- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · VML Riyad
- Department
- Marketing
- Seniority
- Director
- Experience
- 6+ years
Description
Who We Are
VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.
About Us
At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.
Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.
Position Overview
Lead and grow strategic client relationships by connecting business and marketing priorities with technology-enabled solutions that deliver measurable commercial and customer value.
The Client Partnerships Director is accountable for the growth, commercial health, and long-term success of priority client relationships, while developing opportunities with prospective clients. You will understand clients’ business, customer, marketing, and transformation priorities and use that insight to shape integrated solutions that create measurable value.
Using a consultative and commercially focused approach, you will develop multi-year account strategies, build trusted relationships across client organisations, identify and convert growth opportunities, and orchestrate cross-functional teams. You will apply practical knowledge of marketing technology, data, CRM, content, commerce, and customer experience to connect business needs with technology-enabled solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Business and Client Leadership:
- Own the strategic direction, commercial health, and growth plan for a portfolio of priority clients, with accountability for revenue, profitability, retention, and client satisfaction.
- Develop a deep understanding of clients’ business models, customer priorities, marketing agendas, operating environments, and transformation ambitions.
- Build multi-year account plans covering stakeholders, business priorities, active engagements, growth opportunities, and risks.
- Growth and Commercial Management:
- Identify, shape, and convert opportunities across existing and prospective clients by bringing together the right VML capabilities to achieve defined business outcomes.
- Lead proposals, pitches, commercial negotiations, contract renewals, licence discussions, and forecasting.
- Balance client value with sound commercial judgement, protecting scope, margin, and long-term relationship health.
- MarTech and Transformation Advisory:
- Advise clients on how marketing technology, data, CRM, content, commerce, and customer experience capabilities can drive growth, improve marketing effectiveness, and strengthen customer engagement.
- Experience translating client priorities into commercially compelling proposals, roadmaps, and technology-enabled solutions.
- Executive Stakeholder and Relationship Management:
- Build trusted relationships with senior decision-makers and key stakeholders across business, marketing, technology, and procurement.
- Navigate complex stakeholder environments, align differing priorities, and serve as the senior point of escalation for commercial, relationship, or delivery matters.
- Lead strategic reviews and QBRs that demonstrate business impact, surface insights, and establish shared priorities and next steps.
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership:
- Act as the voice of the client internally, giving cross-functional teams clear business context, priorities, and success measures.
- Collaborate with delivery leaders to maintain governance, manage risk, resolve issues, and meet strategic, commercial, and operational expectations.
Qualifications & Experience
- 6+ years of experience leading client relationships, commercial growth, and transformation engagements within an agency, consultancy, MarTech, or enterprise technology environment.
- Demonstrable track record of owning and growing client relationships, ideally with government or semi-government organisations.
- Proven success in developing senior stakeholder relationships, shaping strategic opportunities, and securing significant multi-year engagements.
- Strong commercial management experience across account planning, pipeline, forecasting, negotiation, pricing, and scope governance.
- Experience collaborating with integrated, cross-functional teams and managing engagements in complex, multi-vendor environments.
- Practical experience across MarTech, CRM, data, content, commerce, customer experience, or digital transformation, with the credibility to engage business and technology stakeholders.
- Experience translating client business and marketing priorities into briefs, roadmaps, proposals, and technology-enabled solutions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Technology, or a related field is required.
Skills & Competencies
- Growth Leadership: Strong business judgement with the ability to build account strategies, identify opportunities, shape propositions, and convert opportunities.
- Client Partnership: Builds trusted senior relationships, understands the wider business context, and acts as a credible adviser.
- MarTech Fluency: Connects marketing technology ecosystems and capabilities to business and marketing outcomes.
- Strategic and Analytical Acumen: Ability to synthesise client priorities, market trends, customer insight, and technology considerations into clear strategies and actionable plans.
- Executive Presence and Consultative Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate complex business and technology topics to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Ability to navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, and high-stakes client situations with resilience and a solutions-focused mindset.
- Regional Market Understanding: Strong understanding of the Saudi and wider Middle Eastern market, including relevant cultural and commercial nuances.
- Fluency in English and Arabic is essential, and the successful candidate must be currently based in KSA.
Who You Are
- Curious – Seeks to understand people, businesses, and how they engage with content and technology.
- Agile – Anticipates requirements, manages expectations, and finds practical ways through problems.
- Collaborative – You cultivate trust with clients, set clear expectations, and work well with cross-discipline teams.
What We Offer
- Passionate, driven people - We champion a culture where people do extraordinary work.
- Consciously cultivated culture – We work together, listen actively, bring positivity, and empower creative bravery.
- Growth-minded opportunities - We nurture a culture of real-time feedback, a growth-oriented mindset, and training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.
At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.
#LI-EMEA
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
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