to regain control over their payment operations: currency conversion (FX), international transactions, and foreign exchange risk management across 140 countries — quickly, transparently, and securely. We make life easier for SMEs through an advanced technology platform (automation, APIs, AI…) combined with dedicated expertise, offering the best of both worlds: the agility of a SaaS solution and the reliability of a trusted partner.  By simplifying complexity, iBanFirst helps thousands of bold companies seize global business opportunities with peace of mind — delivering simplicity, transparency, and security.    KEY FIGURES  * 350+ employees across 15 offices in 12 European countries * 30+ nationalities represented, average age: 32 * 10,000 corporate clients trust us * €80M in revenue in 2025, with a target of around €100M in 2026 * Profitable for more than two years * Ranked for 6 consecutive years in the Financial Times FT1000, among the fastest-growing European companies * An NPS of 87.5 — an exceptional score in our industry that reflects enthusiastic client feedback on the simplicity, speed, and quality of our service   A STRONG CULTURE BUILT AROUND 4 CORE VALUES  * Team First : The complexity of our industry demands collective intelligence. We prioritize cooperation, transparency, and knowledge sharing. Success is a team effort, and decisions are made together. * Tenacity : We’re transforming a challenging and highly regulated market. It requires endurance, fast learning, and resilience — qualities rooted in our entrepreneurial DNA. * Transformation : Innovation is not a buzzword; it’s a necessity in a constantly shifting and strategic sector. We innovate with intent: every technical, product, or organizational improvement is designed for real impact. * Trust : Trust is the foundation of everything we build — with our clients and, above all, internally. It’s driven by ownership, autonomy, and a shared commitment to transparency, rigor, and reliability.   WHY JOIN US?  * We operate at the heart of a strategic and fast-evolving sector: international payments for SMEs — a complex, high-potential market. * We’re driven by a meaningful mission: helping bold “Small & Medium Multinationals” succeed globally. * Our platform integrates cutting-edge technologies (AI, automation…), making it an ideal playground to test, learn, and innovate continuously. * You’ll join an agile environment where your expertise has tangible impact, working alongside talent from top financial institutions. * iBanFirst is profitable and backed by long-term investors: * Xavier Niel and Bpifrance, historical shareholders, have supported and trusted us from the beginning * In 2021, the entry of Marlin Equity Partners marked a new chapter in our international ambitions Joining iBanFirst means joining a profitable, international, fast-growing tech company. It’s also a chance to learn, grow, and contribute directly to a shared ambition: simplifying international finance for SMEs.      THE ROLE  RECRUITMENT CONTEXT  This is a newly created position driven by iBanFirst's continued growth and the increasing complexity of our financial crime risk environment. As transaction volumes scale across new markets and products, we need a dedicated manager to lead our first line of defense teams on Financial Crime (Transaction Monitoring, Fraud detection, Regulatory Ops) and structure the quality and operational controls that underpin them.  We are open to candidates coming from various backgrounds (management/strategy consulting, operations/compliance professionals) who are looking to step into a thigh impact operational role. The financial crime domain can be learned — we are hiring for how you think, how you build, how you leverage technology (analytics, AI) and how you lead.    MANAGER & TEAM  You will report directly to Julien Molez, Chief Operations Officer. You will manage three teams which are at different levels of maturity:a team of 5 people: a  Transaction Monitoring Fraud management and Regulatory Operations. Your team is the first line of defense against money laundering, fraud, and financial crime — operating at the intersection of operational rigor, regulatory compliance, and technology.    WHAT WILL YOU DO?  As iBanFirst expands across European markets, the financial crime risk landscape grows in complexity. We are looking for an analytically sharp, structured, and operationally driven leader to supervise our TM Financial Crime Operations function, steer it with rigor and precision, embed it in a robust and recognized quality framework, and drive highest level of efficiency through data and automation.  Team Management & Operations  * Lead and develop the different teams in the scope: set priorities, manage performance, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.  * Oversee their daily operations: alert review, case investigation, SAR filing, and escalation processes.  * Manage capacity and workload allocation to maintain SLAs and maintain backlogs at constant low levels.  Fraud & Financial Crime  * Own the fraud detection and prevention framework: typologies, detection rules, investigation workflows, and outcomes tracking  * Stay current on financial crime trends and adapt the team's detection approach accordingly  Controls & Quality Framework  * Design and implement a quality insurance framework for each team, specific to each of them but consistent across domains.  * Define and track KPIs: detection rates, false positive ratios, case resolution times, SAR quality.  * Conduct regular calibration sessions and quality reviews to maintain consistent, high standards across the teams.  Analytics & Automation  * Use data to assess the performance of each value chains. For example, on the transaction monitoring side : rules effectiveness, reduce noise, and improve alert prioritization  * Work with Product and Engineering teams to constantly improve underlying systems and integrate automation into workflows  * Identify opportunities to leverage AI and machine learning to enhance detection and reduce manual effort  Regulatory & Reporting  * Ensure compliance with Belgian and EU AML/CFT obligations (LCB-FT, EU AML directives)  * Produce clear, insight-driven reporting for senior leadership: what the data says, what it means, and what action it warrants  * Lead or support regulatory audits and inspections related to TM and fraud  * Be the key go-to person for C-Levels for these topics and lead the associated governance meetings.    TASK BREAKDOWN  40% — Team management & operational oversight: Day-to-day leadership of the different teams, alert review quality, escalation management, and capacity planning  20% — Framework building: Quality controls, KPIs, fraud typologies, policies and procedures  30% — Analytics & automation: Rule performance analysis, detection improvement, collaboration with Product/Engineering  10% — Reporting & regulatory: Senior management reporting, audit support    ROLE OBJECTIVES  First 3 months  * Ramp up on iBanFirst's transaction monitoring systems, financial crime risk exposure, and regulatory environment  * Build trust with the team and assess individual strengths and development needs  * Map existing processes and identify the top 3 priority areas for improvement  First 6 months  * Deliver the first version of the quality assurance framework  * Define and baseline key operational KPIs  * Launch at least one automation or efficiency initiative  First 12 months  * Own the fraud framework end-to-end and present it to senior leadership  * Demonstrate measurable improvement in alert quality, team efficiency, or detection rates  * Build a 12-month roadmap for the function aligned with iBanFirst's growth plans    WHAT DO YOU BRING?  EXPERIENCE:  * 5-10 years of experience in similar positions at recognized financial institutions or in management consulting, strategy consulting, or a similar structured analytical environment (Big 4, MBB, Tier 2 strategy firms)  * Experience in financial services, fintech, or a regulated industry project context is a strong plus  * First exposure to compliance, risk, or financial crime topics (through client work, due diligence, or regulatory projects) is valued   SKILLS:  * Natural leadership and recognized management experience  * Exceptional structuring and problem-solving skills: you break complex issues into clear frameworks and actionable plans  * Strong data and analytics capabilities: comfortable with quantitative analysis, building dashboards, and deriving insights from operational data  * Proven ability to design processes and quality frameworks from scratch  * Natural project management instincts: you sequence work, track delivery, and hold people accountable  * High proficiency on AI and automation concepts and enthusiasm to apply them in an operational context  * Fluent in French and English, confident communicating with senior stakeholders  NICE TO HAVE:  * Hands-on experience with a transaction monitoring platform (ComplyAdvantage, Actimize, Napier, or equivalent)  * Familiarity with the French or Belgian regulatory environment: NBB, CTIF, ACPR, Tracfin, LCB-FT  WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT:  * You have led a transformation or process redesign project end-to-end  * You are energized by the idea of owning something operational, not just advising on it and transforming and optimizing it with technology  * You are curious about financial crime and see it as a high-stakes, intellectually demanding domain    WHAT DO WE OFFER? * Permanent contract (CDI)  * Office location: Paris  * Hybrid work policy: 2 days remote per week  * Competitive salary: €75,000 – €110,000 gross annual, depending on experience  * Benefits: * Swile meal card * Axa health insurance * Commuter benefits * RTT (extra paid days off) * Gymlib subsciption * Paid parental leave * Participate in company-wide events, including team offsites, company parties, and regular social activities.   RECRUITMENT PROCESS  1. Screening call with Malorie Petitjean (Talent Acquisition Specialist)— 30 min, remote. General fit, motivation, salary expectations, availability. 2. In-depth interview with Julien Molez (COO)— 1 hour, in-person. Operational experience, leadership approach, team fit.  3. Case study— Take-home exercise on an operational design or process improvement scenario. Presented during complementary 1h session with COO.  4. Final interview with Sonia Boudier (Deputy CEO) — 45 min, in-person. Leadership validation, strategic vision, long-term fit.          ____________________________ #LI-MP1 #LI-onsite / #LI-hybrid / #LI-remote