General Manager, Digitization & Counter Threat @ KWESST

Summary of the Role

Based in Ottawa, and reporting directly to the Executive Chairman, the General Manager of Digitization & Counter Threat (D&CT), will be responsible for managing all aspects of daily operations and business development within the D&CT business unit.

As General Manager, you will use your leadership skills and superior business acumen to develop and grow the business through customer acquisition and product innovation while strengthening internal processes, systems, and overall operations. It is also highly critical in this role that you prioritize being actively present within the business unit, building a roadmap to enhance innovation and revenue growth.

You will be joining KWESST as part of the Senior Leadership Team and therefore be expected to provide strategic and operational leadership to the company. As a collective you will set goals and ensure strategies are executed effectively. You will work alongside your colleagues to provide and display exceptional leadership, serving as a model teams will follow, while carrying out the vision of the organization through operations and culture.

Accountable for the business unit (inclusive of programs, engineering and innovation, product development, and sales) you will set comprehensive goals for performance and growth, recommend and implement operational plans to achieve company goals, and establish policies and business processes that promote a culture of elevated performance and excellence. You will identify opportunities to support the development and advancement of the D&CT business unit by providing appropriate resources and expanding the existing infrastructure as necessary. Furthermore, you will be comfortable delegating where appropriate, calculating risk management, and monitoring team members, keeping track of progress and growth.

Managing the profit and loss (P&L) of the business unit, you will ensure financial sustainability while driving growth through business development activities. This requires a deep understanding of the market and customer needs, coupled with the ability to scale the business accordingly. Working with the product development team, you will seek out opportunities for expansion and improvement to support further revenue streams while upholding the company’s standards of excellence. You will encourage innovation by asking thought-provoking questions, providing necessary resources, and ensuring that budgets and timelines are met. Alongside project oversight, you will implement and manage the company systems engineering framework and the company Quality Management System (QMS).

You will be accountable for the execution of programs and ensuring efficient and effective management of outsourced production, which will become increasingly important as the business grows. You will be responsible for managing the entire program lifecycle, from planning and execution to delivery, ensuring that all programs are completed within schedule, cost, and quality parameters. You will also work closely with the production team to oversee the management of outsourced production, ensuring that all production activities are carried out according to KWESST’s quality standards and adhering to contractual obligations.

Externally, you will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders pertaining to all areas of the business. To support these efforts, you will be involved in attending industry events, conferences and trade shows, as well as hosting meetings as appropriate. Connected to production, you will want to maintain effective collaboration with suppliers, contractors, and other value-added partners to facilitate efficient production and on-time delivery of high-quality products. You will also work closely with the sales and marketing teams to identify and pursue new business opportunities, while ensuring that KWESST’s existing relationships are well-nurtured and maintained. As part of this role, you will need to be comfortable traveling domestically and internationally as needed, to engage with leadership in the industry and end user market, promoting KWESST’s solutions and capabilities. Your knowledge of the defence industry and your ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships, will be instrumental in driving growth and profitability for the company.

At KWESST, you will play a vital role in driving growth and innovation within the organization while ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of defence and security technology. In leading the planning, execution, and delivery of goods and services you will ensure that contracts and programs adhere to earned value management principles for cost, quality, and schedule management, further cementing KWESST’s reputation as a leader in defence and security technology.

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