Head of Client Partnerships

[axr] Recruitment & Search; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

[axr] Recruitment & Search is partnering with a high-growth Australian business to recruit a Head of Client Partnerships. You will lead a significant commercial portfolio, shape growth, and influence senior leaders across a broad customer base.

You'll build capability through coaching leaders, drive strategic customer conversations, and move relationships from transactional to true partnerships, in a culture that is ambitious, fast-moving and results-driven.

Qualifications

• Experience leading leaders, not just individual contributors.
• Ownership of a significant commercial portfolio.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Strong commercial acumen with an interest in strategy, marketing or customer growth.
• Track record of creating clarity, discipline and accountability in fast-moving environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the operational rhythm of a large and complex commercial portfolio.
• Develop a group of capable people leaders and coach them on performance.
• Shift customer conversations to become a genuine strategic partnership with marketing and brand stakeholders.

Skills

Leading leaders

Portfolio ownership

Influencing stakeholders

Strategic thinking

People leadership

Feedback & coaching

Job description

Lead leaders to drive growth, build capability, and influence some of Australia's biggest brands at executive level

• Commercial leadership role in one of Australia's most ambitious businesses
• Act as the 2IC to an inspiring leader who will challenge and support you
• Lead a high-value portfolio and shape the next phase of growth

You've built large revenue portfolios. You've led leaders. You've managed complexity without letting it become chaos.

But you're looking for something bigger than simply hitting a number.

We're partnering with a high-growth Australian business that sits at the intersection of commerce, marketing and customer strategy. In just a few years, it has become a major player in its category and is now focused on its next chapter of growth.

They're looking for a Head of Client Partnerships to lead a significant commercial portfolio, a team of experienced people leaders, and a customer base that includes some of the country's largest organisations.

This is not a role where you'll inherit a perfectly polished machine. The business has scaled quickly. The opportunity now is to bring greater consistency, capability and strategic thinking to a high-performing team while continuing to drive ambitious growth targets.

There are three big pieces to the role:

• You'll own the operational rhythm of a large and complex commercial portfolio. Hundreds of customer opportunities move through the business at any given time. You'll create visibility, discipline and predictability, ensuring the right priorities get attention, and leaders stay focused on what matters most.
• Second, you'll develop a group of people leaders who are talented, capable and still growing as managers. You'll coach them on performance management, feedback, accountability and leadership fundamentals. Success will be measured not simply by revenue outcomes, but by the quality of leadership capability you build beneath you.
• Third, you'll help shift customer conversations to a different level. Today, many relationships are strong commercially. The next horizon is becoming a genuine strategic partner. That means understanding the customer's broader objectives, engaging more effectively with marketing and brand stakeholders, and helping teams move from selling products to solving business problems.

The person who succeeds in this role will be equally comfortable discussing commercial performance, customer strategy, organisational capability and leadership development.

You'll work for a highly respected executive who is known for setting high standards, backing talented people and developing future leaders.

The culture is ambitious, fast-moving and direct.

People who thrive here are naturally curious, commercially sharp and energised by building things. They're accountable, action-oriented and comfortable operating at pace. They don't wait for someone else to solve a problem.

Importantly, this business offers genuine career opportunity. It has ambitious growth plans, significant investment behind it and a track record of promoting strong performers into broader leadership roles.

You'll likely bring:

• Experience leading leaders, not just individual contributors.
• Ownership of a significant commercial portfolio, P&L, client book or customer business.
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Strong commercial acumen combined with an interest in strategy, marketing or customer growth.
• A track record of creating clarity, discipline and accountability in fast-moving environments.
• A reputation for giving honest feedback, building capability and lifting performance.

Background is less important than capability.

You might come from FMCG, media, retail, technology, marketplaces, e-commerce or another customer-led commercial environment.

What matters most is your ability to lead through complexity, create momentum and help a business move from good to great.