Client Director – 3 month fixed term contract
About The Group
The world is obsessed by small start-ups or the largest corporates. Most UK media agencies are built to serve the top 100 spending clients, while many boutique agencies cater to startups. The Specialist Works is different. We serve marketers at entrepreneurial brands that have moved past the messy start‑up stage yet remain far from the slow‑paced nature of large corporates.
Our clients include large privately‑owned businesses (often PE‑backed), founder‑led or both, and small to mid‑cap public enterprises. They fight larger, more established competitors and know they must think and behave differently to win. They don’t conform to category norms – disruption is their safest move because they can’t out‑spend their competition.
Marketers leading these brands are innovative, resourceful, move at pace and are in all‑out growth mode. They redefine categories, overtaking and acquiring traditional businesses and changing consumer behaviour along the way.
Three core challenges that define everything we do as an agency
* Consumer – customer acquisition is key to their success
* Company – they are highly ambitious and built lean
* Category – they are often out‑spent by competitors and must outmaneuver them to disrupt the category
Role Overview
You will direct the business of 3–4 agency clients, free from network agency constraints, leading best‑in‑class planning recommendations. You will also lead people, managing and developing other TSW staff with a can‑do attitude and an infectious “What’s Possible” approach. Your leadership will filter through the team, ensuring we deliver the best work our clients have seen.
Location: Hybrid – Monday, Tuesday & Thursday in our London office in Angel, 2 days from home.
Main Accountabilities
* Lead client accounts and be recognised as the spearhead for the accounts.
* Own and interrogate client briefs to produce the highest quality responses, overseeing the planning process from briefing through to campaign evaluation.
* Effectively plan and communicate cross‑channel strategy, working closely with Activation specialists on implementation and delivery.
* Apply deep knowledge of both online and offline channels, including detailed understanding of platforms, measurement and optimisation.
* Oversee campaign performance and proactively identify improvement opportunities.
* Understand the client’s business dynamics to deliver highly relevant responses.
* Anticipate and resolve client challenges, keeping senior team members informed.
* Provide guidance and training to your team, the wider client team and specialists with ongoing feedback.
* Play a pivotal role in new business pitch teams, coordinating and presenting responses.
Key Deliverables
* Establish strong relationships with clients and internal specialist teams.
* Demonstrate expertise in diagnosing briefs and applying the planning process to deliver best‑in‑class recommendations.
* Show a solid understanding of the strategic purpose of channels, platforms and media types and lead discussions with clients.
* Filter this understanding across broader account teams.
* Show understanding of market dynamics and their impact on communications.
* Apply tools and systems to client briefs to deliver insight and inspiration.
* Present responses to briefs, communicating confidence in strategic direction and performance.
* Pull insight from data and use it to develop ideas with the teams.
* Keep things simple, no matter how complicated they are.
* Tell a compelling story, taking clients on a journey through your response.
* Establish yourself as a line manager and leader within the client team.
Technical Requirements
* Detailed understanding of core planning principles for brand and performance campaigns.
* Understanding of different KPIs by media channel and their relationship to planning principles and business outcomes.
* Strong knowledge of planning tools (TGI, Ad Intel, Touchpoints, etc.) and measurement tools (Google Analytics, etc.).
* Multi‑media planning expertise (offline and online channels).
* Strong knowledge of online media platforms and associated technologies.
* Awareness of the broader media and marketing ecosystem, online and offline, and how it can be connected.
Experience
Essential
* Media agency experience, with recent experience leading the planning of multi‑channel campaigns.
* Experience translating key planning principles into media implementation across offline and online channels.
* Experience working on performance‑focused campaigns, delivering detailed reporting and analysis alongside strategic measurement recommendations.
* Extensive experience planning or buying online media campaigns (search, social, display).
* Strong client communication and management skills, including project management and conflict resolution.
* Management experience.
* A track record of winning, growing and retaining clients in an agency or consultancy environment.
Nice to have
* Previous experience delivering performance campaigns.
* Experience building and optimising campaigns in online media platforms (paid search, paid social).
* Experience working with external agencies (Creative, BTL, PR).
Working Conditions
* A minimum of 3 days per week in the office.
* May require some travel to meet clients or attend industry events on an ad‑hoc basis.
Benefits
We provide an exciting, fast‑paced, people‑first environment that allows everyone to grow, learn and thrive.
We work a 9‑day fortnight, giving staff every other Friday off.
We offer share options and a benefits package that invests in our employees’ long‑term personal and professional growth and wellbeing.
Social and Environmental Commitment
At What’s Possible Group, we are dedicated to embedding social and environmental responsibility into every aspect of our business. We promote sustainability and social equity, diversity and inclusion, and implement green office practices.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all, regardless of race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age. We are an equal opportunities employer and are flexible to accommodate any special requirements.
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