Managing Director Aviation (Ireland)

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:
• Driving talent retention and development
• Complying with local employment legislations
• 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.