Director of Client Services | Global Education Group | JHB Northern Suburbs
Manpower SA · JHB Northern Suburbs, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Overview
A global education group is looking for a senior marketing leader to take charge of client relationships across its internal agency. You will partner with heads of schools and business unit CEOs, shape marketing strategies, manage budgets, and drive growth. This is a permanent, full time role based in Johannesburg's Northern Suburbs, ideal for someone with deep agency experience who thrives in a multi brand environment.
About the role
Our client, a global education group with a mission to develop conscious leaders, is seeking a Director of Client Services to lead strategic relationships across its diverse portfolio of business units. You will take ownership of the group's internal, digitally led marketing agency's client relationships, working closely with heads of schools and business unit leaders to shape marketing strategies, drive business growth, and ensure alignment between marketing initiatives and commercial objectives.
What you will do:
- 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, covering 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.
- Ensure 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 timelines, process, and status are visible across all accounts.
- Stand in for the VP Growth on client side matters.
- Guide business units in appointing senior marketing managers as their day to day contacts as accounts grow.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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.
- 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.
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, covering 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.
- Ensure 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 timelines, process, and status are visible across all accounts.
- Stand in for the VP Growth on client side matters.
- Guide business units in appointing senior marketing managers as their day to day contacts as accounts grow.
Job details
- Organisation
- Manpower SA
- Location
- JHB Northern Suburbs, Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Job type
- Full time
- Experience level
- Executive (12+ years)
- Education
- Bachelor
- Category
- Marketing & Communications
- Application Method
- Apply online
Success Guide
This is a senior role, so your application needs to show more than just years of experience. Highlight specific examples where you managed multiple senior stakeholders, controlled large marketing budgets, and led account teams in an agency setting. If you have worked in education or ed tech, make that stand out. The interview process will likely focus on your strategic thinking, how you handle complex client relationships, and your ability to balance commercial goals with creative delivery. Be ready to discuss real scenarios where you turned client challenges into growth. Also, since the role is in Johannesburg's Northern Suburbs, be clear about your ability to work on site. Good luck!
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