Senior Client Manager (Sustainability & Impact)

We are seeking an experienced Senior Client Manager to join our team with a background in Sustainability. You’ll bring a minimum of 6 years of experience in client services or project management, with at least 3 years working in sustainability reporting. You will have an in-depth understanding of key processes and activities involved in sustainability reporting projects, including managing copywriting and working with reports aligned to sustainability frameworks such as GRI, SASB, CSRD’s ESRS, ISSB’s IFRS and TPT.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Client Service and the Sustainability & Impact (S&I) consultants to create efficiencies in project management and support Client Service colleagues in implementing S&I project procedures and processes and growing sustainability clients.

Key responsibilities

Project management:

You are experienced in client service and project management for complex sustainability reporting projects. You have exceptional organisation and time management skills, and can manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritise tasks, and adapt to changing circumstances.

• Lead and manage client projects related to sustainability reporting, communications, and strategy projects, from initiation to completion.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, allocate resources effectively, and manage project budgets, including creating project scopes, estimates, purchase orders, and invoices.
• Respond flexibly to changing priorities; adapting process, reallocating resources, managing budget implications and client expectations in response.
• Regularly review project timelines and budgets, making adjustments as necessary through process changes or budget negotiations.

Client service

You take ownership of client relationships and act as the primary point of contact. You quickly build trust and respect with clients and colleagues.

Serve as the main point of contact for clients, understanding client objectives, and translating them into actionable project plans.

Supervise and partner with other CS team members leading S&I projects.

Conduct regular client meetings with minimal supervision to update on project progress, discuss deliverables, and address any concerns.

Manage email correspondence with clients promptly and efficiently.

Review reporting proofs, collect feedback, and liaise with production/artwork teams.

Collaboration

You are a team player who shows flexibility and adaptability, maintaining a positive attitude while completing tasks.You work collaboratively with team members to achieve client goals and have demonstrated experience working with and managing copywriters on complex reporting projects.

Collaborate closely with internal teams and suppliers, managing and briefing consultants, designers, production experts, proofreaders and copywriters, to ensure high quality, timely and budget-compliant project delivery.

Effectively manage copywriting projects and lead the relationship with copywriters to ensure deliverables meet quality standards, deadlines, and budget constraints.

Updating processes and upskilling team

You apply your knowledge and experience of managing sustainability reporting projects to identify opportunities to create efficiencies and update processes and services. You are a confident communicator, keen to share learnings and upskill your peers.

1. Collaborate with the S&I and Client Service teams to identify efficiencies project management for S&I tasks.
2. Establish core project management templates, tools and processes for S&I projects, incl. estimators, procedures, schedules and resourcing plans.

Deliver training on S&I project management and client service based on updated templates, tools and processes.

New business

You are commercially minded, open to opportunities to grow business. You are confident with public speaking, comfortable with pitching and presenting to clients.

Drive business development efforts by identifying upsell opportunities and participating in client pitches and proposals for S&I projects.

What are we looking for?

Minimum of 6 years of experience in client service or project management, with at least 3 years working in sustainability reporting.

Experience in project management for sustainability strategy and communications projects is beneficial.

In-depth understanding of key processes and activities involved in sustainability reporting projects

Experience managing reports aligned to reporting frameworks such as GRI, SASB, CSRD’s ESRS, ISSB’s IFRS and TPT.

Strong interpersonal skills and excellent verbal and written communication.

Solutions-oriented with a positive attitude – able to foresee and resolve potential issues proactively.

Resilient and able to remain composed and professional when faced with difficult situations.

Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and competing priorities.

Committed to delivering work of high quality, with attention to detail and a focus on meeting client needs.

Illuminating possibility and living our Values

At Luminous, what we do matters. It has meaning and makes a difference. We balance expertise with ambition to try new things and make every opportunity count.

Our culture is a conscious choice. We are inspired by our purpose to illuminate possibility, and guided by our values to lead with insight, create positive impact, build teams, remove barriers and be kind.

We hire bright people with positive attitudes and nurture their abilities. We are proud of our individual strengths, collective expertise and what we achieve together.

We embrace and celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We truly believe the more inclusive we are, the better we are.