Managing Director

Managing Director | Advanced Aerospace & Uncrewed Aviation

Location: Switzerland

Sector: Aerospace | UAV | Advanced Aviation

✛ This role is being managed exclusively by HYTE on a retained basis ✛

Direct applications and confidential enquiries are welcomed.

✛ Overview ✛

HYTE has been exclusively retained by an innovative European aerospace organisation to appoint a Managing Director as the business enters an important stage of growth, industrialisation and organisational development.

The company develops and operates advanced uncrewed aircraft systems and is building the organisational, technical and commercial foundations required for its next phase of growth.

This is a broad company leadership position with responsibility for translating strategy into measurable execution across engineering, product development, certification, production, operations, commercial activity, financial performance and organisational culture.

We are particularly interested in two types of leader.

Established Managing Directors or General Managers within aerospace, aviation, UAV or advanced technology organisations.

Equally, we are interested in exceptional "number two ready to become number one" profiles. This could include a COO, VP Engineering, Programme Director, Technical Director, Operations Director or similar senior leader who has already operated with significant organisational and financial responsibility and is ready to step into overall business leadership.

The successful individual will combine enough technical credibility to lead within a sophisticated aerospace environment with the commercial judgement, operational discipline and leadership capability required to scale a growing organisation.

✛ Key Responsibilities ✛

• Take overall responsibility for the operational performance and execution of the business
• Translate company and board strategy into clear organisational priorities and measurable results
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, certification, production, operations and supporting functions
• Drive the continued development, certification, industrialisation and delivery of advanced aircraft systems
• Establish the organisational structure, processes and accountability required to support sustainable growth
• Take ownership of financial performance, budgets and operational planning
• Strengthen programme execution and delivery performance across the organisation
• Work closely with engineering and certification leadership within an EASA regulated environment
• Develop relationships with customers, strategic partners, suppliers, authorities and other external stakeholders
• Support commercial development and the conversion of technical capability into sustainable business growth
• Build a high performance culture with clear ownership, communication and accountability
• Work closely with group leadership, shareholders and the board on the long term development of the company

✛ Candidate Profile ✛

We are interested in senior leaders from aerospace, aviation, UAV, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, defence aviation or closely related environments .

Relevant experience is likely to include several of the following:

• Leadership of multidisciplinary engineering, programme, production or operational organisations
• Significant budget, business unit or P&L responsibility
• Aircraft development and complex aerospace programmes
• Product development through industrialisation and operational delivery
• Organisational growth, restructuring, transformation or scale up
• EASA Part 21, Design Organisation, Production Organisation or equivalent certification environments
• Aircraft certification and interaction with aviation authorities
• Customer, supplier and strategic partner management
• Commercial responsibility and business development
• Manufacturing, supply chain and production environments
• Building and developing high performance technical organisations
• Working effectively with boards, shareholders and senior corporate leadership

Direct UAV experience is highly relevant but not essential .

Likewise, candidates do not need to be rotorcraft specialists. Strong leadership experience gained within fixed wing, helicopter, eVTOL, defence aviation or other complex certified aerospace programmes can translate extremely well.

✛ The Leadership Profile ✛

This opportunity is particularly suited to someone who has reached the point where they want broader ownership.

You may already be running an aerospace company or business unit.

Alternatively, you may currently be the person immediately below that level, already responsible for substantial teams, programmes, budgets and strategic decisions, and now ready to take responsibility for the performance of an entire organisation.

Technical credibility matters, but this is not simply an engineering leadership position .

The successful individual must be equally comfortable discussing aircraft development and certification with engineering teams, operational performance with functional leaders, financial priorities with shareholders and commercial strategy with customers and partners.

✛ Location ✛

The position is based in Switzerland and requires a strong on site leadership presence.

For this reason, candidates should either already be based in Switzerland or be genuinely open to relocation.

International candidates with highly relevant aerospace leadership experience are welcomed where Swiss work authorisation can realistically be achieved.

✛ Take your career to new HYTEs ✛

• Step into overall leadership of an advanced European aerospace organisation
• Lead a business operating at the forefront of uncrewed aviation
• Significant influence across strategy, engineering, certification, industrialisation and commercial growth
• Opportunity for an accomplished aerospace "number two" to step into a true "number one" leadership position
• Work within a highly technical and internationally relevant aviation environment
• Direct interaction with group leadership, shareholders and the board
• Lead the organisation through an important stage of growth and maturity
• Competitive executive package appropriate to the experience and scope of the successful individual

All enquiries will be handled in the strictest confidence.