Vice President, Client Services

Underscore Marketing

About The Position

The Vice President, Client Services, leads the strategic direction, growth, and overall health of key client relationships. The role oversees a portfolio of high-value accounts, drives profitable growth, and ensures exceptional client experiences through proactive, consultative partnership. The Vice President builds and mentors high-performing teams, fosters cross-functional alignment, and positions the agency as a trusted strategic partner. Success requires anticipating client needs, driving business impact, and delivering value that strengthens long-term partnerships. The position leads account strategy and planning, cultivates senior-level client relationships, identifies opportunities to expand services, and contributes to new business efforts. It collaborates with internal teams to ensure seamless delivery and alignment, while leading talent development and supporting the agency's broader growth. The role requires 12–15+ years of agency experience in client services, account management, or a related role, including 8+ years of people leadership. Experience in media and/or life sciences is preferred, and travel may be needed based on client requirements.

Requirements

12–15+ years of agency experience in client services, account management, or related roles.
Demonstrated success managing complex accounts and driving revenue growth.
8+ years of people leadership experience.
Proven track record of building strong client relationships and delivering business impact.
Deep expertise in client services, account management, and agency operations.
Strong business acumen and ability to manage revenue, profitability, and forecasting.
Strategic thinking and ability to translate client needs into actionable growth plans.
Advanced relationship-building and client partnership skills.
Proven ability to lead, coach, and scale high-performing teams.
Expertise in negotiation, upselling, and organic growth strategies.
Excellent communication and influencing skills across all levels.
Strong understanding of industry trends, market dynamics, and emerging technologies.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, complex environment.
Willingness to travel as needed based on client requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in media and/or life sciences.

Responsibilities

Lead account strategy across a portfolio of key and/or complex accounts to drive profitable growth and retention.
Identify and execute opportunities for organic growth, including upselling and cross-selling services.
Oversee account planning, forecasting, and performance tracking to ensure financial health and resource optimization.
Participate in high-level client negotiations and strategic discussions.
Build and maintain senior-level client relationships, serving as a trusted advisor.
Anticipate client needs and deliver proactive, insight-driven recommendations.
Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality work that drives measurable client outcomes and satisfaction.
Partner with internal teams, including media, strategy, and operations, to ensure seamless execution and alignment.
Drive a customer-centric mindset across the organization.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, and overall client delivery.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Client Services team.
Create and manage talent plans aligned to client needs and business goals.
Establish clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and support career development.
Recruit and onboard top talent.
Contribute to new business efforts, including research, strategy development, and pitch support.