Business Unit Director

Business Unit Director
– for an award-winning creative experience agency
*Please note this is a permanent role in London/Southeast – role involves 3-4 days a week office based/on site with clients
We are seeking a talented and dynamic leader to join the team as a Business Unit Director. In this pivotal role, the successful candidate will be accountable for the overall output, commercials, and team leadership across a unit of prestigious clients. A combination of deeply honed skills and leadership as well as culture fit (ambitious & driven) and the ability to bring your “A” game will be essential for the successful candidate. Our preference is for a Business Unit Director from an agency/consultancy, but we will consider client-side experience, as long as you’ve spent at least 50% of your career in agency.
Business Unit Director- Creative Experience Agency
Key Responsibilities:
Build, maintain and grow strong relationships with key clients, understanding their needs, helping them to set new ambitions, and ensuring the delivery of innovative solutions that exceed expectations and drive business growth both for the client and for the agency
Lead, hire, coach and inspire a diverse team of business and creative professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment; setting accountability and focus for teams across client work
Drive commercial success by managing budgets, accurate forecasting, ensuring profitability, and identifying opportunities for growth within a client portfolio of £10M+
Contribute to the development and execution of client work to enhance the agency’s position as a leader in brand experience
Monitor the execution of client campaigns, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards
Review campaign performance and KPIs, leveraging data and insights to optimise strategies and drive continuous improvement
Identify opportunities for innovation to enhance campaign effectiveness and drive results
Business Unit Director - Creative Experience Agency
Requirements:
Ability to forecast, plan and track within a client portfolio of £10M+, balancing growth with service and taking proactive measures to address changes or risk
Stay ahead of industry trends and possess a deep understanding of emerging trends and innovations
Lead by example with a humble yet persuasive attitude, inspiring teams to excel and surpass expectations
Experience in growth and mentoring teams– coaching client service members but also allowing for autonomy to support their continued growth
Comfortable getting into the details when necessary, ensuring a deep understanding of project requirements and the ability to contribute directly to the creative process
Understanding of creative services, marketing and/or product experiences. Understanding of best-in-class, proof of being able to elevate the experiences and products made / sold in service of moving the brand or business forward
A proven hands-on leader with applied examples in the way of business strategy, brand or experience strategy acumen
An advanced ability to impact and influence stakeholders at multiple levels
Experience serving in a Senior Account Director, Group Account Director, Managing Partner or Business Unit Director role; leading in a client-facing role within a brand experience agency/ consultancy or previous experience working on FMCG/retail accounts or in the FMCG/retail sector would be highly advantageous
Strong client-facing experience including presenting in pitches, holding review meetings and managing high-pressured commercial situations
The ability to identify opportunities, address challenges, and optimise performance using strong problem-solving skills and strategic thinking
Proven track record of successfully managing and growing client relationships with measured impact
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
A positive and collaborative mindset - we seek a visionary leader with a passion for driving innovation and delighting clients, who’s excited by the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of brand experience
Please submit your CV via LinkedIn. Candidates who have applied via LinkedIn will be reviewed as a priority. Due to the confidentiality of the role, no additional information can be given at this stage.
If you choose to apply to this role, we thank you for your time and consideration. We endeavour to respond to all relevant candidates, however, please note that only applicants meeting the specific criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process. We conduct a thorough screening of applications and aim to reach out to suitable candidates within 5 working days of an application being received.
Suzie Walker Executive Search is a firm of specialist headhunters with an expert team recruiting senior interim and permanent senior leaders for B2B and B2C marketing, digital and technology roles in FTSE 350 and private equity-backed companies.
Suzie Walker Executive Search is committed to workforce diversity, creating equity across all our practices and processes and promoting a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an inclusive environment and respect the diversity of our clients, candidates and employees. We are open to all talent and ensure all candidates receive equal consideration for employment.
www.suziewalkerexecutivesearch.co.uk