Managing Director

Ascend Consulting; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Consulting in Cambridge seeks a commercially sharp Managing Director to lead the next growth phase. You will own the P&L, shape the software product roadmap, and drive profitability across product development, engineering, sales, marketing and customer success.

You will align product strategy with market demands, scale revenue, and build a high-performing, accountable leadership team in a fast-paced SaaS environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience (MD/GM/CEO/VP) in software/SaaS/tech products.
• Strong track record of scaling software revenue and managing a full P&L.
• Deep understanding of software product lifecycles, Agile delivery, UX, and modern tech stacks.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster a high-accountability culture.
• Strategic mindset balancing short-term execution with long-term vision.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company’s long-term vision and operating plans.
• Bridge product innovation, commercial expansion, and team leadership to drive growth.
• Own P&L, cash flow forecasting, margins, and board reporting.
• Lead high-performing teams across product, engineering, sales, marketing and customer success.
• Ensure governance, data security, and product quality across operations.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Product fluency

People management

Strategic mindset

Education

Degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Job description

Managing Director, Software Product, SaaS, Cambridge to £150,000

This is a great opportunity to join an innovative established software firm dedicated to building high-impact and SAAS solutions.. We pride ourselves on product excellence, a customer-first mindset, and a strong engineering culture. We are looking for an inspiring, commercially sharp, and visionary Managing Director to lead our next phase of growth, scale our product suite, and drive profitability.

The Role

As Managing Director, you will have overall executive responsibility for the strategic direction, operational execution, and financial performance. Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will bridge the gap between product innovation, commercial expansion, and team leadership.

You will own the P&L (Profit and Loss), champion our software product roadmap, and lead high-performing teams across product development, engineering, sales, marketing, and customer success.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the company’s long-term vision, business strategy, and annual operating plans.
• Product & Technology Alignment: Partner with product and engineering leaders to ensure our software roadmap aligns with market demands, scalability goals, and emerging tech (such as AI-driven workflows or cloud architecture).
• Commercial Growth: Drive top-line revenue growth, expand our customer base, enter new market segments, and nurture key enterprise client relationships.
• P&L & Financial Management: Own the company budget, cash flow forecasting, margin optimization, and investor/board reporting.
• Team & Culture Building: Mentor, recruit, and retain top-tier talent; foster a transparent, agile, and high-accountability workplace culture.
• Risk & Governance: Ensure compliance, data security, product quality, and robust governance standards are maintained across all operations.

What We Are Looking For

Required Experience & Skills:

• Proven Leadership: 5+ years of senior leadership experience (Managing Director, General Manager, CEO, or VP/Head of Product/Operations) within a software, SaaS, or tech product business.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong track record of scaling software revenue, managing a full P&L, and driving go-to-market strategies.
• Product Fluency: Deep understanding of software product life cycles, agile delivery, UX principles, and modern tech stacks.
• People Management: Demonstrated ability to lead, unify, and inspire cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Sales, Operations).
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to balance short-term commercial execution with long-term product vision.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A degree in Computer Science, , Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent executive experience).
• Experience with international expansion, venture/private equity backing, or productized AI/data integrations