Executive Director, Client Partnership - West Coast ONLY

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE:

Executive Director, Client Partnership at DEPT® are senior leaders responsible for driving the growth, performance, and innovation of strategic client relationships.

You serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, helping them navigate complex marketing, experience, and technology transformation challenges. You combine strong commercial instincts with strategic thinking, ensuring that the work we deliver drives meaningful business impact.

Executive Directors lead clusters of accounts and are responsible for shaping account strategy, expanding DEPT’s capabilities within their client portfolio, and ensuring strong financial performance.

You bring a clear point of view to clients and internal teams alike, and are able to “hold court” with senior stakeholders while connecting brand, experience, data, and technology into a coherent growth strategy.

Success in this role requires curiosity, strong commercial leadership, and the ability to operate end-to-end across the agency lifecycle; from defining opportunity areas and shaping strategy to building operating models and expanding scope over time.

Most importantly, Executive Directors build trust with senior clients, and set the tone for excellence in how DEPT operates.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The Executive Director role combines client leadership, commercial ownership, growth strategy, and organizational leadership.

CLIENT LEADERSHIP & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

• Serve as the senior strategic partner for key clients, building trusted relationships with executive stakeholders across marketing, product, and business leadership.
• Lead the development of long-term account strategies that align DEPT’s capabilities to clients’ evolving business objectives, growth ambitions, and competitive landscape.
• Bring a strong strategic point of view to client conversations, challenging thinking constructively and guiding clients toward new opportunities for growth and transformation.
• Facilitate executive-level conversations around brand, experience, technology, and operating model transformation.
• Act as the primary senior escalation point for client issues and ensure they are resolved quickly and constructively.
• Represent DEPT® at the executive level within client organizations and strengthen our reputation as a strategic partner.
• Lead and support major pitches, proposals, and strategic initiatives within existing accounts.

ACCOUNT GROWTH & COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE

• Own the commercial health and growth of assigned accounts, including revenue expansion, profitability, and scope management.
• Define and lead account growth strategies, identifying whitespace opportunities across DEPT’s capabilities including creative, media, experience, content, data, and technology.
• Identify, shape, and close cross-sell and up-sell opportunities by connecting client business goals with DEPT’s integrated capabilities.
• Lead strategic discussions with clients around scope expansion, new initiatives, and transformation programs.
• Ensure accurate financial forecasting and reporting across assigned accounts, including revenue projections, margin performance, and pipeline visibility.
• Partner closely with Finance and leadership to maintain strong pipeline hygiene, forecasting accuracy, and long-term account planning.
• Ensure accounts operate within healthy financial parameters by proactively managing scope pacing, utilization, and profitability.

EXPERIENCE & TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP

• Operate confidently across creative, media and transformation conversations, bringing enough digital and MarTech literacy to frame trade-offs and guide strategic discussions.
• Help clients define modern marketing and experience operating models that integrate creative, media, data, and technology.
• Partner with internal strategy, experience, and technology teams to translate ambitious client visions into executable programs.
• Shape integrated programs spanning content, performance marketing, experience design, and platform-enabled transformation.
• Champion innovative approaches to delivering work faster, more intelligently, and with greater impact.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Work closely with leaders across creative, media, experience, data, and technology to deliver integrated solutions for clients.
• Foster strong collaboration across disciplines and regions to ensure the right experts are engaged at the right time.
• Help orchestrate complex programs by aligning diverse teams around clear strategies, operating models, and governance structures.
• Partner with delivery leadership to ensure ambitious client visions translate into scalable, executable programs.
• Champion the One DEPT mindset by breaking down silos and encouraging collaboration across capabilities.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

• Lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams across accounts, ensuring teams remain aligned, motivated, and focused on delivering exceptional work.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to Client Directors, Executive Directors, and emerging leaders within the organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, and collaboration within account teams.
• Support talent development by identifying high-potential individuals and helping them grow into future leaders.
• Model DEPT’s values and contribute to building a high-performing, collaborative culture.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Ensure work is delivered to the highest quality standards while maintaining strong operational discipline.
• Continuously review and improve ways of working within accounts to increase efficiency, speed, and effectiveness.
• Partner with delivery teams to ensure strong governance, resourcing alignment, and operational clarity across complex programs.
• Ensure new team members are effectively onboarded to accounts with a strong understanding of client goals and team dynamics.
• Resolve cross-team operational challenges and maintain alignment on priorities and delivery expectations.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 12+ years of experience leading client relationships within a digital agency, consultancy, or marketing services environment.
• Proven experience managing large-scale accounts and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Track record of growing accounts through cross-sell, up-sell, and strategic expansion.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to build trust with senior stakeholders including CMO-level clients.
• Experience shaping strategic programs across marketing, experience design, content, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen including experience managing account revenue, margin, and forecasting.
• Ability to operate end-to-end across the agency lifecycle; from defining the work to expanding the relationship over time.
• Excellent storytelling, presentation, and communication skills.
• Strong cross-functional leadership capabilities with the ability to align diverse teams around a shared strategy.
• High curiosity, entrepreneurial mindset, and action-oriented leadership style.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.

Learn more about DEPT®

 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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