Director of Client Services

Kayleigh Jade Herron; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Kayleigh Jade Herron represents a global education group seeking a Director of Client Services to lead and strengthen strategic relationships across its multi-brand portfolio. The role oversees the digitally led marketing agency's client relationships, partnering with school leaders and unit heads to shape marketing strategies, drive growth and ensure marketing aligns with commercial objectives.

Ideal candidate will bring 12+ years in marketing with at least 5 years in client service at director

Qualifications

• Degree in marketing or related field; postgraduate qualification a plus.
• 12+ years in marketing with 5+ years in client service or director-level leadership.
• Experience managing multiple accounts and senior, C-suite stakeholders.
• Strong strategic planning and budgeting skills.
• Experience aligning marketing with sales teams.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead senior relationships with heads of schools and business unit CEOs.
• Lead annual and campaign planning with each business unit: objectives, audiences, budgets and targets.
• Own allocation and tracking of marketing budgets across the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Sales on programme positioning and value propositions.
• Lead and develop the account team, set standards for briefing, reporting and client communication.
• Ensure each unit has an owner, KPIs and OKRs with regular reviews.
• Coordinate with Agency MD to turn plans into briefs and priorities.
• Oversee project management, ensuring timelines and status visibility.
• Stand in for the VP Growth on client-side matters.
• Guide senior marketing managers as day-to-day contacts as accounts grow.

Skills

Strategic planning

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Leadership experience

Marketing leadership

Education

Bachelor's in marketing or related field

Postgraduate qualification (advantage)

Job description

Annually Cost To Company (Market related)

Our client is a global education group driven by a mission to develop conscious leaders. The group is seeking an experienced Director of Client Services to lead and strengthen the strategic relationships across its diverse portfolio of business units.
This is a senior leadership opportunity to take ownership of the group's internal, digitally led marketing agency's client relationships, partnering with heads of schools and business unit leaders to shape marketing strategies, drive business growth and ensure alignment between marketing initiatives and commercial objectives.
The role will oversee marketing plans and budgets across the portfolio, acting as a trusted strategic partner to business leadership while deputising for the VP Growth on all client-facing matters.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded, strategic marketing leader who can navigate a complex, multi-brand environment, build influential stakeholder relationships and translate business priorities into impactful marketing strategies.

Key responsibilities

• Build and lead senior relationships with heads of schools, business unit CEOs and their leadership teams.
• Lead annual and campaign planning with each business unit: objectives, audiences, budgets and targets, aligned to intake cycles.
• Own the allocation and tracking of marketing budget across the portfolio, tiered by each unit's earning potential.
• Work with sales on programme positioning and value propositions, so the business sells on value rather than price.
• Lead and develop the account team, allocate portfolios and set standards for briefing, reporting and client communication.
• Make sure every business unit has a named owner, individual KPIs and OKRs, and regular performance reviews.
• Work with the Agency Managing Director to turn plans into briefs, priorities and delivered work.
• Oversee project management so that timelines, process and status are visible across all accounts.
• Stand in for the VP Growth on client-side matters.
• As accounts grow, guide business units in appointing senior marketing managers as their day-to-day contacts with the agency.

Requirements

• A degree in marketing, business or a related field. A postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• 12 years or more in marketing, including at least 5 years in client service or account leadership at director level, ideally in an agency.
• Experience managing multiple accounts and senior, C-suite stakeholders at the same time.
• Strong strategic planning and budgeting skills.
• Performance literacy: comfortable with funnels, acquisition costs and conversion data.
• Experience aligning marketing with sales teams.

Ideal candidate

• A best-in-class expert who leads by example and knows the roles they manage in depth.
• Agency experience and comfort wearing multiple hats are essential.
• Experience in higher education or ed-tech is an advantage.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.