Global Sales Vice President - Aerospace

Forward Air Services•Seattle, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Global Sales Vice President - Aerospace is responsible for defining and executing the organization's global Aerospace strategy while driving profitable growth across commercial aviation, defense and government, space and satellite, OEMs, Tier suppliers, MRO providers, and the aerospace aftermarket. This executive leader serves as the Aerospace subject matter expert and owns the commercial strategy, market positioning, customer growth, and solution development efforts for the vertical. Partnering closely with Commercial, Product, Operations, and executive leadership, the Vice President will identify growth opportunities, build strategic customer relationships, and drive differentiated Aerospace solutions across global markets. The role is accountable for revenue growth, strategic account development, industry thought leadership, and cross-functional alignment. The successful candidate will bring deep Aerospace expertise, strong executive presence, and a proven track record of driving growth within complex global organizations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Engineering, Aviation Management, Economics, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience within Aerospace, Aviation, Defense, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation, or related industries.
Demonstrated success driving revenue growth, strategic account development, customer acquisition, and market expansion within Aerospace-related sectors.
Deep knowledge of Aerospace supply chains, including OEM and Tier supplier ecosystems, MRO operations, aerospace aftermarket support, and high-value transportation solutions.
Strong understanding of freight forwarding, air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, transportation management, and contract logistics solutions.
Proven ability to develop global growth strategies, influence executive stakeholders, and lead complex commercial initiatives across multiple regions.
International business experience and demonstrated success working within matrixed global organizations.
Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), CRMs (Salesforce), and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Relevant Aerospace, logistics, supply chain, or business certifications preferred.
Experience working within Aerospace regulatory and compliance environments, including ITAR, EAR, trade compliance, dangerous goods handling, and quality management standards preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the organization's global Aerospace strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and growth priorities.
Drive revenue growth, profitability, and market share expansion across Aerospace markets worldwide.
Develop targeted growth strategies across key Aerospace sectors, including Commercial Aviation, Defense and Government, Space and Satellite, OEMs, Tier Suppliers, MRO, and Aerospace Aftermarket.
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of opportunities while leading strategic customer acquisition and expansion efforts.
Own and strengthen relationships with key Aerospace customers, strategic accounts, and industry partners to increase retention, share of wallet, and long-term value.
Serve as the Aerospace subject matter expert, supporting commercial teams on strategic pursuits, executive engagements, solution development, and complex sales opportunities.
Partner with Product leadership to develop and commercialize industry-specific solutions across Air, Ocean, Ground Transportation, Customs Brokerage, and Contract Logistics services.
Build executive relationships across customer organizations, including Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Program Management stakeholders.
Monitor industry trends, regulatory developments, competitive activity, and emerging market opportunities to inform strategy and investment decisions.
Collaborate with Commercial, Operations, Finance, Product, Engineering, Marketing, and regional leadership teams to drive global execution and commercial excellence.
Represent the organization at industry events, customer forums, and trade associations while serving as a visible advocate for the Aerospace vertical.
Identify capability gaps and recommend investments that strengthen competitive positioning and support long-term growth.
All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.