Managing Partner (Performance & Search-Led Portfolio) (12 Month Fixed Term Contract) in Birmingham

Overview

Croud is an independent global media, creative, and data agency helping our clients make their next best move. We help brands unlock growth with Return on Intelligence - applying innovative intelligence across brand strategy, integrated media, social, creative, and data. We deliver this through our proprietary tech platform, CroudOS, our Croudie network and our award-winning global teams.

Founded in 2011 to reinvent the agency model, Croud combines 600+ in-house digital experts with a global network of 2,900 on-demand marketing specialists. This unique business model enables us to operate with agility, delivering tailored solutions that drive meaningful and measurable growth for our clients in over 120 markets and 60+ languages.

Croud was recently named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for the second year in a row, and was named Performance Marketing Employer of the Year by PMW. At Croud, we unlock potential by elevating our people, clients, and communities within a rapidly advancing and complex economy. We operate as a unique scaled network of Intelligent, Creative Specialists, enabling us to deliver superior brand outcomes and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities. Our culture is strategically driven and inspired by a shared long-term vision. It is collaborative and connected, with a focus on continuous learning and mutual support. We are energised by future thinking, driving innovation to achieve better outcomes. We are instinctively generous, actively including and empowering our people. Above all, we are purpose-driven, committed to positively impacting our people, the planet, and our global communities.

Role Overview

This is a pivotal leadership role for a highly experienced and results-oriented individual to join Croud as a Managing Partner. As the leader of a dedicated Client Team, you will strategically manage a client portfolio with direct responsibility for financial performance, client outcomes and team health. You will act as a true business partner to clients, driving sustainable growth, maximising profitability and delivering exceptional outcomes.

This role sits over a performance-led client portfolio, with paid search and SEO forming a core commercial and strategic pillar, particularly for the principal client. While this is not a hands-on channel role, the Managing Partner must bring strong strategic fluency and confidence in search-led environments, and be comfortable leading senior-level conversations where performance outcomes are under close scrutiny.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong, long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with senior client stakeholders (C-suite or equivalent).
• Act as a senior strategic authority for performance- and search-led clients, translating specialist output into clear, commercial narratives for executive audiences.
• Partner closely with senior search and performance leaders to challenge thinking, guide prioritisation and ensure paid search and SEO strategies align with wider business outcomes.
• Proactively identify client needs and challenges, anticipating future requirements.
• Lead and win client pitches and cross-sell opportunities within the Client Team, working closely with the wider triumvirate to ensure successful outcomes.
• Deliver budget, revenue growth, profitability and client satisfaction across the portfolio in line with agreed commercial KPIs.
• Act as the primary escalation point for all client issues, alongside the Exec sponsor.
• Challenge client assumptions and provide confident strategic guidance on digital marketing strategy.
• Drive client-centric solutions that deliver tangible business value.

Client Team Leadership & Management

• Guide and mentor team members across the Client Team, including Planning Directors, Channel Strategy Directors, Project Managers and wider specialist teams.
• Remove roadblocks and facilitate effective internal collaboration.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative team culture.
• Ensure effective communication, coordination and knowledge-sharing across disciplines.
• Influence team composition to best serve client needs.
• Identify and address training and capability gaps within the Client Team.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Develop and execute strategic plans for client growth and business development.
• Conduct regular performance reviews to identify optimisation and growth opportunities.
• Analyse market trends and competitive landscapes to inform strategy.
• Drive initiatives that improve revenue growth, profitability and client satisfaction.

Financial Performance & Management

• Oversee all financial aspects of the Client Team in partnership with finance leads.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting and invoicing.
• Drive profitability and maximise margins across engagements.
• Ensure long-term financial health and sustainability of the portfolio.
• Use data to inform decision-making and track KPIs.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure efficient, high-quality delivery against agreed KPIs.
• Implement best practices and streamline processes.
• Drive operational efficiency and compliance with agency policies.

Communication & Collaboration

• Maintain open, transparent communication with the wider Croud business, including channel heads, Growth and Exec teams.
• Contribute to agency-wide initiatives and strategic priorities.
• Build strong, trusted relationships across all internal teams.

Culture & Values

• Be a champion of Croud's values and culture, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Represent Croud with integrity and professionalism both internally and externally.
• Drive continuous improvement within the agency based on client feedback.
• Contribute to the overall development of the agency's service offerings.

Person Specification

• 10+ years proven success in digital marketing, with strong experience in client leadership, business development and senior stakeholder management.
• Deep understanding of the digital marketing landscape, with particular strength in paid search, SEO and performance-led models, alongside working knowledge of paid media, social, content and emerging technologies.
• Proven experience operating in search-heavy or performance-critical client environments, where margin, ROI and commercial outcomes are closely tracked.
• Demonstrated ability to lead senior client conversations in performance and search contexts with confidence and authority.
• Proven track record of driving revenue growth, profitability and client satisfaction.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship-management capabilities at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.
• Experience managing budgets, P&L and forecasting.
• Strategic thinker with strong industry awareness and future-focused mindset.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive and comfortable operating in complex, fast-moving environments.

Company Benefits

Croud operates a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days a week based in our Shrewsbury office and the remaining days from home if you wish. Benefits include: Sabbatical, 25 days holiday, discretionary incentive, health & wellbeing contribution, pension, life insurance and more listed on our careers site. Standard hours are 9:00am–5:30pm with flexibility if agreed in advance with line managers. We are an equal opportunity employer.