Director of Strategy & Special Projects

Cambridge Aerospace; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Private medical and dental

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Cambridge Aerospace is seeking a Director of Strategy & Special Projects to lead strategic planning, portfolio prioritisation and high-impact initiatives across the business. You will work closely with senior leadership to translate company objectives into clear strategies, actionable plans and informed investment decisions.

This is a cross-functional role requiring strong strategic judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to turn complex challenges into practical solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in strategy development, management consulting or operational-strategic planning.
• Proven ability to develop business strategies and lead complex strategic initiatives.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, including investment evaluation, portfolio management and business case development.
• Experience establishing strategic frameworks, OKRs, KPIs and governance processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and align cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity and translate strategic thinking into practical outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning cycles, workshops and development of business strategies, objectives and OKRs.
• Drive product portfolio prioritisation, supporting investment decisions across existing products and future capabilities.
• Develop frameworks for resource allocation, capital investment and stage-gate governance.
• Lead high-priority strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives from analysis through to execution.
• Evaluate potential partnerships, investments and new opportunities, developing business cases and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Establish strategic planning, performance monitoring and governance processes across Strategy & Growth and the wider business.

Skills

Strategic planning

Portfolio management

Investment evaluation

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Job description

Cambridge Aerospace is seeking a Director of Strategy & Special Projects to lead strategic planning, portfolio prioritisation and high-impact initiatives across the business. You will work closely with senior leadership to translate company objectives into clear strategies, actionable plans and informed investment decisions.

This is a cross-functional role requiring strong strategic judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to turn complex challenges into practical solutions. You will establish effective planning and governance processes, lead strategic projects and help shape the company's long-term direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning cycles, workshops and the development of business strategies, objectives and OKRs
• Drive product portfolio prioritisation, supporting investment decisions across existing products and future capabilities
• Develop frameworks for resource allocation, capital investment and stage-gate governance
• Lead high-priority strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives from analysis through to execution
• Evaluate potential partnerships, investments and new opportunities, developing business cases and recommendations for senior leadership
• Establish strategic planning, performance monitoring and governance processes across Strategy & Growth and the wider business

Requirements

• Significant experience in strategy development, management consulting or operational-strategic planning
• Proven ability to develop business strategies and lead complex strategic initiatives
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, including investment evaluation, portfolio management and business case development
• Experience establishing strategic frameworks, OKRs, KPIs and governance processes
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership and align cross-functional teams
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity and translate strategic thinking into practical outcomes

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Background in management consulting, corporate strategy or a high-growth technology business
• Experience in aerospace, defence, advanced engineering or a related industry
• Exposure to product strategy, technology investment and R&D portfolio management
• Understanding of defence procurement and international defence markets
• Experience supporting strategic partnerships, acquisitions or corporate development
• Experience in fast-paced R&D or startup environments, with rapid prototype iteration times

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Private medical and dental cover
• Cycle to work scheme

About Us

The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air – low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.

We're building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them – at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.

We have immense backing from the world's best venture funds. We're one of the fastest-growing defence technology companies in history. And we're hiring the best talent to prosecute the mission.

If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build technology better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.