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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a pioneering tech firm in Aerospace, Defence & Security to achieve rapid growth and successful exit.
- Company: Innovative technology provider with a mission to safeguard people and assets globally.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, high six-figure LTIP, and executive benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant autonomy and legacy impact in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a high-impact business and drive its success story.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in Defence or related sectors with a focus on growth and value creation.
The predicted salary is between 110000 - 130000 £ per year.
Value Creation & Exit Strategy
Sector: Aerospace, Defence & Security
Location: East Midlands
Compensation: Base salary Circa £110k - £130k bonus executive benefits six-figure Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
The Brief: Take Command. Accelerate Growth. Deliver the Exit.
Our client is a pioneering technology provider operating at the heart of the Aerospace, Defence, and Security landscape. Their core mission, safeguarding people, assets, and critical operations, is delivered through cutting-edge solutions deployed for national governments, military agencies, and high-risk commercial enterprises worldwide.
This is not a conventional leadership role. It is a high-definition, outcome-driven mandate. We seek a commercially sharp, relentlessly results-focussed Managing Director who will assume complete strategic and operational command with one singular, non-negotiable goal: to design, drive, and deliver a rapid growth trajectory that ends in a premium trade sale. This is a value-creation and value-realisation role. It is underwritten by an exceptional, direct, and material Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) a high six-figure reward designed to lock your personal success directly to the ultimate shareholder outcome.
The Mission Architect: From Growth to Exit
As Managing Director, you will hold full P&L authority and possess genuine freedom to reshape, scale, and position the business for maximum valuation. You will serve as the engine of growth, operational rigour, and strategic market positioning directly influencing every lever that drives a superior exit.
Key Strategic Objectives
- Map and Execute the Exit Pathway: Formulate and deliver a multi-year strategic blueprint prioritising rapid revenue acceleration, market share capture, and meaningful EBITDA expansion to attract top-tier acquirers.
- Activate Value Multipliers: Identify and action every commercial and operational lever including contract structure, pricing models, supply chain efficiency, and scalable workflows that directly elevates enterprise worth.
- Embody the Value Narrative: Operate as the primary external face of the business to markets, strategic allies, and prospective buyers, crafting a compelling story of proven scalability, loyal client relationships, and technological indispensability.
- Forge a Sale-Ready Organisation: Embed world-class corporate governance, transparent financial reporting, and operational resilience to present a low-risk, highly scalable, and acquisition-ready asset.
Core Accountabilities
- Strategic & Commercial Leadership: Own the end-to-end growth agenda, pursuing both domestic and international expansion. Secure and nurture long-term, high-value contracts with government and defence customers. Use deep sector intelligence to outmanoeuvre competitors and establish the business as an irreplaceable partner.
- Financial Value Engineering: Assume full P&L responsibility with an obsessive focus on margin enhancement, profitability, and cash generation. Oversee the full lifecycle of complex, high-stakes contracts to optimise returns and mitigate risk. Deploy rigorous financial and operational KPIs mapped directly to exit valuation metrics.
- Operational Excellence at Scale: Lead, develop, and energise a senior leadership team around a shared exit goal. Overhaul operational processes for efficiency, quality, and repeatability, building a resilient and transferable business model. Ensure the organisational structure and talent pipeline are due-diligence ready and capable of supporting accelerated growth.
- Stakeholder & Exit Readiness: Act as the trusted strategic partner to key clients, ensuring exceptional retention and an unimpeachable reference base. Collaborate closely with the founder and board to align commercial execution with technology roadmaps. Prepare every facet of the operation for eventual sale, ensuring all functions withstand intense acquirer scrutiny.
Candidate Profile
The Value Creator
You are a strategic executor motivated by a clear, high-consequence outcome. You see this role as the defining project of your career to date.
- Proven Track Record: Demonstrable success as a Managing Director, General Manager, or equivalent P&L leader within Defence, Security, Aerospace, or a closely related advanced engineering/technology sector. Direct experience engaging with military or government bodies is highly advantageous.
- Growth & Value Architect: A documented history of driving substantial revenue growth, EBITDA improvement, and operational transformation that directly increased business valuation or led to a successful exit event.
- Commercial Pedigree: Deep expertise in negotiating and managing high-value B2G or B2B contracts. Superior financial modelling, pricing, and commercial structuring skills.
- Leadership DNA: An inspirational and motivational leader capable of building a high-performance, exit-obsessed culture. A compelling communicator adept at influencing teams, boards, clients, and future partners.
- Mindset: Ambitious, driven, and outcome-obsessed. You are energised by a defined mission with a clear finish line and find reward in the tangible, measurable results of your leadership.
The Value Proposition
A True Partnership in Outcome
- A Defined and Rewarded Mission: Lead with one singular, compelling objective a successful, high-value trade sale.
- Unmatched Earning Potential: A highly competitive base package, significantly amplified by a high six-figure LTIP payout upon successful execution of the exit strategy.
- Autonomy and Impact: Genuine strategic and operational authority to fundamentally reshape the business and its future legacy.
- Purpose and Legacy: Steward a business with tangible global impact, guiding it to its next phase of growth under new ownership.
As a specialist boutique executive search firm, Executive Recruit partners with organisations to secure the calibre of leadership that drives meaningful change. Our bespoke methodology ensures clients access exceptional executives who combine strategic vision with proven execution, ultimately strengthening leadership depth and board performance.
Managing Director in Grantham employer: Executive Recruit
Contact Detail:
Executive Recruit Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Managing Director in Grantham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry leaders, attend events, and join relevant groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Managing Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a personal brand that highlights your achievements in growth and value creation. Use platforms like LinkedIn to share insights and engage with others in the Aerospace and Defence sectors.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s mission and values. Be ready to discuss how your strategic vision aligns with their goals, especially around exit strategies and operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can give you an edge in the selection process.
We think you need these skills to ace Managing Director in Grantham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in the Aerospace, Defence, and Security sectors. We want to see how your skills align with our mission of safeguarding people and assets.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your impact! Use quantifiable results to demonstrate how you've driven growth and improved operational efficiency in previous roles.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who embodies leadership and can inspire a team, so don’t be afraid to share your unique approach and vision.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Executive Recruit
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Managing Director, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics like EBITDA, P&L statements, and revenue growth figures. Be ready to discuss how you've driven these numbers in past roles and how you plan to do so in this position.
✨Craft Your Value Narrative
Prepare a compelling story about your previous successes in driving growth and value creation. Highlight specific examples where your leadership directly influenced a successful exit or improved business valuation. This will show that you understand the mission of the role and can embody the value narrative.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the Aerospace, Defence, and Security sectors. Know the key players, current trends, and challenges facing the industry. This knowledge will help you articulate how you can position the company for maximum valuation and attract top-tier acquirers.
✨Demonstrate Leadership DNA
Be prepared to showcase your leadership style and how it aligns with building a high-performance culture. Share examples of how you've motivated teams towards a common goal, especially in high-stakes environments. This will resonate well with the interviewers looking for an inspirational leader.