Job Title: Managing Director (MD)
Company: Valsoft
Location: Ireland (Remote)
Type: Full-time
Valsoft is seeking a dynamic and experienced Managing Director (MD) to support our Aviation portfolio.
About Valsoft:
Valsoft specialises in acquiring and growing vertical market software companies. Our mission is to provide a permanent home for software businesses, preserving the legacy of their founders while investing in the long-term growth and success of the companies we acquire. We operate and manage a global portfolio of wholly owned software companies, delivering mission-critical solutions across multiple verticals. By implementing industry best practices, Valsoft ensures a time-sensitive integration process and operates a decentralised model, fostering rapid growth through reinvestment in its portfolio.
The Role:
This position will provide critical operational leadership to our aviation portfolio. You will be responsible for developing and implementing the business’s strategic plan across all major functions, including sales & marketing, R&D, customer service, professional services, and human resources.
You will work closely with the leadership team to identify, define, and execute strategies required to achieve growth plans and operating objectives, with a focus on improving operational excellence. This role carries accountability for the aviation portfolio results, making it ideal for a driven leader eager to make a significant impact.
Key Responsibilities:
* Own the long-range, annual, and quarterly financial and non-financial goals.
* Develop and communicate a clear vision of goals and objectives, strategies, and philosophies about growth, revenue generation, profitability, and customer care.
* Manage day-to-day operations, including sales performance, opportunity management, forecasting, R&D capacity, and customer support.
* Attend promotional events which include but not limited to tradeshows and panels.
Sales and Marketing:
* Drive revenue growth, working with the sales team to identify new opportunities and execute growth strategies including cross/upsell and entering adjacent markets
* Develop and implement best in class sales operations and sales infrastructure to enable effective scale and ensure process discipline
* Develop and maintain competitive intelligence programs, generating industry trend reports to inform new feature and product development
* Improve use of Salesforce and other internal tools to increase forecasting capability, implement targets, and provide actionable insights to executive team and board of directors
* Create and implement KPIs for sales team to measure performance and productivity (ex: CAC / LTV) ; develop performance dashboards and establish reporting process (measure NRR and MRR trends)
* Work with sales leaders in establishing quotas, budgets, compensation plans and pricing optimization
* Manage key relationships with large accounts is mandatory
Customer Care/Customer Success:
* Execute an effective, long-term customer success program for clients
* Implement and maintain client support initiatives
* Facilitate both in-house and client training sessions
* Monitor and document Customer Success metrics, including program usage, satisfaction levels, ticket throughput, and resolution
* Coordinate the administration of annual customer satisfaction surveys (NPS) and other communication tools
Research and Development:
* Ensure clear product roadmaps are established, followed, and adapted to meet market needs
* Balance investment in R&D with maintenance efforts to maximize new customer growth and retain existing clients while maintaining efficient Customer Care and R&D operations
* Track Product Manager prioritization of R&D tasks, ensuring they are entered into the corporate system and executed by software developers
* Facilitate the growth of Product Managers by aligning their activities with job descriptions
Professional services:
* Ensure we are delivering profitable projects by monitoring billable utilizations, staff OPEX and contribution margin
* Establish strategies to increase NRR
* Track on a monthly basis results with the Head of Professional Services
Financial Management:
* Review with Senior Management and the team:
* Advance performance by driving improvements in revenue, profit, customer retention, loss prevention, and expense ratios
* Annual, quarterly, and monthly revenue results/forecasts and costs
* Participate in the development of internal department policies and programs to support quality and growth
* Drive P&L, ROI, EBITDA, rule of 40 and ARR/ IRR performance of businesses and ensure companies are meeting organizational objectives
Human resources:
* Partnering with your HR lead in:
o Driving talent retention and development
o Complying with local employment legislations
o Developing a true local company culture
Growth through M&A:
* Engage in M&A activities, working closely with the Valsoft investment group on acquisition strategy and M&A initiatives.
* Oversee post-acquisition initiatives to integrate companies into your business unit, focusing on operational transformation and implementation of efficiencies.
About You:
Educational Background:
* Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
Professional Experience:
Leadership Experience:
* Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a C-suite or senior operational leadership role or comparable experience in aviation software related investment.
* Proven track record managing multi-functional teams, including sales, marketing, R&D, customer service, and professional services, ideally in a technology or software environment.
Industry Expertise:
* Extensive experience in the aviation software, aerospace, or related technology sectors.
* Knowledge of market trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory requirements within the aviation industry.
* Hands-on experience with customer success initiatives, R&D roadmaps, and product lifecycle management in a B2B context.
Financial Acumen:
* Demonstrated ability to manage and drive financial performance, including P&L ownership, revenue forecasting, and operational budgeting.
* Proficiency in financial metrics.
Sales and Marketing:
* Strong background in scaling sales operations, developing KPIs, implementing CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), and managing large, strategic client relationships.
* Experience developing growth strategies, including cross-selling, upselling, and market expansion.
M&A Expertise:
* Involvement in M&A activities, from pre-acquisition due diligence to post-acquisition integration is a plus.
Key Skills and Competencies:
Strategic Leadership:
* Ability to set a clear vision and develop actionable strategies for achieving growth, profitability, and operational excellence.
Operational Excellence:
* Strong track record in process improvement, efficiency gains, and scaling operations effectively.
Data-Driven Decision Making:
* Proficiency in analytics, business intelligence tools, and dashboard creation to track key performance metrics (e.g., NRR, MRR, CAC/LTV).
Relationship Management:
* Adept at fostering strong relationships with large clients, stakeholders, and teams across functions and geographies.
Change Management:
* Experienced in leading organizational transformation initiatives and driving cultural alignment during periods of growth or integration.
Technical Knowledge:
* Familiarity with software development processes, R&D prioritization, and technology adoption in enterprise environments.
Personal Attributes:
* Results-driven with a proven ability to thrive in high-pressure, high-growth environments.
* Collaborative leader with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
* Strong problem-solving abilities, with a proactive and innovative approach to overcoming challenges.
Additional Preferences:
* Experience with SaaS business models and subscription-based revenue strategies.
* Knowledge of regulatory requirements and certifications within aviation software.
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