Managing Director - Leadership of a nationally operating examination centre for international English language qualifications

Our client operates an established examination centre that administers and organises internationally recognised English language examinations and certifications at multiple locations across Switzerland. The organisation benefits from long-standing, exclusive partnerships with leading international licensing bodies and holds a strong market position in the German-speaking Switzerland.

As part of a succession process, the business is being transferred into a sustainable future structure. For this important phase, we are seeking a senior leader who will assume full operational responsibility for the company and drive its continued development on a long-term basis.

The Company is located in Eastern Switzerland (head office).

You will assume overall responsibility for the business. In an autonomous and entrepreneurial role, you will lead the organisation operationally, hold full P&L responsibility, and make independent decisions within the strategic framework defined by the Board of Directors. You will report directly to the Board and act as the public face of the organisation vis-à-vis licensing bodies, partners and clients.

The company employs a small, well-established team of permanent staff and works with a network of freelance examination specialists. The business is currently in a transitional phase: the former owners have left the company, structures need to be strengthened, ongoing transformation projects require active management, and new avenues for growth need to be developed.

• Overall operational and strategic management of the business, including full budget and financial performance responsibility
• Leadership and further development of the team, including both permanent staff and freelance examination specialists
• Ensuring the smooth and compliant operation of examination activities across multiple locations in Switzerland
• Maintaining and developing relationships with international licensing bodies and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards
• Managing ongoing transformation projects, including digitalisation initiatives and product transitions
• Developing new examination locations, partnerships and distribution channels
• Financial planning, reporting and preparation of decision-making documentation for the Board of Directors
• Further development of the course portfolio and identification of new business opportunities

Essential Requirements

• Degree from a university or university of applied sciences
• Several years of leadership experience with overall operational responsibility, ideally within an SME environment
• Proven experience in the education, examination or certification sector
• Excellent English language skills (C2 level or equivalent) and business-fluent German
• Strong commercial acumen and experience with P&L responsibility
• Excellent communication skills when dealing with international partners, public authorities and clients
• Geographic flexibility and willingness to travel within Switzerland 

Desirable Expertise

• Experience working with international licensing or franchise models
• Knowledge of the Swiss education market and the language certification landscape
• Experience with digital examination formats and computer-delivered testing
• Knowledge of French, as one location is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland 

• An entrepreneurial leadership role with substantial scope for initiative and strategic impact
• A company with a strong market position and exclusive licensing partnerships
• The opportunity to lead an established examination centre into a new phase of development
• Integration into a growing education group with synergies in the fields of commercial and professional continuing education
• A competitive, market-based remuneration package

We look forward to receiving your complete application, including cover letter, CV and references, by email or via the relevant application portal, addressed to the Board of Directors’ appointed representative:

Jürg Willi

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email
juerg.willi(at)willipartner.ch

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

For this vacancy, we will consider direct applications only and kindly ask recruitment agencies to refrain from contacting us.