Managing Director - QinetiQ Target Systems

Job Title: Managing Director, QinetiQ Target Systems

Global Grade: GG16

Location: Ashford, Kent

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Role Purpose:

Reporting to the MD Air, QinetiQ UK Defence Sector, the Managing Director QTS is responsible for delivering strong operational performance and strategic growth, with accountability for the delivery of safe and compliant business operations in line with QinetiQ expectations and external and internal regulatory requirements.

The MD QTS owns the development and maintenance of the Product Strategies for Aerial Targets within QinetiQ UK Defence and will create a Centre of Excellence for product manufacture and assembly across the UK.

The role will lead a cross-functional management team including engineering, operations and functional staff within a matrix organisation and will work as part of the wider Air Leadership Team supporting the overall UKD Sector.

Key Accountabilities:

• Providing clear, visible and effective leadership of the QTSUK business.
• Champion of a people-centred culture where safety, security, inclusion and the engagement of our people are seen as core to the success in delivering for our customers. Build a highly engaged and high performing leadership team.
• Safety leadership for QTSUK, collaborating with UKD Engineering and Operations as per safety delegations.
• Being a role model of QinetiQ behaviours and values.
• Deepen strategic customer engagement in collaboration with the Business Development function. Lead business dealings with senior external stakeholders, particularly current and potential customers.
• Focus on the organisational development of the QTSUK business to achieve strong collaboration and high engagement.
• Delivers the financial performance of the QTS business including achievement of growth targets and improving its competitiveness and performance.
• Owns the development and maintenance of the Product Strategies for Aerial Targets across QinetiQ.
• Own and develop a capability roadmap for manufacturing and assembly for a broader product portfolio in the UK.
• Own and develop make, buy, partner strategies for a broader product portfolio in the UK.
• Improve customer satisfaction through the effective delivery of products and services to time, quality and cost.
• Monitor, manage and report financial and operational risk in the business.
• Preparation and presentation of a long, medium and short-term strategy for QTSUK, and prepare an annual budget.
• Approve commercial and financial commitments, in alignment with delegation.
• Effectively interface with QinetiQ Target Systems Canada and the Australia and US Sectors, effectively utilising our routes to market and driving QTSUK product sales globally.

Key Capabilities / Knowledge

• Customer-orientated: serving and building value-added relationships with customers whether internal or external.
• Market Aware: understanding the market in which the business operates, including competition, suppliers, customer base and the regulatory environment.
• Leadership: focusing, aligning and building effective teams across the business area, including the development of future skills and process, supported by appropriate tools in collaboration with other business areas.
• Collaboration and Influence: working effectively with, and influencing across, QinetiQ to generate a positive impact on business performance.
• Results Orientated: focused on improvement of business results, including accurate forecasting and time, cost and schedule excellence. Balance risk and innovation to ensure both short-term deliverables and long-term growth are achieved.
• Change Leadership: transforming and aligning the business through its people to drive for improvement in new and challenging directions, energising the QTSUK team to change in the same direction, and promoting best practice across the company.
• People and Organisational Development: promote a high performing culture that enables continuous long- term skills and capabilities development.

Experience & Qualifications:

Experience leading diverse and complex technical operations.

• Experience leading a vertically integrated business of a medium size; preferably in defence design engineering.
• Experience in a senior business leadership role.
• Significant experience of inspiring and developing cross functional teams.
• Significant experience in building customer relationships at a senior level.
• Politically and organisationally aware.
• Ability to obtain appropriate security clearances.

What else do I need to know?

Joining QinetiQ offers you an opportunity to work on a broad range of exciting defence-based projects, with vast career progression across a global organisation, in addition to competitive personal and professional benefits.

You’ll receive a competitive salary and benefits package: our basic salaries are very attractive, as we constantly review what’s happening in the market.

The range of benefits we offer include adaptive and flexible / hybrid working, ample holiday entitlements, generous employer pension contributions, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, and the ability to purchase discounted Health Cash Plans, Private Medical Insurance, and Dental Insurance, plus much more.