Autocratic of French position in charge (8)
I believe the answer is:
despotic
'autocratic' is the definition.
(I know that autocratic can be written as despotic)
'of french position in charge' is the wordplay.
'of french' becomes 'de' ('of' in French).
'position' becomes 'spot' (synonyms).
'in charge' becomes 'ic' (abbreviation for 'in charge').
'de'+'spot'+'ic'='DESPOTIC'
(Other definitions for despotic that I've seen before include "Exercising absolute power" , "Like the Czar" , "Authoritarian" , "Ruling harshly" , "Tyrannical, oppressive" .)