How to hire a client relations manager

How to hire a client relations manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step client relations manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a client relations manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new client relations manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a client relations manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The client relations manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a client relations manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a client relations manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of client relations managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Client Relations Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Client Relations Manager	Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.	$26-62
   Manager/Partner	A manager/partner or managing partner is a professional who manages the daily activities of a company as well as guides its overall strategic business direction. Managing partners must cooperate with other executives, board members, and employees to implement organizational goals, procedures, and policies... Show more	$30-67
   Manager	Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more	$17-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Client Relations
   • Customer Service
   • Business Development
   • Project Management
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • HR
   • Account Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Financial Statements
   • Client Accounts
   • Market Research
   • Client Retention
   • Client Issues
   • Trade Shows

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Produce and manage KPI, billing and accrual reports for client.
   • Manage consulting and education SaaS implementation engagements for learning XBRL and the software to be in compliance with the government regulators.
   • Manage vendor relationships including contracts, negotiations and oversight.
   • Maintain all account, contract, & opportunities information in SalesForce.
   • Mentor and coach a team of 20 insurance agents, including monitoring production and activity through CRM.
   • Provide oversight to ensure work is performed according to WCS processes including compliance, quality assurance and execute client agreements.

   More client relations manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your client relations manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A client relations manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, client relations managers' average salary in florida is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level client relations managers 58% less than senior-level client relations managers.
   • Certifications. A client relations manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a client relations manager's salary.

   Average client relations manager salary

   $85,115yearly

   $40.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level client relations manager salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average client relations manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$134,092	$64
   2	Nevada	$120,748	$58
   3	New York	$112,036	$54
   4	Maryland	$106,957	$51
   5	Arizona	$105,710	$51
   6	Washington	$104,197	$50
   7	North Dakota	$95,500	$46
   8	District of Columbia	$93,527	$45
   9	Hawaii	$92,888	$45
   10	Rhode Island	$91,444	$44
   11	Connecticut	$90,804	$44
   12	North Carolina	$88,721	$43
   13	Massachusetts	$86,783	$42
   14	Pennsylvania	$85,732	$41
   15	Missouri	$85,458	$41
   16	Arkansas	$85,452	$41
   17	Wisconsin	$85,187	$41
   18	Texas	$82,836	$40
   19	Illinois	$82,133	$39
   20	Ohio	$80,642	$39

   Average client relations manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$149,432	$71.84	12
   2	McKinsey & Company Inc	$146,442	$70.40	4
   3	Algolia	$140,331	$67.47
   4	First Republic Bank	$132,740	$63.82
   5	Crown Castle International	$129,082	$62.06	2
   6	Franklin Templeton	$127,958	$61.52	3
   7	Aristotle	$127,715	$61.40	1
   8	Neiman Marcus Group	$109,198	$52.50	46
   9	Edison International	$108,756	$52.29	2
   10	Club	$99,607	$47.89
   11	Eurofins	$99,311	$47.75	7
   12	West Coast University	$97,254	$46.76	2
   13	Industrial and Commercial Bank of China	$95,671	$46.00
   14	SS&C Technologies	$95,170	$45.75	13
   15	Deloitte	$94,989	$45.67	45
   16	Center on Halsted	$94,001	$45.19
   17	Hermes Landscaping	$91,018	$43.76	14
   18	First Insurance Group	$90,230	$43.38	6
   19	Fay Servicing	$90,119	$43.33	1
   20	AGCO	$87,431	$42.03	1

4. Writing a client relations manager job description

   A good client relations manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a client relations manager job description:

   Client relations manager job description example

   The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's largest small business advocacy organization, looks to hire a Manager, Government Relations to join its Government Relations team.
   
   The Manager of Government Relations is responsible for managing specific small business priority issue portfolios before Congress and the administration. Responsibilities include establishing and maintaining contacts with Congressional offices/committees, communicating the organization's positions through lobbying efforts, influencing policy outcomes for the benefit of the NFIB membership, and leading/participating in coalitions of business organizations to promote NFIB's positions within these coalitions. Conducts background research and analysis on legislation and regulations for the purpose of making policy recommendations and developing legislative initiatives. Monitors and reports on national political climate and specific political races for potential NFIB involvement. Communicates NFIB's position to NFIB members and departments, the news media, and general public. Involved with NFIB Federal PAC incumbent budget planning and distribution and represents NFIB at political events.
   
   Must communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; work outcomes must meet and/or exceed productivity and quality standards. Must be able to work as a part of a cooperative team environment and independent of direct supervision; adhere to Company and Department policies and procedures, including regular and predictable attendance. Performs other projects as needed.
   + Bachelor's Degree
   
   + Five (5) years relevant experience.
   
   + Specialized knowledge of Congress and the legislative process.
   
   + Knowledge of policy and political issues through previous work and research experience. Ability to analyze legislative language and regulations and communicate in succinct manner.
   
   + Basic political campaign experience and public relations / media affairs experience a plus. Ability to be a spokesperson for NFIB with media on issues
   
   + Established network of contacts on Capitol Hill.
   
   + Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong interpersonal and organizational abilities.
   
   + Experience with Microsoft Office and legislative tracking programs.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   
   Telecommute: No

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find client relations managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any client relations managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level client relations managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your client relations manager job on Zippia to find and recruit client relations manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting client relations managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new client relations manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect client relations manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new client relations manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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