Partner – Aerospace & Defence | Middle East

Tandem Search; Dubai; On-site; AED 2,000,000 - 4,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Tandem Search is seeking a Partner to lead and grow its Aerospace & Defence practice in the United Arab Emirates. The role focuses on expanding relationships with OEMs, governments and investors, and delivering multi-year engagements across strategy, operations, M&A and digital transformation.

You will own and grow a portable book of business, leverage global platforms, and shape the practice strategy while developing leaders into future partners in a fast-moving defence ecosystem.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in management consulting with a top-tier firm or A&D specialist.
• Partner or equivalent with 3+ years of P&L and sales accountability.
• Proven portable book of business with approx USD 5m originated revenue.
• Recognised A&D expertise and senior relationships across industry/government/investors.
• Track record leading complex programmes and building high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Originate and sell new work across OEMs, suppliers, MRO, defence ministries and investors.
• Serve as trusted advisor to C-suite, boards and government leaders and grow anchor accounts into multi-year relationships.
• Lead multiple engagements end to end, from strategy and defence industrialisation to operations, M&A and digital transformation, owning quality, margin and risk.
• Build the firm's sector point of view through research, events and media.
• Shape practice strategy and offerings, and develop consultants into future partners.

Skills

Business development

Client leadership

Delivery leadership

Strategy development

Education

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Our client, one of the world's most respected management consulting firms, is appointing a Partner to lead and grow its Aerospace & Defence (A&D) practice.

Rising defence budgets, localisation agendas, a record commercial aerospace backlog and fast-moving technology are reshaping the sector. This Partner will deepen the firm's relationships with OEMs, suppliers, governments and investors, and shape the practice's agenda with a global platform behind them.

Scope of the role

• Business development: originate and sell new work across OEMs, suppliers, MRO, defence ministries and investors; win competitive bids and tenders.


• Client leadership: serve as trusted advisor to C-suite, boards and government leaders, and grow anchor accounts into multi-year relationships.


• Delivery: lead multiple engagements end to end, from strategy and defence industrialisation to operations, M&A and digital transformation, owning quality, margin and risk.


• Thought leadership: build the firm's sector point of view and profile through research, events and media.


• Firm building: shape practice strategy and offerings, and develop consultants into future partners.

Required background

Essential

• 12+ years of experience, mostly in management consulting with a top-tier strategy firm, Big 4 advisory or leading A&D specialist.


• Currently a Partner or equivalent, with 3+ years of P&L and sales accountability.


• A proven, portable book of business and haveoriginated own revenue of around USD 5m.


• Recognised A&D expertise and active senior relationships across industry, government or investors.


• A track record of leading complex programmes and building high-performing teams.

Advantageous

• Industry, armed forces or defence ministry experience.


• Exposure to defence localisation programmes, A&D M&A or private equity work.


• Security clearance, ITAR familiarity, or relevant languages such as English and Arabic