Director of client services job description.
Looking for a director of client services or stepping into a senior leadership role? This job description outlines strategic responsibilities, team leadership, client success delivery, essential experience, and salary benchmarks for director-level positions.
What does a director of client services do?
The director of client services oversees all aspects of client delivery across an agency or service function. They lead account teams, develop strategic client relationships, and ensure business targets are met through effective service and delivery.
They’re responsible for team performance, client retention, revenue growth, and ensuring high service standards. This includes mentoring senior staff, managing escalations, and working with leadership on strategic planning.
In agencies, this is a top-level role that bridges account management and business leadership. In-house, it may oversee internal project delivery and partner success functions.
Key responsibilities of a director of client services.
Directors of client services lead the entire client service function within an agency or consultancy. Typical responsibilities include:
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Setting the vision and structure for account management across the business
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Leading senior client relationships and strategic account planning
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Overseeing the performance of multiple teams, accounts, or regions
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Ensuring commercial targets, revenue growth, and retention goals are met
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Supporting team development, recruitment, and succession planning
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Acting as a strategic partner across delivery, creative, and operations teams
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Monitoring account profitability, delivery standards, and customer satisfaction
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Escalating and resolving high-level client or delivery issues
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Working with senior leadership on service proposition and team structure
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Leading new business efforts and executive client onboarding
The role blends operational leadership, strategic client management, and commercial ownership.
Skills and requirements for a director of client services.
Directors of client services lead the client function, team performance, and commercial growth. Employers typically look for:
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8–12 years of experience in client services or agency leadership
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Track record of growing key accounts and leading senior relationships
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Experience managing multi-functional account teams
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Confidence in pitching, commercial planning, and revenue ownership
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Skilled in coaching account directors, managers, and execs
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Ability to build strong client relationships at senior level
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Experience with process improvement and service development
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Strong knowledge of delivery, campaign, or project environments
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Comfortable working across multiple accounts and regions
Most directors of client services report into the MD or CEO and are responsible for retention, growth, and team development.
Average salary for a director of client services.
In the UK, the average salary for a director of client services typically ranges from £80,000 to £95,000, based on seniority, revenue oversight, and team scale.
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Mid-level professionals in this role tend to earn between £80,000 and £87,000
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Top-end salaries for directors in large agencies or multi-million-pound portfolios reach £88,000 to £95,000
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Packages may include bonuses tied to client retention, account growth, and leadership KPIs
This role sees the highest pay in London-based full-service agencies, branding consultancies, and strategic comms firms.
Career progression for a director of client services.
A director of client services leads the strategic direction and operational delivery of client accounts. It’s a senior leadership role responsible for relationship growth, satisfaction, and retention across a portfolio of high-value clients.
This position often evolves into broader commercial or agency leadership roles. A typical career path includes:
Account executive
Supports campaign coordination, day-to-day communication, and internal project updates. Gains exposure to client processes and delivery frameworks.
Account manager
Manages client relationships, scopes briefs, and oversees delivery. Builds trust through regular reporting and performance management.
Account director
Leads strategic planning for key clients. Owns account performance, growth targets, and high-level stakeholder relationships.
Director of client services
Oversees the full client services team. Aligns delivery, strategy, and team development to drive retention and revenue across the agency or business unit.
Commercial director
Transitions into ownership of P&L, agency growth, and executive leadership — including new business, client satisfaction, and service innovation.
SEO and Content Executive
Senior SEO Consultant
Senior Paid Media Manager
Office & Finance Manager
salary guide
Our UK marketing salary guide.
Client services leaders play a critical role in retention, growth, and team development. If you're hiring at this level, your salary offer needs to reflect the scope of responsibility. Use our 2025 UK marketing salary guide to benchmark senior roles and build offers that support long-term success.
FAQS
Director of client services FAQs.
They lead the client services department in an agency or consultancy, overseeing all client relationships, delivery standards, and account performance. This role ensures consistent excellence in service and supports strategic growth of client partnerships.
An account director focuses on a few key accounts. A director of client services manages the full client portfolio — including team structure, commercial strategy, and delivery processes. It’s a leadership role with both operational and revenue responsibility.
Most come from senior agency roles — typically after serving as a Group Account Director, Business Director, or Head of Client Services. Experience managing large teams and shaping client experience strategy is key.
They report into the Managing Director or CEO, contributing to agency direction, resourcing, margin management, and business development strategy. They also mentor senior account staff.
Creative, digital, media, PR, and brand agencies — particularly those with large client rosters and ambitious growth plans. It’s also a role in some larger B2B consultancies with account-based delivery models.
