Director, Client Coverage, Canada

CEM; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CEM in Canada is seeking a Director, Client Coverage to lead a portfolio of institutional pension clients nationwide. You’ll cultivate trusted relationships with senior leaders, translate complex research into strategic insights, and collaborate with Research, Product Development, Marketing and Production to shape client solutions.

Reporting to the Regional Head, Canada, you will balance executive exposure with independent client ownership, drive cross-selling opportunities, and influence

Qualifications

• Experience managing and growing strategic client relationships.
• Proven consultative, revenue-focused approach with growth outcomes.
• Ability to engage executives and Boards and communicate insights clearly.
• Experience with pensions or institutional investments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 30–50 institutional pension clients across Canada.
• Build long-term relationships with senior stakeholders and trusted advisor.
• Deliver benchmarking presentations to executive leadership and Boards.
• Identify opportunities to expand client engagement through research and advisory solutions.
• Collaborate with Research, Product Development, Marketing and Production teams.
• Develop account plans and growth strategies for each client.
• Represent the company at industry conferences and events.
• Contribute client feedback to guide product development.

Skills

Strategic client management

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

CRM experience (HubSpot)

Travel willingness

Financial services/ pensions knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related

MBA/CFA asset

Job description

Who are we?

We are CEM, a global data and insights firm for institutional investors including pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices and sovereign wealth funds. Our blue-chip corporate and government clients represent US$16 trillion in assets under management and over 100 million members. We provide them with objective insights to maximize value for money in both investments and pension administration. This helps our clients better understand where they stand and how to improve their performance. By improving our clients' performance, we, in turn, improve the financial well-being of pensioners globally. By coupling the most extensive global database in the pension arena with unrivalled industry knowledge, all of this comes from experience - we have been at this since 1992. We were founded in Canada and expanded to the US and UK more than a decade ago. We work together in a small company ambiance where your contributions will be appreciated, and your progress will be directly related to your ability and effort. Working at CEM, you will stretch your creative and analytical abilities while participating in the growth of a headline-making business.

What are we looking for?

We're looking for a Director, to join our Client Coverage team and manage a portfolio of institutional pension clients across Canada.

In this role as a Director, Client Coverage, you'll build trusted relationships with senior leaders, helping clients maximize the value of our research and benchmarking solutions while identifying opportunities to deepen engagement through consultative cross-selling. You'll also serve as the voice of the client, partnering closely with our Research & Analytics, Product Development, Marketing and Production teams to influence future products and methodologies.

Reporting to the Regional Head, Client Coverage, Canada, this collaborative role combines partnership with the Regional Head on a portion of the portfolio with independent ownership of other client relationships, offering significant responsibility, executive-level client exposure, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both client success and business growth.

What will you do in this role?

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 30 to 50 institutional pension fund clients across Canada.
• Build long-term relationships with senior stakeholders, becoming their trusted advisor.
• Deliver annual benchmarking presentations to executive leadership and Boards.
• Maintain high client satisfaction and retention.
• Identify opportunities to expand client engagement through additional research, benchmarking, and advisory solutions.
• Partner closely with Research, Product Development, Marketing and Production teams to ensure client insights influence future products.
• Develop account plans and growth strategies for each client.
• Represent the company at industry conferences and networking events.
• Contribute client feedback to support innovation and new product development.

What you’ll bring to this role?

• Strategic experience managing and growing strategic client relationships.
• A consultative, commercially minded approach with a track record of identifying growth opportunities while building long-term client partnerships.
• Confidence in engaging senior executives and Boards, with the ability to communicate complex insights in a clear and compelling way.
• Strong strategic thinking, including experience developing account plans, prioritizing opportunities, and driving measurable outcomes.
• An analytical mindset with the ability to translate client needs into actionable business and product insights.
• Experience within pensions, institutional investments, financial services, consulting, or a related industry is an asset.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot) and Microsoft Office.
• A degree in Business, Commerce, Economics, Finance, or related fields. An MBA, CFA, or similar designation is an asset.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10%.

What does success look like in this role?

• Build trusted, long-term relationships that drive exceptional client retention.
• Grow existing client partnerships through thoughtful, consultative, cross-selling relevant solutions.
• Deliver insightful benchmarking presentations that influence client decision-making.
• Develop a deep understanding of your clients' evolving priorities and act as their trusted advisor.
• Bring client perspectives back to the business to help shape future research, products, and client experience.

Why join us?

• Work directly with some of Canada's leading pension funds and institutional investors.
• Influence product development through direct client insights.
• Enjoy the agility of a growing firm with the stability of an established global organization.
• Work with a highly collaborative team where your ideas shape business decisions.
• Opportunities to work with complex datasets to draw elegant insights.
• A hybrid work environment with both in-office and at-home flexibility.
• A curiosity-driven culture founded on a desire to improve lives.
• A team that is stronger for its gender, cultural, and intellectual diversity.

Ready to make an impact?

If you're passionate about building trusted client relationships, enjoy translating complex insights into meaningful conversations, and thrive in a consultative, growth-oriented environment. We'd love to hear from you.

Let's chat!