Chief Technology Officer - MD Helicopters - Phoenix

Job description
MD Helicopters, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance helicopters, including the MD 500® series, the MD 600N® and the MD Explorer®. The Company has a reputation in the aerospace industry for offering the best-quality, best-value helicopters in the world.

Since its acquisition by the Patriarch funds, the Company has substantially increased the number of helicopters it manufactures and it expects strong growth in the future. There are more than 2,500 of the Company’s helicopters in use around the world. Fleet users include the Korean Armed Forces, US Special Operations, the Japanese Self Defense Forces, the Jordanian Armed Forces, the Turkish National Police, the Houston Police, the Columbus Police, CALSTAR, the Argentina Armed Forces, the Italian government, the Finnish Armed Forces and many others.

Position Summary:

In a continuing effort to focus on the development of best in class technical solutions for our customers and end-users worldwide, MD Helicopters (MDHI) seeks to fill a role, at its company headquarters, for a Chief Technology Officer. This executive position will be responsible for leading the consolidated Research and Development (R&D) and Product Engineering functions and activities for MDHI. The role has scope for innovation by developing the current and future product portfolio of MDHI. This individual will be directly involved with invention, design and development, sourcing strategy, manufacturing strategy, customer requirements and quality assurance. The Chief Technology Officer will be an industry expert and liaise with groups and stakeholders external to the business to ensure policies and programs are developed in accordance with relevant industry standards and governmental regulations.

Key Relationships

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Direct reports: Supervises employees and teams across a matrix structure
Key relationships: Chief Operating Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Others (TBD)

Major Responsibilities

Maintains detailed knowledge and insight about the aerospace market, technology trends, and has a complete understanding of customer needs.
Becomes a leader in advancing new technology tools to include, but not limited to; software simulation, 3D printing with composites, as well as virtual reality for evaluation, assessment and testing.
Maintains good relationships with key customers. Has access to high engineering and pre-development levels with customers to gain first-hand information about proposed future product requirements and, in the process, promotes MD product solutions and capabilities.
Is accountable for the entire value stream of R&D/innovation from product development to market launch activities.
Develops, introduces, and maintains most efficient R&D processes focused on cost and customer satisfaction.
Develops, introduces and maintains strategically benchmarked processes to ensure market competitiveness, an understanding of trends, and detailed knowledge of competitor products and processes.
Reports frequently on the status of innovation and R&D activities to the management team.
Engages senior management in the development process of new products.
Maintains responsibility for the global engineering budget and ensures alignment on spending with business strategy and goals.
Interviews, selects, and hires qualified individuals for key management positions.
Develop a strong working relationship with the primary Dura owners, Patriarch Partners, LLC.

Desired Skills and Experience

Ideal Experience

Minimum of 15 years of related experience in senior level engineering and R&D leadership.
Assignments require considerable knowledge of management practice and policy interpretation or some combination of education and experience that would enable senior technical capability allowing the incumbent to independently evaluate, select, and apply techniques and standards.
Demonstrated leadership and implementation of lean methodologies in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated strong leadership, collaboration, project management, problem-solving, change management and influencing skills.
Comfortable and well practiced leading teams within a global matrix with virtual team relationships.
Experience serving as a technical advisor to a senior leadership team.
Demonstrated and effective communication and relationship building skills at all levels in an organization.
BA/BS required (preferably in a technical discipline), Master’s level education in a scientific discipline, six sigma or other lean certifications highly desired.

Critical Competencies for Success

Action Orientation
Business Acumen
Creativity
Customer Focus
Functional/Technical Skills
Managing and Measuring Work
Managing through Systems
Building Effective Teams
Total Work Systems (e.g. TQM/ISO/Six Sigma)

Personal Characteristics

Superior communication skills and can present his/her ideas in a clear, concise manner; one who can adapt his/her communication style as needed.
Unquestioned integrity and values that the organization can trust without reservation.
Consensus builder with strong persuasion skills.
A highly motivated team player who contributes to an atmosphere in which people work together, enthusiastically and effectively, to produce results – not political.
A good listener with a strong sense of self.
Must be flexible with the ability to change, adapt and grow – patience and diplomacy skills are critical to success, particularly with customers.
Exhibits passion for the mission of the company.
Cross-cultural sensitivity and experience that can earn the respect of a diverse workforce and play a lead role in creating an inclusive culture at all levels of the organization.

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