Client Lead in Leeds

About Us

At Oakland, we help businesses unlock the power of their data. Whether it's data strategy, governance, engineering, analytics, or AI, we work with our clients to turn data into real, impactful results. Our team is made up of friendly, hands-on experts who love solving problems and making a difference. We don’t just advise – we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working alongside our clients every step of the way. Founded in 1986 out of our Leeds HQ, we work with a diverse range of clients across all sorts of industries including Utilities, Telecommunications, Media, Financial Services, Public Sector, and many more! Our projects range from multi-year data transformations to specific, shorter-term assignments, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to diversify your skillset. We meet high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We believe businesses should be a force for good, so we make sure our decisions don’t just benefit the bottom line but also our people, communities, and the planet. And it’s not just us saying we’re a great place to work… we are a Top 5 Best Consultancy to Work for in the UK through Best Companies! We’re all about creating an environment where people can grow, do meaningful work, and enjoy the journey.

The role

As we continue to grow, we are on the lookout for a Client Delivery Lead to:

• Manage the delivery and commercial performance of client projects (60%).
• Lead our vendor relationships (40%).

Manage delivery and commercial performance of client projects

• Ensure the successful delivery of data consultancy projects across a range of sectors and project sizes, managing timelines, budgets, and resources to meet or exceed client expectations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients, fostering strong relationships and ensuring high satisfaction levels, measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS).
• Regularly engage with stakeholders to understand evolving needs, gather feedback, and ensure alignment between delivery outcomes and business objectives.
• Anticipate and address client concerns proactively, maintaining transparency and trust throughout the engagement lifecycle.
• Nurturing existing business relationships, developing compelling proposals and managing the associated Oakland processes.
• Proactively uncover and pursue opportunities to expand the scope and value of existing client accounts, collaborating with sales and technical leads.

Vendor Management

• Define the overall Oakland approach to managing key vendors (e.g. Microsoft, Snowflake, Dell).
• Maintain and update our map of vendors, associated tiers and posture.
• Be the primary contact of Oakland with our vendors.
• Work with key vendor contacts to identify new client sales opportunities.
• Support the development of vendor business plans (i.e. actions, KPIs, ambitions etc).
• Determine the right approach to certification and accreditation across each vendor.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a confident and adaptable Client Manager with a strong track record of leading successful data or similar technically-related projects in a consultancy or client-facing environment. You’ll need to be comfortable working across multiple sectors, managing both large and small delivery squads, and building trusted relationships with clients.

• Proven experience managing complex technical projects, ideally within a consultancy or multi-client environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with a focus on client satisfaction and relationship building.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to identify and nurture account growth opportunities.
• Any experience in managing vendor relationships is advantageous, but not essential.

Blended working policy

We operate a blended working model, with colleagues spending at least two days per week in the office, aligned to project team requirements. Occasional travel to client and vendor sites may also be required.

Benefits That Put You First

At Oakland, we believe in taking care of our people, both inside and outside of work. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:

• Health & Wellbeing – Enjoy Private Healthcare from day one for you and your household, including dental cover, physiotherapy, mental health support, and access to a range of wellbeing services to keep you feeling your best.
• Discretionary Bonus – Your hard work won’t go unnoticed. When we do well, you’ll do well.
• Generous Pension – We invest in your future with a 10% employer contribution, plus flexible options so you can adjust to your investment preferences.
• Giving Back – Support causes you care about with our Payroll Giving Scheme and Matched Charitable Giving program.
• Bike to Work Scheme – Save money, stay active, and enjoy tax savings on a new bike.
• Family-Friendly Policies – We support all paths to parenthood with: Enhanced Maternity Pay – 16 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay. Enhanced Paternity Pay – 2 weeks full pay, 2 weeks half pay. Adoption, Surrogacy & Shared Parental Leave. Fertility Treatment Support – Because your family matters.
• Time to Recharge – 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (and your allowance grows the longer you’re with us!).
• Learning & Development – We invest in you with: Personalised development plans tailored to your goals. Full support for certifications. Access to The Oakland Academy for a suite of learning materials. An annual Personal Learning Budget to upskill in ways that matter to you.
• Refer & Earn – Know someone great? If they join us, you’ll get a referral bonus as a thank you.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Oakland

At Oakland, we believe that diverse perspectives drive better outcomes – for our people, our clients, and our business. Our commitment to DEIB isn’t just about policies; it’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive. We are building a truly inclusive Oakland where you can be yourself – no matter your background, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

• Fair & Inclusive Hiring – Every interviewer completes recruitment and unconscious bias training, and our hiring process is skills-based and structured to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates.
• Support Throughout the Interview Process – If you require any reasonable accommodations to make your interview experience more accessible, our Talent team is here to help – just let us know.