The "Finance" function comprises business control, financial accounting, treasury and financial engineering teams. Due to the growing international dimension of the Group's business and the changes in its scope of consolidation, the Finance function plays a major role in improving the performance and efficiency of the Group.

Evolution of the operational

            Financiers make a contribution at multiple levels: during negotiations and the conclusion of a contract (finding the necessary financing), with regards to programmed management (outlining a long and medium-term strategic business plan), or vis-à-vis the shareholders (annual budget reports).

            Thales currently employs 2 500 employees within this job family.

            The purpose of Thales's « Quality and Business Improvement » function is to define and implement efficient processes, designed to improve internal Group operations, in order to ensure the satisfaction of customers, salaries and external partners.

            It covers not only the central Quality and Business Improvement teams but also managers with expertise in operational and support functions, such as bid and programmed management, engineering, purchasing, production and customer services.

            Thales currently employs 1 600 employees within this job family.

            The « Communications » function aims to promote the Thales Identity and present a clear and consistent vision of the Group, its strategy and ambitions.

            The Group communication strategy is based on ensuring consistency in internal and external messages, efficient use of resources for all communication efforts, and taking into account the international dimension and multi-domestic organisation, while observing local specificities.

            Thales currently employs 350 employees within this job family.

            Operating behind the scenes, the staffs within the « Facilities Management and Personal Assistants » provide indirect support that is indispensable to the company's business activity.

            Facilities management and general services includes site operation and maintenance management, environmental management and protection, maintenance of industrial systems as well as staff and visitors services. Assisting management and providing secretarial services involves carrying our daily administrative tasks inherent in professional life.

            Thales currently employs 4 300 employees within this job family.

            The « Services and Support » function is organized into two specialist fields : upstream service engineering (integrated logistic support, documentation, training) and downstream operational support and services (technical assistance, integration and installation assistance and repairs), as well as consultancy. 

            It aims is to develop effective customer services and support as part of a "win-win" type partnership and to provide customers with innovative, cost effective solutions

            Thales currently employs 5 600 employees within this job family.

            The R&D teams working on « Hardware » are mainly composed of technical operations managers, who define the key technological areas of R&D within the Group; of architects, who specify products, equipments and systems; of technologists, who have a specific expertise; and of scientists, who lead advanced studies, innovate, and transfer their knowledge.

            These teams are responsible for the design of architectures within analogue and digital electronics, as well as the development of technologies in areas such as optics, acoustics, magnetism, tubes, mechanics, material science, thermal engineering and fluid dynamics.

            Thales currently employs 6 000 employees within this job family.

            Various transverse and specialist activities fall under the "Legal" function : business and company law, tax law, intellectual property, insurance and risk management, real estate, the environment, industrial safety, security affairs or export controls...

            The Legal function plays a vital role in protecting the Group's activities and positions with respect to its customers and partners, primarily in ensuring the compliance of operations with national and international legislation and the application of the business conducts drawn up by supranational organisations.

            Thales currently employs 350 employees within this job family.

            The teams of the « Bid and Programme Management » functions are not only in charge of drawing up technical, industrial and commercial proposals or to spontaneously propose solutions to a customer's requirement, but also to effectively manage a programme after a contract has been awarded.

            A bid managers activity is structured in two phase: the initial bidding phase, during which the manager mobilizes teams and experts from inside the Group, as well as outside partners, suppliers and co-contractors; and the contract execution, which has to be carried out to the satisfaction of the client, respect contractual commitments under optimum conditions for the Group.

            Thales currently employs 6 500 employees within this job family.

            The « Executive Management » function, is composed of senior managers, in charge of either cost (Operational, technical or industrial departments) or profit centers (Business Line, Business Unit) within the Group.

            The mission of these top managers is to control business, generate growth, lead and develop teams, prepare for the future and maintain the Group's values at the highest level required.

            Thales currently employs around 350 employees within this job family.

            The « Manufacturing » function, regroups manufacturing and testing engineering, production engineering studies, manufacture of electronic, mechanical and specific sub-systems, integration and equipment, development and final testing.

            Manufacturing is hence involved in all phases of product, equipment and system life cycles, from intitial offer to series production. It does not only have to guarantee the timely delivery of compliant products equipments and systems that satisfy end customers, but also has a unique capital of numerous, regularly renewed technical and technological skills, which guarantee the present and future independence of the Group.

            Thales currently employs 14 000 employees within this job family.

            The teams of the « R&D Software and Internal Information Systems » are mainly composed of technical operations managers, who define the key technological areas of R&D within the Group; of architects, who specify products, equipments and systems; of technologists, who have a specific expertise; and of scientists, who lead advanced studies, innovate, and transfer their knowledge.

            These teams are responsible for the development of software, who plays a key role in most Thales products. They also design, in communication with users, the internal information systems, whose aim is to treat, in total security the information required to carry out internal work.

            Thales currently employs 13 200 employees within this job family.

            The « purchasing » function, covers all activities that relate to added value originating outside the company., value bought from suppliers and/or subcontractors.

            The increase in outsourcing of certain activities led to a greater need of coordination with other functions, such as Bid and Programmed Management, R&D or Manufacturing, in order to ensure professionalism and continuity all along the Supply Chain and to improve cost effectiveness.

            Thales currently employs 1 000 employees within this job family.

            The « R&D Product and System Engineering » teams are mainly composed of technical operations managers, who define the key technological areas of R&D within the Group and manage the teams; of architects, who specify products, equipments and systems; of technologists, who have specific expertise; and of scientists, who lead advanced studies, innovate, and transfer their knowledge.

            Focusing on a multidisciplinary and team work oriented approach, these teams are responsible for the technical aspects of putting in place, designing, developing and validating system solutions (processes, products and competences) as to meet the needs of the customers.

            Thales currently employs 7 800 employees within this job family.

            The « Marketing and Sales » function is in charge of meeting customers, being aware of their needs and negotiating and concluding sales and after-sales contracts, both on domestic markets and, thanks to a powerful international network, all over the world. Involved in 3 main markets (aerospace and space, defence and security), Thales deploys a marketing and sales approach and business models tailored to the different clients, the distinction being defence and government customers on the one hand, and private business-to-business customers on the other.

            The teams « Strategic and Business Development teams » assist the Executive Management in gaining a medium- and long term geopolitical, economic and industrial perspective on market development, requirements and the competition.

            Thales currently employs 3 200 employees within this job family.

            The "Human Resource" function regroups professional development (employment, mobility, training), employee relations (management-staff relations, legal) and compensation and benefits (payroll).

            Playing a central role in the coaching and consulting for management, especially in its capacity to anticipate future recruitment and talent need, the HR function is also responsible for upholding Thales' core values and the ground rules of people management that the Group has laid down.

            Thales currently employs 1 200 employees within this job family.