VI-Grade Division Leader

Division Leader, VI-grade (VIG), Virtual Test division, HBK

The position

The Division Leader of VI-grade (VIG) demands a high-growth, visionary leader who can drive exceptional growth in the fast-moving marketplace of automotive simulation. The position includes developing the overall growth vision, P&L management, and developing and delivering an implementation plan covering budget, forecast, operations, channel management, product development, partnerships, and acquisitions.  The role sits within the Virtual Test division one of the businesses within HBK.  A clear strategy is in place to develop and grow the Virtual Test businesses relating to real-time simulation software, simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Systems, building on VIG’s innovative product pipeline, the Division Leader will drive the next level of growth and scalability. It is intended that this business unit will be grown profitably through organic initiatives and acquisition to meet the commitments laid out in the Strategy review 2025.

This position reports to the Executive Vice President, Virtual Test (VT).  The position will be part of the executive management of the Virtual Test Business Unit, and it will play a key role in developing the strategy for future growth for VIG and the Business Unit overall.

The corporate teams who support this role include Finance, IT, Human Resources and Legal, who provide capabilities, best practice solutions and global process ownership across HBK.  This will be achieved through business-partnering to support the embedded functional roles through sharing of best practice and insight across the business units, leveraging economies of scale, and maintaining alignment and consistency of practice.

This is a critical, high visibility role on the VT Leadership Team and the incumbent will have responsibility for developing and delivering all aspects of the VIG strategy, including playing the lead role in developing the VIG business.

Primary responsibilities

• Driving exception growth.

• Engaging the business unit leadership in the vision and strategy, implementing and leading effective governance and management, ensuring the business has an effective growth drumbeat, and developing a high-performing teams culture built on strong internal relationships.

• Responsibility for the growth of the VIG business through acquisition, product innovation and market execution

• Evaluating competition, customers, and opportunities as they relate to existing products and potential product development opportunities, ensuring there are well-defined product and technology roadmaps

• Developing and implementing a channel strategy for the Virtual Test business including building and managing a sales and marketing team

• Owning and driving product line performance and profitability including new platform development, cost positioning, pricing strategies, competitive analysis, product lifecycle management

• Supporting the M&A team in the identification, evaluation, and acquisition of suitable targets

• Managing acquired businesses post-acquisition, overseeing their integration into the business unit

• Identifying and developing key partnerships/JVs to provide additional key technologies and/or channels

The ideal incumbent will have strong commercial and business acumen resulting in organizational growth, and ideally will possess the following qualifications:

• A proven track record of profit growth, exceeding industry averages.

• The ability to form and articulate a vision that is unique in the marketplace.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

• MBA preferred

• 15+ years of experience in the following areas:

  • P/L management

  • Simulation software industry experience

  • Sales and marketing management, including go-to-market planning for new products

  • Channel management

  • International management

• Automotive industry preferred

• Strategic and tactical market expansion planning and execution

• Forming, nurturing, and retaining a high-performance team

• A strong track record in driving product innovation and building competitive moats

• Navigating the global simulation software marketplace

• Developing and successfully executing strategic business/growth plans

• Clear ability to prioritize top activities and minimize distractions

• Building and leading projects and diverse teams, aligning the customer needs with operational delivery in a matrix environment.  Working collaboratively with the other Virtual Test areas and central and functional teams to build the HBK Virtual Test organization and culture

Personal skills

• Growth oriented.

• Innovation driven.

• Customer centric, commercial mindset

• Excellent leadership skills, as proven by the development of employees within the organization

• Strong stakeholder management ability at all levels

• Results orientation and track record of improvements in key metrics; safety, quality, and compliance

• Participative management type - advocates the team concept

• A flexible individual who can deal with an informal and fluid working environment, whilst still maintaining the discipline needed to control risk and security

• Pragmatic and innovative, able to deal with conflicting demands for limited resources

We offer

Freedom with responsibility is the framework for HBK’s employees. This allows for a good balance between work and family life and for constant development of professional and personal skills in an international and enjoyable working environment.

One company – HBK

On 1 January 2019, Brüel & Kjær and HBM merged their activities into a new company called HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær). With more than 3,500 employees worldwide and production facilities in Denmark, Germany, the UK, the USA, China and Portugal and presence in 80 countries, HBK is a leading player in the test and measurement area. For further info please visit www.hbkworld.com.

HBK is a division of Spectris plc, a UK-based productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company serving leading aerospace, automotive, medical, and other customers. Spectris plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.