Strategic Director

Role Overview

Fantasy Wings is the UK's definitive gateway for diverse aviation talent. Over six years, we have built an unmatched ecosystem connecting 33,000+ aspirants, 800+ schools, and most major UK airlines, with over 6,000 graduates to date. We are validated by government grants, industry partnerships with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easy

Jet, MAG, NATS, and the CAA, and we are currently progressing a national Open Innovation Challenge designed to source low‑TRL aerospace concepts from the UK's most diverse talent pool.

We are at a pivotal inflection point and are seeking an exceptional senior leader for a secondment opportunity to drive our strategic revenue generation, high‑value partnership negotiation, public sector funding acquisition, and global expansion agenda. This is a high‑impact strategic director position for an individual comfortable operating in ambiguous, high‑stakes environments. The successful candidate will act as a trusted strategic director reporting to the CEO, leading complex commercial negotiations—including a potential £10m equity transaction, anchor government investment, and corporate sponsorship—securing multi‑year revenue contracts, and opening new international markets for our virtual ATPL programme.

• Lead the end‑to‑end procurement process to identify and secure a suitable financial product to fund loans for the ATPL programme.
• Develop a structured Request for Proposal framework, engaging banks, fintech providers, and alternative lending institutions.
• Conduct comparative analysis of financial products, assessing risk, terms, affordability for students, and long‑term viability.
• Negotiate favourable commercial terms that protect Fantasy Wings' financial position while ensuring accessibility for programme participants.

• Assume lead responsibility for progressing and finalising our university partnership agreement.
• Understand and articulate the two distinct partnership pathways set out in our investment proposition:
• Option 1:
  Strategic Partnership – a five‑year, performance‑driven engagement at £400,000 per annum, delivering exclusive marketing access and a structured conversion pathway.
• Option 2:
  Strategic Equity Acquisition – a transformative capital investment of £10,000,000 for a 40% equity stake, securing permanent strategic influence and board‑level governance.
• Design and implement a robust governance and risk framework for the chosen partnership structure, addressing intellectual property, data rights, board representation, liability, and commercial terms.
• Act as chief negotiator, ensuring the agreement delivers mutual value while safeguarding Fantasy Wings' strategic objectives and valuation.

• Concept:
  Take forward the existing proposal for a national Open Innovation Challenge in which 500 young people (aged 13‑25, drawn from our 94% minority ethnic and 30%+ female demographics) solve real‑world industrial briefs derived from government aerospace and net‑zero roadmaps—hydrogen propulsion, lightweight structures, autonomous flight—developing 20 viable technology concepts at TRL 3‑4 for presentation to industry partners.
• Funding Strategy:
  Secure the necessary funding to launch and deliver this programme.
• Anchor Government Investment – Progress the £500,000‑£1m anchor investment proposition from government, identifying the most receptive department or agency, refining the investment case, and leading senior‑level presentations.
• Corporate Sponsorship – Approach aerospace manufacturers and airlines to secure matched private funding, leveraging government investment as credibility.
• Combined Authority Funding – Explore funding streams from Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and London combined authorities, aligning with levelling‑up and skills agendas.
• Philanthropic and Trust Funding – Identify charitable foundations and trusts with an interest in STEM education, diversity, or aerospace innovation.
• Delivery Oversight – Once funding is secured, oversee the programme's delivery, ensuring compliance, timely…