Client Director

As a Client Director, based in our London office, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering leadership development experiences that help organizations and their people thrive in a rapidly changing world. This is a strategic and hands-on role that blends client relationship leadership, learning design expertise, and commercial growth. We are specifically looking for candidates with direct experience designing learning programs, not just managing them. You will work closely with senior leaders from some of the world’s most influential companies to co-create and deliver high-impact learning journeys.

In addition to delivering exceptional programs, you will be responsible for growing client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and contributing to business development efforts. Success in this role requires a strong commercial mindset, the ability to build trust with senior stakeholders, and a passion for creating learning experiences that drive real-world impact.

What You’ll Do

• Lead client engagements from initial scoping through to program delivery, ensuring strategic alignment and exceptional execution.
• Build and deepen relationships with senior stakeholders, serving as a trusted advisor and thought partner.
• Design high-impact leadership development experiences, applying instructional design principles to shape content and learning journeys.
• Collaborate with internal teams, faculty, and subject matter experts to co-create program materials across in-person and digital modalities.
• Drive business growth by identifying new opportunities within existing accounts and contributing to new client acquisition.
• Manage program financials, resource planning, and contracting to ensure commercial success.
• Mentor and support Program Managers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Champion innovation in learning, including blended and virtual formats, and contribute to the evolution of Duke CE’s offerings.
• Work primarily from our London office, with the flexibility and willingness to travel frequently for client engagements, program delivery, and internal collaboration.

Requirements

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Education, Organizational Psychology, Business, or a related discipline; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Proven experience in learning design, with a strong track record of creating impactful leadership development programs.
• Client-facing expertise, including the ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and navigate complex organizational dynamics.
• Commercial acumen, with experience in account growth, business development, and managing program financials.
• Project leadership skills, including the ability to manage timelines, resources, and cross-functional teams across global engagements.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence, present ideas clearly, and work effectively across diverse teams.
• Comfort with digital learning platforms and blended delivery models, including virtual facilitation and community engagement.
• Flexibility to travel frequently, while being primarily based in our London office.
• A passion for leadership development and a commitment to delivering meaningful impact for clients.