Growth & Market Expansion Director

Growth & Market Expansion DirectorNova Sky Stories is seeking a growth and market expansion leader to act as a force multiplier for the executive team. Reporting to the CFO and working closely with senior leadership, this role sits at the center of the company's most critical growth initiatives.As the CEO engages with global brands, partners, and senior decision makers, you will translate those interactions into tangible outcomes including market entry, enterprise opportunities, and new revenue streams, ensuring nothing is lost between vision and execution.You will operate at the intersection of strategy and execution, owning high priority initiatives from initial thesis through delivery and scale. From evaluating new markets to driving complex, cross‑functional efforts, you will ensure the company's most important opportunities are rigorously assessed, decisively executed, and fully realized.This role is designed for someone with strong analytical rigor and the professional maturity to operate credibly in high‑stakes environments, both internally and externally.As a Growth & Market Expansion Director, you'll be responsible for:Assess the ongoing flow of opportunities arising from the CEO's network including partnerships, enterprise deals, new revenue streams, and geographic expansion and recommend prioritization based on strategic and financial meritIdentify and evaluate new markets, leading outbound efforts to secure initial customers and establish early tractionSupport partnership and deal execution from initial engagement through term sheet, contract, and early implementation, working closely with legal, finance, and operating teamsContribute to international expansion initiatives, including market thesis development, entry strategy, competitive analysis, and the operational planning required to scale in new geographiesDrive cross‑functional alignment and follow‑through across the leadership team, ensuring that key commitments are tracked and executed againstDevelop financial models, market sizings, ROI analyses, and competitive assessments to support executive decision‑makingWorking with the CEO & Executive TeamParticipate in the majority of high‑priority external meetings and occasionally represent the company in conversations the CEO is unable to attendOwn the follow‑up cycle for the CEO and executive team's commercial activities, including action items, ownership, deadlines, and success criteriaServe as a strategic thought partner, proactively identifying opportunities, raising risks and tradeoffs, while also contributing a clear perspective on commercial decisionsOperate with a high degree of autonomy, anticipating needs and moving initiatives forward without requiring extensive directionYou'll need to have:7–12+ years of experience in strategy, investment, business development, or operating roles within high‑growth or complex businessesProven track record of owning and delivering high‑impact initiatives with measurable resultsStrong commercial instincts with experience structuring and closing meaningful dealsExceptional analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionAdvanced financial modeling skills (Excel / Google Sheets)Experience working closely with senior leadership and influencing critical decisionsAbility to operate in ambiguity and take ownership of undefined, high‑stakes problemsExecutive presence and strong communication skillsIt's a plus if you have:MBA or advanced business degreeExperience in capital‑intensive or hardware‑driven industries (drones, robotics, aerospace, industrial tech)Background in live entertainment, experiential marketing, or large‑scale event productionInternational experience operating across multiple markets and culturesWho you are:A builder who thrives in fast‑paced, resource‑constrained environmentsHighly accountable with a bias toward action and outcomesComfortable switching between strategy and execution seamlesslyNatural curiosity, adaptability, and energized by solving complex problemsMotivated by impact and excited to help scale a global businessBenefits:Health Insurance401(k) MatchingPaid Time Off (PTO)Paid HolidaysFlexible Work ArrangementsVision InsuranceGilching, GermanyTest EngineerAs a Test Engineer at Nova Sky Stories, you will own the design, development, and maintenance of our manual and automated testing infrastructure. You will work closely with software, hardware, and production teams to ensure that our flight‑control software, creative tools, and show‑orchestration systems meet the highest standards of reliability and performance.Key responsibilities:Create and maintain automated tests (unit, integration, system‑level) for our drone light‑show applications built with C++, Qt, and Dear ImGui.Design test frameworks, mock environments, and test utilities that help validate critical real‑time and UI‑driven functionality.Build and improve our CI/CD test pipelines, ensuring fast, reliable, and repeatable verification for every code change.Collaborate with software engineers, designers, and drone operators to understand feature behavior and translate it into effective test strategies.Test components involving real‑time data processing, mission‑critical control interfaces, and operator tools used in live drone‑show production.Investigate issues, reproduce complex edge cases, and provide detailed feedback to help engineers maintain the highest level of software reliability.Develop and maintain manual and automated unit tests, integration tests, and end‑to‑end test suites.Build and optimize test pipelines to support continuous integration and delivery.Collaborate with developers to identify, diagnose, and resolve software defects.Design test strategies for new features and system components.Contribute to improving internal QA processes, tooling, and best practices.Write effective, maintainable test code for C++ and Qt/QML codebases.Ensure test coverage and reliability for mission‑critical systems used in large‑scale drone‑show productions.Required skills:Strong experience in C++ development.Hands‑on experience with automated testing (unit, integration, CI pipelines).Ability to design clear, reliable test cases and frameworks.Familiarity with modern development workflows (Git, CI/CD, code‑review culture).Experience with Qt/QML, especially for UI‑driven testing.Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.Ability to communicate fluently in German and English.It's a plus if you have:Knowledge of testing embedded, real‑time, or robotics systems.Experience in the entertainment tech, UAV, or simulation domains.Why you'll love working with us:Be part of something innovative: work on projects that combine cutting‑edge technology and creativity to deliver one‑of‑a‑kind visual experiences.Creative freedom: have the autonomy to take on challenges, propose solutions, and see your ideas implemented in real‑world applications.Direct impact: your work will have a real and visible influence on the execution of massive, high‑profile visual events across the globe.Supportive environment: we're a fun, forward‑thinking team that loves solving big problems and working together to create something magical.Exciting perks: competitive salary, flexible hours, and front‑row access to the incredible visual experiences you help bring to life.VP Global Brand PartnershipsWe are seeking a rare kind of operator — a VP of Global Brand Partnerships to architect and own Nova Sky Stories' global brand revenue engine. This role transforms our drone light shows into one of the most premium, in‑demand brand storytelling platforms in the world.As VP of Global Brand Partnerships, you will design and build Nova's global sponsorship ecosystem from the ground up — defining the commercial model, creating scalable systems, and unlocking repeatable revenue across markets. Simultaneously you will personally lead and close our most strategic, high‑impact partnerships with global brands and agencies.Core responsibilities:Define Nova's role and presence in cultural moments across the global landscape.Shape how and where Nova shows up across global cultural events, embedding the platform into high‑impact experiential moments.Proactively originate relationships with global brands, agencies, and partners, positioning Nova before formal deals exist.Establish the strategic framework for brand participation, including category exclusivity, partnership tiers, and brand standards.Build the narrative, data, and performance storytelling that translates cultural relevance into measurable brand impact.Lead enterprise and strategic partnerships – originate, structure, and close Nova's most strategic global deals.Partner directly with the CEO and executive team on marquee accounts and high‑stakes negotiations.Own senior relationships with CMOs, agency leadership, and key IP/rights holders.Build scalable global “properties” – define, build, and evolve Nova's shows into scalable global properties with clear positioning, audience, and long‑term brand value.Design the commercial architecture for each property, including sponsorship inventory, rights, integrations, and tiered partnership models.Ensure each property is differentiated, culturally relevant, and commercially compelling.Establish commercial discipline and scale – define pricing strategy, category rules, deal governance, and partnership selection frameworks.Build activation, retention, and long‑term value – lead the full partner lifecycle and build measurement and ROI frameworks.Build the team – lead a high‑caliber senior partnerships team, design an organization that supports both enterprise deal‑making and sponsorship execution, and establish a culture of commercial excellence.You'll need to have:12–15+ years of progressive experience in brand partnerships, business development, or commercial leadership.Proven track record of building and scaling multi‑market or global revenue streams, ideally across experiential, live entertainment, sports, media, or adjacent industries.Demonstrated success structuring and closing large‑scale, multi‑year, multi‑market partnerships with global brands, agencies, or enterprise clients.Deep, senior‑level relationships with CMOs, global brand leaders, agency executives, and key decision‑makers.Experience operating at the intersection of brand, media, IP, and live/experiential environments, including complex, multi‑stakeholder ecosystems.Strong commercial systems thinking and the ability to design and scale pricing models, sponsorship architecture, deal governance, and revenue operations.Executive‑level commercial acumen with ownership or significant influence over $10M+ revenue streams or pipelines.Proven ability to lead through influence across cross‑functional teams in high‑stakes deal environments.Experience building and leading high‑performing partnerships or commercial teams, ideally across regions or global markets.Sharp strategic judgment, balancing long‑term platform building with near‑term revenue delivery.Comfort operating in a fast‑moving, global environment with frequent travel and senior external engagement.It's a plus if you bring:Experience in experiential media, live entertainment, sports sponsorship, or large‑scale touring properties.Background working with global brand organizations, holding companies, or leading agency networks.Exposure to IP‑driven partnerships, including film, entertainment franchises, licensed media, or rights‑managed properties.Track record of building new revenue categories or monetizing emerging platforms.What Success Looks Like (Year 1+):Establish Nova as a top‑tier global experiential sponsorship platform, competing directly with world's leading live entertainment properties.Secure multiple category‑defining partnerships with global brands across touring and IP‑driven shows.Build a repeatable, scalable global revenue engine with clear pricing discipline and consistent deal structure.Drive meaningful growth in sponsorship revenue per show and expand long‑term contracted value across the portfolio.Create a best‑in‑class activation and measurement system that delivers clear ROI, high partner satisfaction, and strong renewal rates.Senior Payroll SpecialistAs a Senior Payroll Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting a fast‑growing, globally distributed workforce by ensuring payroll operations run accurately, efficiently, and compliantly across multiple entities and jurisdictions.You'll partner closely with Finance, HR, and leadership to improve workflows, support international expansion, and create a best‑in‑class employee experience around payroll and compensation operations.Key responsibilities:Partner with Human Resources and Finance teams to maintain accurate employee timekeeping and payroll data.Administer and oversee full‑cycle payroll operations across multiple countries and entities.Review payroll submissions for accuracy including hours worked, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit contributions.Manage off‑cycle payroll runs including bonuses, corrections, and retroactive adjustments.Reconcile payroll registers to funding, tax payments, and general ledger exports; manage reversals, voids, and retroactive pay corrections.Coordinate payroll system integrations, file feeds, and general ledger exports with Accounting to ensure accurate labor distribution and cost center mapping.Support the setup of new international entities and payroll structures within payroll and HRIS platforms.Assist with parallel payroll testing and first‑live payroll processing for new locations.Coordinate payroll tax setup across new jurisdictions, ensuring proper configuration for local tax requirements and compliance.Ensure payroll practices comply with applicable federal, state, and international labor regulations.Monitor tax filings, garnishments, and required withholdings in partnership with Finance and external payroll providers.Generate payroll and labor cost reports for leadership using payroll reporting tools.Support quarterly and year‑end payroll processes, including tax reconciliation and year‑end reporting.Maintain accurate multi‑state and international employee tax profiles, ensuring proper tax treatment across jurisdictions.Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll‑related questions from employees.Resolve payroll discrepancies and ensure timely resolution of employee concerns.Support internal teams on payroll timelines, approvals, and best practices.Help standardize payroll processes across multiple countries and operating locations.Identify opportunities to improve payroll workflows, internal controls, and reporting efficiency.Support payroll system upgrades, integrations, and process improvements.Conduct periodic payroll audits including timekeeping exceptions, pay code usage, tax configuration, and general ledger mapping.Develop and maintain SOPs and internal documentation to ensure consistency across the organization.Required qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.5+ years of payroll experience, including multi‑state payroll processing with strong attention to accuracy and compliance.Experience with payroll platforms such as ADP WorkforceNow, Lyric, Celergo, or similar systems.International payroll experience is a plus.Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional certification preferred.Advanced proficiency in Googlesheets, including PivotTables and VLOOKUP.Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive payroll data with integrity.Proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset with ability to adapt to evolving business needs.#J-18808-Ljbffr