The Role
We're delighted to announce that Spark Foundry, a part of Core, are now hiring for a Client Director for maternity cover. Please note this is a fixed term contract for 1 year.
This role assumes responsibility for managing multiple client accounts. This role requires strong
leadership and project management skills and also requires collaboration and communication
with the wider company in order to add value to clients business. The ideal candidate should
have strong people management skills as well as having a focus on strategy, innovation,
execution and client service excellence.
Responsibilities / Key Performance Indictors (KPIs):
The role of Client Director is to be the client lead for clients. The Client Director is responsible
for the development and the deployment of the media strategy, including ownership and
quality control of the whole media planning process from strategy to delivery. They will instil a
culture of innovation within the team as well as have a clear understanding of the strengths
and opportunity offered by each Practice area in Core and the benefit that they can lend to
solving our clients problems. The Client Director is also responsible for people management of
all of their direct reports including management and recording of PMAD and day to day
feedback.
AGENCY PERFORMANCE
• Day to day senior client contact with overall ownership of the delivery of the campaign
including mid-campaign performance
• Must have a clear understanding of their clients businesses, their pressures and the key
priorities for the year.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of the media strategy at a client level.
This includes project management within Core across all relevant Practices and
Central Teams with responsibility for campaign delivery
• Topline media budget setting annually
• Responsible for fostering a culture of creativity and innovation within the team, central
to this is running effective ideation sessions and ensuring that they are strategically
aligned
• Operational oversight of media team, allocation of team resource and management of
client timelimes
• Quality assurance on media rationale and media channel selection as well as the final
point of sign-off
• Participation in pitches including presentation delivery
• Takes time to meet with and work collaboratively with key media owners to deliver
innovative media partnerships
• Client Relationship management including delivery of ongoing proactivity
• Manage all audited related data for audited clients including the following; providing
accurate and timely media plans to the auditor at the agreed timelines, reviewing pre
audit decks with the Business Director in advance of audit and coordinating feedback
to auditors, help BD to identify Core attendees to the audit meeting and manage the
coordination of the meetings with auditors and internal attendees, coordinate and
deliver post audit review and recommendation with all relevant teams within Core
including Investment, Channel Planning, Strategy, etc.
• Represent the agency at industry/ client events
COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the individual client's income targets
• Demonstrate a strong comprehension and application of the relevant client's contract
• Business Development with existing client portfolio to drive collaborative income lines
• Empower the team to focus on an active and effective management of Aged Debt
• Champion a professional culture of time management and approve timesheets for
direct reports on a weekly basis
• Champion a professional culture of compliance recognising the impact that strong
process and operations has on our performance
• Have a very clear understanding of performance bonuses within client contracts, and a
proactive approach to managing the delivery of these KPIs
• Responsible for the accurate and timely forecasting of income per client across all
income lines and media
TALENT MANAGEMENT
• Take responsibility for setting a high professional standard within the team
including taking ownership of and responsibility for all Quarterly reviews,
presentations and all client interactions
• Be the gate-keeper of what 'best-in-class' agency output looks like
• Mentor and manage the team by giving insightful developmental feedback to team
members and colleagues specifically managing:
o Monthly catch ups
o Quarterly performance reviews
o Annual 360 reviews
• Take ownership of the management of the team via Personio and update progress
within the Performance section and ensure attendance in Core Learning management
training
• Ensure strong and appropriate day-to-day delegation of tasks among each team
member to effectively manage workloads and pressure
• Demonstrate and encourage an accuracy culture ensuring team members give
adequate attention to detail and follow processes as instructed
• Upholds the Core Values in actions and words
• Encourage and embrace the collaborative Core culture
• Champion and commit to deliver internal training for the team with Core Learning
Your profile
EXPERIENCE
• Previous media experience in a similar role
• Previous experience managing a team of people
• Highly proficient in all Microsoft Office programs
• Experience project managing large scale, complex media campaigns is essential
• High level of business and financial acumen
Person Specification
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Good listener - ability to understand what the client requirements are
• Well presented and confident
• Team player - be solution focused, and responsible for the development and motivation
of junior team members
• Have the ability to self-manage and work on ones own initiative
• To be energetic, innovative and creative when communicating with clients and
colleagues
• Learn on a continuous basis while also sharing knowledge
• Leadership skills – take the lead role during brainstorming sessions, review new areas
of opportunity for the company, generate new ideas for clients and the organisation
• Highly organised individual that can manage multiple teams and their delivery of work
• Strategic thinker - think more strategically about the clients and their business, be able
to see where improvements can be made and implement these changes
• Understands and appreciates the benefit of processes and how it links to company
success
• Take an interest in the management and implementation of new revenue streams for
the company
Why us?
* Flexible and hybrid working, within the Republic of Ireland. This role requires two days in office in our offices in 1 Windmill Lane, Dublin 2.
* 24/7 access to professional development through LinkedIn Learning along with career progression and mentoring
* The opportunity to work across a huge range of clients within so many different categories from sport, retail, food and drink, to alcohol, insurance, banking and so much more
* 21 days annual leave plus a day off on your birthday, company closure days at Christmas and early finish on bank holiday Fridays
* A company culture that promotes work-life balance
* Family-focused benefits including paid maternity and paternity leave as well as maternity phase back program, fertility treatment supports and paid pregnancy loss leave
* Access to mental health and well-being programs including paid health insurance for you and your dependents under 18
* Professional financial advice; employer contributory pension and life assurance
* Make a difference by joining our D&I, CSR, Green, Social or Great Place to Work committees; you'll get an extra days leave for your efforts.
* And lots more …
Salary Range
€60,000 - €70,000 DOE
About us
Core is Ireland's largest marketing communications company with over 400 people working across the key areas of marketing communications - research, data science, strategy, planning, creative development and implementation. We are now a collective of nine practices, working towards a single purpose - to expand the possibilities of what brands can achieve. At Core, we believe that change can move us forward and compel us towards new possibilities. Our wonderful people are at the centre of our success. It is essential that we keep building a high-trust working environment that supports our people and enables them to flourish. There is no magic formula for becoming a great place to work. Instead, it involves working together, through constant change, to match the personal dreams and ambitions of our people with the aspirations of the organisation.
Over the years, we have cemented our position as a great place to work, with 2025 being voted 8 Best Large Workplace in Ireland. Additionally, we are recognised as a Best Workplace for Women, and Best Workplace for Health & Wellbeing. 2025 was our best year yet, and we're excited to have you join us and our continued success.