Client Director

Koto•New York, NY

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Koto is seeking a strategic, commercially minded Client Director to join its growing Client Services team in New York. The role partners with ambitious brands, builds meaningful client relationships, leads complex creative engagements, and helps deliver exceptional work with lasting impact. The Client Director balances creative ambition with commercial realities, navigates complexity, influences senior stakeholders, and provides clarity and direction to clients and internal teams. The position plays a pivotal role in shaping client partnerships, growing the business, and contributing to the success of Koto’s New York studio. It involves leading high-profile branding and design projects; developing relationships with senior and C-suite stakeholders; advocating for strong creative work; managing account budgets, scopes, resourcing, and profitability; and contributing to new business. The Client Director also mentors junior Client Services colleagues and helps improve processes, collaboration, and studio culture. Koto works in person, with an optional work-from-home day on Fridays and an additional two weeks of remote work per year. Employees may work from any of Koto’s four global studios for a set period with appropriate planning and application. The company encourages autonomy in managing time, working hours, and personal commitments.

Requirements

8 or more years of experience in client services or brand partnerships.
A proven track record of leading complex, high-profile brand engagements and managing senior stakeholders across multiple industries.
Confidence advising C-suite clients, navigating challenging conversations, building relationships, and identifying account-growth opportunities.
Commercial acumen, including experience negotiating scopes and fees, managing budgets, and driving account profitability.
Strong understanding of brand strategy, creative development, and design processes.
Thoughtful, proactive leadership, sound judgment, empathy, and a collaborative, low-ego approach.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a branding, design, or creative agency.

Responsibilities

Lead multiple high-profile branding and design engagements, provide strategic direction, and ensure exceptional delivery.
Navigate stakeholder dynamics, anticipate challenges, and bring clarity and confidence throughout client engagements.
Build trusted partnerships with senior and C-suite stakeholders by understanding their businesses, ambitions, and challenges.
Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships, expand existing accounts, and position Koto as a long-term creative partner.
Partner with creative and strategy teams to deliver ambitious, impactful work and connect creative thinking to business objectives.
Advocate for bold ideas and navigate client feedback.
Own the commercial health of accounts, including budgets, scopes, resourcing, and profitability.
Negotiate fees, manage commercial risks, and balance client expectations with the needs of the business and creative teams.
Partner with studio leadership to identify and pursue new business opportunities, shaping proposals, scopes, budgets, and pitch strategies.
Exercise sound judgment, foster trust, navigate difficult decisions, and support accountability among clients and internal teams.
Mentor and support junior Client Services team members, sharing knowledge and helping them grow.
Improve processes, strengthen collaboration, and contribute to a positive, high-performing studio culture.

Benefits

Meaningful and regular access to a manager to support personal development and career trajectory.
Promotions and pay increases to reward performance.
Discretionary annual bonus of up to 10% of salary for all employees.
Significant paid maternity and paternity leave.
25 days of annual vacation, in addition to US bank holidays and a studio closure over the December holidays.
Employer contribution of up to 4% for employees who contribute to the 401(k) plan.
Monthly employee wellness benefits package via Juno worth $100.
Access to YCN and funding for relevant training opportunities.
Five-year service reward of $5,000 and five additional vacation days.
Ten-year service reward of $10,000 and four weeks of holiday.
Opportunity to work from any of Koto’s four global studios for a set period, with appropriate planning and application.
Optional work-from-home day on Fridays and an additional two weeks of remote work per year.