Company Overview

An award-winning, independently owned marketing agency specializing in foodservice, retail food and beverage, tourism, and hospitality. Headquartered in the Baltimore/Washington corridor, this agency continues to expand its position as a leader in food, beverage, and hospitality marketing. Great work comes from diverse perspectives united by curiosity, generosity of spirit, and accountability.

Reporting Relationship

This role is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and reports directly to the agency President, operating within strategic, financial, and operational parameters established by agency leadership.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Client Strategy and Success is a senior agency leader accountable for retention, growth, and profitability of the agency's existing client portfolio.

This role is focused on leadership, strategy, and accountability -- not day-to-day project management or account execution. Success is achieved by leading and developing senior managers, strengthening adoption of existing systems, and ensuring consistent execution against agency and client priorities. As the owner of the client/agency relationship at the most senior level, this role is charged with elevating the agency to consultative partner status.

Key Responsibilities

Client Strategy, Growth and Retention

• Own client retention and organic growth outcomes, including expansion within existing lines of business and identification of new revenue opportunities throughout client organizations
• Maintain ultimate accountability for forecasting existing client fee income, delivered through Client Strategy and Success Supervisors, with forecasts updated monthly and shared with agency leadership
• Maintain a relevant staffing model that provides clients with dedicated teams reflective of needs and fee structure
• Develop and maintain senior-level client relationships with lead marketers and executive stakeholders, demonstrating a strong understanding of each client's business, category dynamics, and growth drivers
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to key clients while transitioning day-to-day account ownership to Client Strategy and Success Supervisors
• Build, train, and develop a strong integrated Client Strategy and Success team
• Partner with clients to drive the annual marketing planning process
• Proactively identify, develop, and pitch programs that drive measurable client business success, both within and outside formal planning cycles
• Provide proactive strategic guidance to retained clients through performance tracking, trend monitoring, and insight development, translating data into business-building recommendations
• Support new business efforts by ensuring scopes, pricing, and delivery models align with agency standards and long-term client potential

Financial Stewardship and Governance

• Ensure disciplined application of agency pricing strategy across all client engagements while delivering exceptional client value
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, allocation, billing schedules, and department-level reporting
• Ensure Client Strategy and Success departmental staffing and resourcing decisions align with prescribed salary-to-fee income ratios, balancing client needs with agency financial health

Leadership Integration and Capability Building

• Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing Client Strategy leadership team, establishing clear accountability, development paths, and performance expectations
• Strengthen leadership depth by mentoring senior team members and transferring ownership and decision-making authority while maintaining ultimate accountability for success
• Promote disciplined cross-functional integration across Client Strategy, Creative, Media, Performance, Technology, and Production
• Serve as a steward of agency performance standards, reinforcing an expectation of optimization, learning, and continuous improvement across teams
• Engage in candid, respectful debate at the senior leadership level, balancing agency interests with client demands
• Through insights and active industry monitoring, ensure the agency maintains a strong, informed point of view on issues impacting the agency's core industries and clients
• Partner with senior brand leadership to ensure successful client onboarding and clear 12-36 month road mapping for both retained and project-based engagements, defining what long-term agency success looks like for each client

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 15+ years of progressive agency experience, including senior leadership roles
• Proven success driving client growth, retention, and profitability
• Strong understanding of agency financial models, pricing strategies, and resource utilization
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex teams through influence and governance
• Exceptional communication, judgment, and leadership skills

Cultural Fit and Values

This leader balances conviction with collaboration, accountability with empathy, and strategic ambition with operational discipline. They advocate for teams while aligning fully with agency priorities, and use influence intentionally to elevate people, performance, and trust across the organization.