At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead market entry and expansion for innovative maritime AI technology across Europe.
- Company: Quartermaster AI, a cutting-edge venture-backed company enhancing maritime domain awareness.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on innovation and impact.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team transforming maritime operations with AI and robotics.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in operations or business development, with expertise in maritime regulations.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
About Us
At Quartermaster AI, we leverage cutting-edge AI and robotics technology to enhance maritime domain awareness. Our mission is to become the eyes, ears, and brain of the ocean by enabling every vessel to collaboratively sense, compute, and communicate. Quartermaster is a venture-backed Maritime Domain Awareness company providing near real-time insights to government and commercial partners via our SmartMast product.
About the Role
As Head of Launch for Europe, you will lead Quartermaster's market entry and expansion across one of the world's most mature and tightly regulated maritime regions. This is a high-stakes, dual-mandate role: you will serve as our chief diplomat and operational strategist. You will be responsible for proactively de-risking our business from a complex, multi-jurisdictional regulatory environment, while identifying and securing the maritime partnerships that anchor Quartermaster's growth. Success in this role is measured in SmartMast™ units installed, activated, and reporting on European waters.
Key Responsibilities
- Regulatory Strategy & Market De-risking
- Government & Regulatory Relations: Build and maintain proactive relationships with national maritime administrations, flag state authorities, and EU-level bodies to ensure Quartermaster's operations remain compliant and welcomed across European jurisdictions.
- Policy & Compliance Mapping: Anticipate regulatory shifts, trade restrictions, and policy changes across Europe's flag state and port state control regimes, including the Paris MoU, and develop strategies to neutralize risks before they impact operations.
- Compliance Leadership: Partner with Legal and Compliance to ensure every market launch aligns with local labor, customs, trade, spectrum and equipment type-approval, data-handling, and maritime safety requirements.
- Market Entry & Local Infrastructure
- Market Entry Playbooks: Develop scalable, repeatable launch strategies tailored to the distinct regulatory and commercial realities of individual European markets.
- Import & Logistics Setup: Establish the import, customs, and logistics framework needed to bring SmartMast™ hardware into target markets, including initial warehousing and staging ahead of deployment.
- Vendor Ecosystem Development: Identify, vet, and onboard local installers, fabricators, and port-side vendors capable of supporting SmartMast™ deployment to Quartermaster's quality and safety standards.
- Maritime Stakeholder Engagement
- Stakeholder Mapping & Outreach: Identify, engage, and convert commercial fleet operators, independent vessel owners, port authorities, and maritime organizations suitable for SmartMast™ deployment.
- Partnership Structuring: Negotiate and close partnership and space-use agreements (the right to mount and operate our hardware on a vessel) that secure vessel capacity and long-term maritime relationships for Quartermaster.
- Partner Onboarding: Oversee the transition from signed agreement to operational integration, ensuring new fleet, port, and vendor partners meet Quartermaster's quality, safety, and performance standards from day one and that Field Operations can deploy without delay.
- Relationship Management: Build durable, trust-based relationships with fleets, ports, and maritime organizations that build brand trust and reduce bureaucratic friction ahead of deployment.
- Regional Leadership
- Team Building: Recruit, scale, and mentor a local, cross-disciplinary team spanning field operations, market support, and stakeholder relations.
- Cross-Functional Orchestration: Align global product, engineering, legal, and marketing teams with the specific requirements of the European market.
- Market Intelligence: Serve as the primary feedback loop to Quartermaster leadership on regional dynamics, technical requirements, and localized risks.
What We're Looking For
- Experience: 8+ years in senior operations, market launch, business development, or public policy roles, ideally within maritime, government affairs, or other highly regulated industries.
- Regional Expertise: Working knowledge of European maritime, trade, and regulatory frameworks, and the political and commercial variation across the region's markets.
- Diplomatic Edge: Proven ability to navigate government processes, multilateral regulatory bodies, and public-private partnerships.
- Commercial Acumen: Track record of closing complex B2B partnerships, joint ventures, or fleet and vessel agreements.
- Execution Focus: A bias for action. The ability to draft a market entry plan in the morning and negotiate a stakeholder partnership in the afternoon.
- Language Skills: Fluency in English is required. Professional proficiency in French, German, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, or Spanish is highly preferred.
Head of Launch (Europe) employer: Quartermaster AI
Quartermaster AI is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the maritime sector. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving industry. Our culture values teamwork and creativity, making it an ideal place for those looking to contribute meaningfully while enjoying the benefits of working in a vibrant European market.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Launch (Europe)
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Logistics and supply chain are all about networking, so hit up those trade shows and local meetups. Places like the UK's Logistics and Supply Chain conference can be goldmines for connecting with potential employers like Quartermaster AI and learning about the latest trends in the industry.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join forums and LinkedIn groups specifically for logistics professionals. Share your insights and ask questions to get noticed. Being active in these spaces can help you establish credibility and might just lead to an opportunity at Quartermaster AI!
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Even if it’s a full-time gig, having a portfolio can really set you apart. Include case studies or projects that demonstrate your understanding of supply chain management, logistics software, or solving operational challenges. You’d be surprised at how much this can impress hiring managers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don't forget the power of applying directly through our website! A lot of companies like Quartermaster AI keep job postings exclusive to their sites. This way, you can easily keep track of your applications and ensure your profile is in front of the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Launch (Europe)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Quartermaster AI:This is your chance to really connect with the team at Quartermaster AI. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Quartermaster AI
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with Quartermaster AI.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show Quartermaster AI that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at Quartermaster AI. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!
