Client Director - Agency Partnerships

Location: Hybrid, London twice per week with travel to client site in BradfordLevel: DirectorAbout the Role
We’re hunting for an
Agency Lead (Retail)
to spearhead our brand-new
Retail Media Network (RMN) team for a leading, northern-based UK retailer . You’ll be the very first SMGer through the agency door, forging powerful partnerships with UK media agencies, evangelising the value of retail media, and unlocking fresh, incremental revenue streams across CPG, entertainment, gaming, finance, travel—and beyond. In short: you’ll build the playbook, win the business, and scale the team that follows.If you love variety, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and embrace change with energy, this could be your right role.Why SMG?
At SMG, we
hire for the future, which is fast-moving and changing shape . Do you have the potential to help shape our business? We’re looking for brilliant, diverse talent who want to grow with us—people who are curious, ambitious, and eager to learn, whether as specialists or across teams.Our culture is everything. If you’re someone who stays honest, stays hungry, stays foolish, and has fun, you’ll feel right at home here.We value those who take ownership of their growth and bring fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re
committed to equity, inclusion, and building a place where everyone feels empowered to grow . At SMG, it’s not just about filling a role but building the future together.We’re proud to be ranked the
#1 Best Marketing and Media Agency and to have received World-Class accreditation
from Best Companies.10% discretionary bonus£1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top of your salary!)Free Headspace subscription£500 yearly “Uni Fund” for learning4 extra Wellbeing Days off per yearSummer and Winter conferences + year-round celebrations4pm finishes every FridayFlexible and hybrid workingExplore all our benefits hereAre We What You’re Looking For?
We move fast, adapt quickly, and like to challenge each other. We''re looking for people who
enjoy the buzz of change, the satisfaction of building something better, and the joy of working with a close-knit, values-driven team .This isn’t for everyone, but if you thrive in this environment, we’d love to meet you!A Little Bit About You
You’ll bring:Proven success leading agency or client-side commercial teams and smashing revenue targets in a fast-paced environment.Deep knowledge of the UK media-agency landscape—operating models, commercial structures, JBP creation, and data-licensing deals.Stellar influencing skills with senior stakeholders; able to juggle multiple projects while thriving amid ambiguity.Strong commercial guile and a track record of unlocking non-traditional budgets (brand, data, and new verticals).Bonus points for experience launching or scaling a retail media network, but not essentialDon’t meet every single requirement? We still want to hear from you. If you believe you’d thrive in this role, your unique perspective might be just what we’re looking for.What You’ll Be Doing
Your days will be dynamic. You might find yourself:Building and leading agency relationships
– upskilling media agencies on RMN value and embedding our proposition into their planning cyclesUnlocking incremental investment
– accessing brand budgets for CPGs and attracting spend from entertainment, gaming, finance, travel, and moreNegotiating smart commercial deals
– from data-licence contracts to multi-channel media agreements that satisfy retailer and agency objectivesShaping go-to-market strategy
– crafting marketing, PR, and training programmes that put our RMN front-of-mind across the agency ecosystemPartnering for growth
– working hand-in-hand with Innovation, Strategy, and Data teams to build a market-leading media estateScaling the dream team
– hiring, mentoring, and inspiring new talent as the agency revenue stream acceleratesOur Values:Stay honest. Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Have fun.Explore what that means to us hereUseful Links Before You Apply:
Learn about our agenciesOur hiring processEDI at SMGFAQsStill Curious?We always send a confirmation email -check your spam if you don’t see it. Problems? Email:
careers@smg.teamOur full data retention policy can be found
here .
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