Managing Director DACH (f/m/x)

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Senior Consultant @ Ward Howell International | Global Executive Search

Managing Director DACH (f/m/x)

Lead a Purpose-Driven Venture at the Intersection of Healthcare, Education, and Social Impact

• Location: Vienna / Hybrid | Region: Switzerland, Germany & Austria

An international initiative is launching a pioneering healthcare staffing platform to tackle one of the DACH region’s most critical and complex challenges: the long-term shortage of qualified nursing professionals.

Built from the ground up to be ethical, scalable, and sustainable, this next-generation company blends academic excellence, cross-border talent pipelines, and deep cultural integration to deliver long-term value to healthcare providers—and real opportunity to international nursing talent.

We are now looking for a Managing Director DACH to found, grow, and lead our operations across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Your Mission

As the first executive hire in the region, you will build the organization from the ground up—setting commercial strategy, acquiring key healthcare clients, overseeing operational setup, and building a resilient, high-quality service offering. You’ll work closely with international teams to align recruitment and onboarding processes for well-prepared, motivated nurses from Latin America.

Your Responsibilities

• Establish and scale operations across the DACH region, with a primary focus on Germany and Austria
• Develop and implement a market-specific growth strategy in the healthcare staffing space
• Acquire and manage key accounts (hospitals, care institutions) and lead negotiations with decision-makers
• Build the brand and represent the organization to stakeholders and partners
• Manage the full P&L, including budgeting, cash flow, and KPIs
• Oversee visa, recognition, and integration processes for internationally recruited professionals
• Ensure full compliance with relevant legal frameworks and uphold ethical recruitment standards
• Collaborate closely with Latin American teams to ensure pipeline quality and successful candidate integration
• Drive continuous improvement in cross-border processes and client/candidate satisfaction

Your Profile

• Proven leadership experience in building or scaling business units—preferably in staffing, healthcare, or education
• Successful track record in business development with access to key decision-makers in the healthcare sector
• Sound knowledge of migration, recognition, and employment laws for foreign professionals
• Hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset with strong ownership and execution capabilities
• Intercultural awareness and experience in working with international teams
• Fluent in German (C1/C2), excellent English, and Spanish at minimum B2 level

What You Bring

• Deep understanding of the German/Austrian healthcare system
• Experience in ethical international healthcare staffing
• Strategic thinking and operational discipline
• Drive to build from scratch and lead with purpose
• Outstanding communication and leadership skills across cultures

Why Join Us

• Founding role in a high-impact, globally connected organization
• Full entrepreneurial freedom and direct access to the leadership
• A chance to redefine healthcare staffing as a force for good
• Attractive compensation

This is not just another job. It’s a rare opportunity to build something meaningful—combining global mobility, healthcare innovation, and social impact in one ambitious venture.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Business Development, Strategy/Planning, and Management

• Industries

  Hospitals and Health Care, Health and Human Services, and Staffing and Recruiting

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