Description

Clockwork is looking for a dynamic Client Service Business Unit Director (BUD) to lead and grow our Business Unit. 

This role requires a strategic leader with through-the-line experience, exceptional client service capability, and strong commercial acumen. The Business Unit Director will be responsible for the overall performance, profitability, and growth of their portfolio, while ensuring best-in-class client delivery across all channels. 

The BUD will oversee our pod consisting of client service, strategists, and production members, build long term client partnerships, drive new business opportunities, and ensure that strategy translates into measurable business results for clients. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Business Unit Leadership & Commercial Management 

• Own the P&L for the Business Unit, ensuring revenue growth and profitability targets are met. 
• Drive organic growth within existing accounts and identify new business opportunities. 
• Oversee forecasting, budgeting, revenue tracking, and resource allocation. 
• Ensure all client work is scoped accurately, costed appropriately, and delivered profitably. 
• Contribute to overall agency strategy and leadership direction. 

 2. Strategic Digital Leadership 

• Provide high-level digital strategic direction across all accounts. 
• Ensure integration across SEO, Paid Media, Social Media, Web Development, Production, Data & Analytics, and Innovation. 
• Guide teams in translating marketing strategies into measurable ROI and performance outcomes. 
• Stay ahead of marketing trends and proactively introduce new technologies, tools, and opportunities to clients. 
• Elevate the standard of strategic thinking within the team. 

 3. Client Relationship Management 

• Act as a senior escalation point and trusted advisor to key clients. 
• Build strong, long-term client partnerships based on trust, credibility, and measurable impact. 
• Oversee major proposals, contract negotiations, and annual scope renewals. 
• Ensure client expectations are proactively managed across all phases of campaigns and projects. 
• Lead quarterly and annual strategic reviews with clients. 

 4. Operational Excellence 

• Oversee production processes to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery. 
• Implement quality control measures across all outputs. 
• Ensure workflow systems, reporting structures, and performance tracking are consistently maintained. 
• Align cross-functional teams (creative, tech, strategy, media, data) for seamless delivery. 

 5. Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, mentor, and develop Account Directors and broader client service teams. 
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance. 
• Support succession planning and talent development within the Business Unit. 
• Ensure teams are motivated, trained, and aligned to agency standards. 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience within an agency environment. 
• At least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role (Account Director/Group Account Director/Business Unit Director). 
• Proven experience managing large, complex accounts. 
• Strong commercial understanding, including P&L management and revenue forecasting. 
• Demonstrated ability to grow accounts and drive new business. 
• Deep understanding of: 
• The production and creative lifecycle 
• Paid Media 
• Social Media 
• Web Development & Digital Innovation 
• Data Analytics & Performance Measurement 
• Experience in interpreting key performance metrics and driving optimisation strategies. 

Skills & Competencies 

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen 
• Exceptional client relationship management skills 
• Confident presenter at the executive level 
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills 
• Highly organised with strong operational oversight capability 
• Solutions-driven and commercially minded 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment 

What Success Looks Like 

• Profitable, growing business unit 
• Strong client retention and measurable performance improvements 
• High-performing, motivated team 
• Consistently delivered work that drives conversions and ROI 
• A reputation as a trusted advisor to clients