Vice President, Client Partner

Job Description

Job Description

Description

As the owner of a high-value portfolio of enterprise accounts, the VP, Client Partner serves as an indispensable strategic advisor to clients. In this role, you will use a consultative approach to cultivate relationships with marketing executives and guide their advancement through the Category Authority system. Success is measured by client retention, satisfaction, and portfolio growth.
Reporting directly to the CEO, and serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you own the full client lifecycle—from onboarding to performance to retention.

Program Ownership & Strategic Health (40%)

• Ultimate Accountability: You own the health, quality, and value of the content programs across your portfolio, driving the macro vision while collaborating with the Skyword delivery team to execute exceptional content.
• Framework Partnership: Partner directly with the VP of Content to establish the initial Category Authority framework models for new and evolving accounts.
• Orchestration: Understand/own the strategy and drive activities in priority order that will achieve client success. You should know what's happening and why along with what's next at all points.
• Strategic Guidance: Oversee and guide assigned resources through the strategy development phase, ensuring all tactical plans align with the client’s business objectives.
• Selective Collaboration: Participate selectively in high-level market research initiatives and marquee creative projects, injecting macro-level industry insights.
• Executive Presence: Represent Skyword leadership at critical in-person planning meetings, interactive workshops, and high-stakes video shoots as needed to solidify client relationships.

Executive Client Leadership (40%)

• Strategic Counsel: You are the primary strategic counsel for executive buyers, moving partnerships from tactical execution to "Category Ownership."
• Organizational Intelligence: Navigate complex enterprise hierarchies to identify and align with Executive Buyer KPIs, while also managing internal detractors and project point of contacts. You are ensuring accountability and ownership from the Executive Buyer.
• High-Stakes Governance: Lead high-stakes commercial negotiations and retention strategies with C-suite executives.
• Proactive Communication: Maintain proactive communication with the Executive Buyer to stay embedded in the client's daily strategic shifts.
• Modern Value Framing: Frame Skyword’s impact through "Share of Model" and "Citation Yield" metrics rather than standard vanity metrics like clicks or sessions.

Portfolio Mastery & Fiscal Stewardship (10%)

• Client Portfolio Ownership: You are responsible for the financial health, retention and growth of your client portfolio.
• Commercial Autonomy: Lead all high-level conversations and contract scoping with approval from C-suite executives.
• Growth & Expansion: Own and drive client renewals across all content lines, ensuring proactive planning, strong retention, and successful renewal outcomes. Partner closely with Sales to identify and pursue expansion opportunities.
• Fiscal Protection: Protect client budgets by requiring all contributor sourcing through the A360 RFP process.

Operational Excellence & Market Intelligence (10%)

• Forward-Looking Innovation: You stay ahead of the curve to ensure Skyword’s solutions remain cutting-edge in a rapidly shifting AI landscape.
• Insights Optimization: Utilize A360 Strategy Insights to identify competitor gaps and category opportunities.
• AI Search Expertise: Stay expert-level on industry trends, specifically LLM visibility, AI search dynamics, and AEO strategy.
• Reporting Rigor: Ensure the seamless execution of the Category Authority Index Score updates and Source Authority Verification Reports at each quarterly business review (QBR).

• Experience: 15+ years in client/account management, strategy, or operations (agency/consultancy side preferred); 10+ years in senior marketing, demonstrated success in hitting client retention metrics.
• Executive Presence: Demonstrated ability to influence C-suite buyers on strategy and business outcomes, not just deliverables.
• Content Fluency: Deep understanding of multi-format programs (written, video, graphic) and how they perform in an AI-driven search ecosystem.
• Data Literacy: Ability to translate performance metrics into forward-looking business cases.
• Financial Acumen: Demonstrated ability to hit retention targets and manage to target margins.
• Technical Savvy: Proficiency with audience insight platforms and a strong command of AI search dynamics (AEO/SEO).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.

We are a remote first organization. Our core values of commitment, creativity, inclusivity, and integrity not only drive how we approach our clients and partners, but also the ways in which we partner, support and drive one another to succeed as part of the Skyword team.

The salary for this position is 175k base, with total compensation of 285k (including incentive). Our compensation philosophy strives for competitive and equitable salaries in order to hire, retain and reward high performing employees. Skyword benchmarks U.S. based roles against the national market with a focus on employers with funding size and round comparable to that of Skyword, regardless of US work location. Our salary range determinations are based on ensuring we are competitive for our size and industry, actual ranges for current/former employees in the same position, market data, budgetary considerations, as well as the applicant’s background, relevant experience, and qualifications. Skyword believes in equal pay for equal work.

We offer:

• A competitive market-based salary
• Flexibility. We are a100% remote, open and collaborative work environment
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans
• 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
• Flexible Vacation time
• Paid holidays and Wellbeing Fridays

Skyword prides itself on building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.