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Client services director vs client relationship manager

The differences between client services directors and client relationship managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a client services director and a client relationship manager. Additionally, a client services director has an average salary of $117,337, which is higher than the $89,226 average annual salary of a client relationship manager.

The top three skills for a client services director include client service, customer service and business development. The most important skills for a client relationship manager are customer service, client service, and client satisfaction.

Client services director vs client relationship manager overview

Client Services DirectorClient Relationship Manager
Yearly salary$117,337$89,226
Hourly rate$56.41$42.90
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs103,21885,793
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a client services director do?

A client services director is responsible for maintaining healthy business relationships with clients, ensuring that operational teams provide the highest quality services for the clients, following their deliverables and business requirements. Client services directors oversee project management procedures, identifying inconsistencies, and revising business plans to improve outputs and achieve client satisfaction. They also recommend cost-reduction techniques, as well as processes to maximize productivity and enhance the utilization of resources. A client services director coordinates with the clients for progress updates, as well as informing them of adjustments and opportunities for business development.

What does a client relationship manager do?

Client Relationship Managers handle special client accounts for the company. They are usually assigned to essential clients or corporate accounts. They ensure that the company keeps these clients engaged. Client Relationship Managers work hard to build professional working relationships. They give special attention to the assigned client accounts and provide clients with updates on company services and promotions. They tend to any concerns that clients may have, and they ensure that these concerns are properly addressed and resolved. Client Relationship Managers are entrusted to build and strengthen the company's relationship with a client. As such, they are expected to be professional, friendly, and collaborative.

Client services director vs client relationship manager salary

Client services directors and client relationship managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Client Services DirectorClient Relationship Manager
Average salary$117,337$89,226
Salary rangeBetween $84,000 And $162,000Between $57,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMassachusetts
Best paying companyFirst Republic BankFenwick & West
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between client services director and client relationship manager education

There are a few differences between a client services director and a client relationship manager in terms of educational background:

Client Services DirectorClient Relationship Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Client services director vs client relationship manager demographics

Here are the differences between client services directors' and client relationship managers' demographics:

Client Services DirectorClient Relationship Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 45.1% Female, 54.9%Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between client services director and client relationship manager duties and responsibilities

Client services director example responsibilities.

  • Manage both internal personnel and external vendor relationships for web development, SEO, and SEM projects.
  • Lead full cycle implementations of SaaS solution from requirements building, through application development, QA/UAT, and production migration.
  • Manage SLA agreements with major clients, ensuring that all stakeholders are in compliance with the provisions of the agreement.
  • Reconfigure and optimize Salesforce capabilities to better track and manage accounts.
  • Manage and facilitate new hire orientation, administer employment on-boarding process for contingent workforce, process and audit weekly contingent payroll.
  • Maintain effective fiscal management of caseload by accurately processing field payroll, monitoring caseload metrics and managing billing and pay rates.
  • Show more

Client relationship manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage the delivery of OLA's and SLA's performance standards and client KPI measurements for the midrange team.
  • Facilitate client relationship with healthcare entities including hospitals, manage care organizations and payers.
  • Manage large-scale CRM implementations that utilize an 803.11b wireless infrastructure and a handheld computing platform.
  • Exceed commercial loan and swap origination goals while simultaneously managing rehabilitation strategies for criticize bank assets.
  • Major responsibilities include client acquisition, client management, cross-selling and risk management.
  • Participate in corporate sponsor internal training regarding healthcare trends and compliance as required.
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Client services director vs client relationship manager skills

Common client services director skills
  • Client Service, 11%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Business Development, 7%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Healthcare, 4%
Common client relationship manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Client Service, 6%
  • Client Satisfaction, 6%
  • Client Facing, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%
  • Service Delivery, 5%

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