Client Operations Director - Mediabrands UK

About Us 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). Mediabrands manages approximately $40 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients and provides strategic services and solutions across its award-winning, full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its innovative marketing specialist companies Kinesso, Magna, Orion, Rapport and Mediabrands Content Studio. Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognisable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors. The company employs more than 13,000 marketing experts in more than 130 countries, representing the full diversity of humanity. For more information, please visit our website: www.ipgmediabrands.com.

Role Description 

The Operations Centre of Excellence (CoE) provides best-in-class operational leadership across all areas of client delivery, ensuring consistent onboarding, governance, and excellence in execution.

The Client Operations Director will play a pivotal senior role in this team — leading the seamless onboarding/ transition of new clients, driving operational delivery standards through roll out of Client Lifecycle Management for clients from Day 1, and providing tactical project management support to UK client teams where required. This role will also partner closely with the Growth team to provide operational and project management input to RFPs and new business pitches.

Please note: we have two 6 month fixed term contracts available for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Client Onboarding Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end onboarding of new clients using the established Onboarding Framework and governance standards.
• Create and oversee onboarding project plans, ensuring cross-craft alignment, risk management, and milestone delivery.
• Collaborate with Process & Governance and RSM teams to ensure all onboarding deliverables and documentation are accurate, compliant, and aligned with CLM and GCC processes.

E2E/CLM Process within Transitions:

• Day to day delivery of CLM Client adoption as part of all new client onboarding/transitions
• Support of any areas of new client led CLM process nuance.
• Coordination of CLM training to new client teams.
• Capture of local market client and agency new CLM operational requirements through close proximity to front line teams.

Operational Project Management

• Provide tactical project management support for in-flight clients, stepping in to stabilise or accelerate CLM delivery performance where required.
• Act as project lead for larger UK clients when additional operational oversight or coordination is needed.
• Work closely with Client Leadership and specialist functions to troubleshoot operational barriers and implement improvements.

Growth and RFP Support

• Partner with the Growth and Commercial teams to contribute operational expertise to client proposals, RFPs, and new business pitches.
• Develop and present delivery frameworks, operating and resourcing models, and all operational narratives for potential new clients.
• Create customised Transition plans as part of pitch/RFP responses.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Process & Governance, Media Excellence, and RSM pillars to ensure a consistent operational approach across all clients.
• Act as an operational point of escalation for onboarding or client process issues, ensuring resolution through collaboration and governance.
• Support adoption and integration of Global Capability Centre (GCC) processes across onboarding and live clients.

Reporting and Risk Management

• Track and report on onboarding progress, client satisfaction, and process adherence.
• Identify risk areas early and develop mitigation plans in partnership with operational and client teams.
• Feed learnings and data back into the broader Operations CoE to continuously refine frameworks and processes.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Solid experience in operations, client onboarding, or project delivery in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment (agency or consulting experience advantageous).
• Proven ability to lead complex client transitions or onboarding programmes.
• Excellent project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of operational risk management.
• Experience supporting new business processes, including contributing to proposals and operational design.

About You (Our Successful Candidate)

Joining at a pivotal time of transformation within IPG Mediabrands and the wider industry, this role requires a hands-on, senior operator who thrives at the intersection of delivery, governance, and client engagement. You’re an experienced client facing leader with strong stakeholder management skills and project management skills, able to bring structure and calm to complex client models for onboarding and delivery. Ideally you have recent experience with onboarding clients into complex organisations or have been very close to the process.

You’ll combine operational discipline with commercial awareness — someone who understands how to translate strategy into clear, executable onboarding and delivery plans. You will be proactive, collaborative, and confident leading cross-functional teams without formal line management authority.

You’ll be as comfortable leading a room of senior stakeholders as you are unblocking day-to-day delivery challenges, with a natural ability to connect people, simplify process, and maintain focus on quality and efficiency.