VP Business Development EWIS NL

Position: VP Business Development EWIS NL)
GKN Aerospace is ‘s werelds meest toonaangevende leverancier binnen de vliegtuigindustrie. Met 32 productielocaties in 12 landen bedienen we meer dan 90% van ‘s werelds vliegtuig- en motorfabrikanten en een omzet behaald van £3.6 miljard in 2025. Wij ontwerpen en produceren innovatieve slimme ruimtevaartsystemen en componenten. Elke keer dat je per vliegtuig reist, is het waarschijnlijk dat GKN je op weg helpt.

We are on the hunt for people who want to make a difference, talented employees with the skills and passion to be the best at what they do.

Job Summary
We are seeking a strategic and commercially driven leader to shape and accelerate the growth of our Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) business. In this senior role, you will define and execute a global commercial strategy with a strong focus on defence programs and emerging aerospace markets. You will operate at the intersection of technology, strategy, and customer engagement—driving growth through insight, innovation, and execution.

Overall accountability for the strategy to achieve above‑market growth and managing all aspects of the customer relationship, this includes but is not limited to delivering goods and services to the customer, achieving the financial returns required by the company and developing the people and processes necessary to be successful. The role is accountable for creating a great place to work.

Job Responsibilities
As Vice President Business Development – EWIS, you hold full accountability for defining and executing the commercial strategy. Your primary focus is on defence programmes and emerging markets, including UAS, space, eVTOL, and special mission aircraft. You translate strategy into clear, regionally executable plans and identify new growth opportunities beyond traditional aerospace markets. At the same time, you ensure EWIS is firmly embedded within the divisional business development structure, while actively driving account penetration and value creation.

Global Commercial Direction

Define and own the EWIS commercial strategy, with emphasis on defence and non‑traditional markets (UAS, space, eVTOL, special missions)

Identify white spaces and disruptive entry points beyond traditional aerospace customers

Develop and drive the commercial roadmap and account penetration strategy

Embed EWIS within divisional business development structures

Customer & Program Leadership

Engage with OEMs, Ministries of Defence and Tier‑1 partners at the executive level

Lead negotiations for complex, multi‑national and long‑term contracts

Drive capture strategies for new platforms, retrofits and digital EWIS programs

Leverage relationships to unlock strategic opportunities

Business & Market Intelligence

Own Business Intelligence (BI) and Market Intelligence (MI) capabilities

Translate insights on defence budgets, competitors and technology trends into action

Support investment decisions and strategic prioritisation

Proposals, Pricing & Value Proposition

Oversee bid strategy, governance and pricing frameworks

Implement robust costing models (make/buy, lifecycle, risk/margin)

Define compelling value propositions (safety, weight optimisation, lifecycle cost, digital EWIS)

Business Development Leadership

Guide BD Directors across global defence and emerging markets

Drive program shaping, early customer engagement and partnership ecosystems

Foster strong collaboration with engineering and operations teams

Cross‑Functional Leadership

Partner with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance

Champion the voice of the customer in EWIS strategy and roadmap

Build organisational capability, accountability and succession

Job Qualifications
You bring a rare combination of technical depth, commercial acumen and leadership credibility:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (or Electrical/Systems Engineering with aerospace focus)

15–20 years of experience in aerospace, preferably in EWIS, avionics or complex systems

Proven track record in business development and capture leadership

Strong credibility with OEMs and defence customers

Data‑driven, strategic and customer‑focused mindset

Leadership Characteristics

Product‑driven: passionate…