Director, Client Leadership

The purpose of this role is to provide strategic recommendations and manage all resources to ensure the Client’s marketing needs are met. They are viewed as a trusted advisor to client, understands and articulates client business insights and leverages to contribute ways to move business forward, lead and monitor the day-to-day activities; proactively identify new business building insights and opportunities, manage, motivate and develop their team; work with other departments to develop and execute strategies that will build the Client’s business. Job Title: Director, Client Leadership **Job Description**: Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities (or "Duties") Business Management - Delivers the service proposition to clients and full end to end management of the business on individual clients in the cluster - Key Business and Client Leadership - full ownership, accountability and responsibility in driving client strategy ensuring the agency provides a lead role in communications planning - Commercial and service ownership of client relationship - drives seamless delivery and profitability of accounts in the cluster - Proactively identifies client development opportunities - flags specific client organic growth, cross-sell and up-sell opportunities - Accurate budget & forecasting - monitor and action on budget & forecasting accuracy in reporting and client spend tracking - New Business - lead new business pitches alongside the Agency Leadership, pitch teams and stakeholders internally (local / regional / global) including all coordination, project management, development, submission, presentation, etc Client Relationship Management - Ownership of client relationship - as per the defined relationship strategy for the client, ensuring all contractual obligations and KPIs are met - Proactive recommendations for client business growth - deep understanding of client category, competition and business challenges and ambitions to develop proactive recommendations and action plans beyond media with clear business implications - Role as consultant / advisor to clients - establish and maintain role as “Trusted Advisor” to clients through contribution to client marketing strategy and thought leadership - Client Relationship Ratings - Organize and lead client appraisal sessions and action plan for positive health of client partnership / relationship Media Planning Excellence - Guidance to Core Planning Team - direct team members to ensure campaigns & projects are executed appropriately through strategic & insightful recommendations, proposals and action plans - Operations & Process Excellence - monitor and review the end-to-end planning process to operational delivery of internal stakeholders ensuring highest quality of client service levels and scope deliverables - Governance & Cadence - organize frequent and periodic check-ins (ie, Quarterly Business Review, Annual Brand Planning) working with Planning Director, internal stakeholders and external media partners, etc Team / People Management - Team Management - manages and motivates team around the clients objectives, in line with Agency culture and ways of working - Ownership and Leadership - work with the Planning Director(s) in his/her team ensuring clear and smooth team chemistry, operations, ways of working and quality output and deliverables - Team growth and upskilling - ensure that managers/assigned staff remain updated and competitive through relevant training and coaching. Coordinate with Planning Director on training programs needed by staff - Performance reviews and management - provide up-to-date assessment and recommendations of managers/assigned staff to Agency Leadership / Management to ensure team overall performance, engagement, and health Agency Profile Building - Innovative Work - inspire & develop creativity and innovation in ensuring client solutions are award-worthy - Award Participation and Wins - play an active role in leading and supporting Agency Leadership and Strategy team in awards participation through case study development, submission, and presentation Key Experiences: - Business & Marketing Communications Management - Skilled at developing and promoting a compelling communication strategy, media planning and business outcome driven proposition for and within their client’s brands and market - Media Strategy and Planning - Can lead clients through an effective Engagement Planning process - from Insight, through Ideas, to Solutions with high Media Planning and Buying experience and understanding - Strategic Thinking - Strategic thinking and planning capability with proactive engagement with client beyond media, e.g. integrated communications planning (Brand, Creative, Media, PR, Experiential), e-commerce, data, digital etc - Account Management and Client Engagement - Capable of engaging clients and prospects in a credible and influential way. Has high-level consultancy skills, account management skills, including the