Client Director, Assessment & Succession

KORN FERRY ASSESSMENT & SUCCESSION

The Assessment & Succession (A&S) business within Korn Ferry Digital plays a pivotal role in helping organizations move from reactive, ad-hoc talent decisions to structured, systemic talent strategies. Our digital solutions are designed to bring science, data, and scale to how companies assess potential, identify successors, and shape future leaders. By leveraging Korn Ferry’s deep intellectual property, we help clients build robust talent pipelines and align individual capability with organizational strategy.

At the heart of our digital A&S portfolio are three core tools: KF Assess, a comprehensive psychometric and behavioral assessment engine used to measure leadership potential and fit; KF Select, a structured digital platform for high-volume hiring and frontline selection; and Success Profiles (including Profile Manager), which codify the DNA of success for any role and serve as the backbone of integrated talent decisions across selection, development, and succession. These tools, embedded within the Korn Ferry Talent Suite, allow our clients to scale assessment and succession practices globally—supported by advisory services where needed but powered by scalable, repeatable digital products.

OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE YOUR CAREER - It’s about exceeding your potential.

The Korn Ferry Assessment & Succession commercial team oversees and manages the sale of Korn Ferry’s Digital talent transformation solutions, including KF Assess. The role-holder will lead end-to-end new business sales pursuits with enterprise prospects and clients, setting standards of sales excellence across Assessment & Succession digital solutions.  

The Principal Client Director will be responsible for identifying new Enterprise prospects, selling into the office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), converting leads into clients, and collaborating with sales leaders and internal stakeholders on an identified set of large, highly strategic prospects. The Principal Client Director will accomplish this through the ability to sell the full scope of the company's products and services in a consultative manner, negotiate an effective contract, and tailor solutions that address client needs. This role requires high-level execution at every stage of the pipeline development and sales process.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages a mix of new business development and existing client growth; balances hunting and farming motions across a defined portfolio.
• Multi-threads across client organizations to deepen relationships, engage new buying centers, and uncover cross-sell opportunities.
• Grows account value by identifying new use cases and positioning Korn Ferry as a long-term strategic partner.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to client stakeholders, including HR and business leaders, driving alignment between talent strategy and organizational goals.
• Leads high-impact sales pursuits into net new logos, selling to CHROs and business executives in large enterprise organizations.
• Develops tailored, consultative proposals based on business needs and Korn Ferry’s digital A&S capabilities.
• Partners closely with Korn Ferry Advisory consultants and sector leaders to build integrated, cross-functional solutions for clients.
• Embraces a team-selling approach, aligning internal stakeholders to jointly deliver client impact and drive revenue growth.
• Maintains accurate pipeline, forecasting, and account plans through effective use of CRM and sales tools.
• Continuously deepens product knowledge, market insights, and client context to stay ahead of evolving talent needs.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of enterprise sales experience in complex business environments, with a strong track record of closing large, multi-stakeholder deals.
• Proven success selling disruptive SaaS solutions or talent technologies into HR organizations; deep familiarity with the HR tech landscape.
• Experience selling to CHROs, Heads of Talent, and other senior HR leaders in large, global organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to hunt and open new enterprise accounts — takes initiative, drives momentum, and creates urgency in the sales cycle.
• Skilled at multi-threading across large, matrixed organizations and navigating complex buying groups.
• Consultative and strategic in approach; able to tailor value propositions to varied stakeholders and influence executive-level decision-making.
• Strong command of pipeline management, opportunity forecasting, and use of CRM systems.
• Exceptional communication, listening, and interpersonal skills — builds trust and credibility across internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally, particularly in partnership with advisory teams, delivery leads, and product experts.
• Curious, self-directed, and solutions-oriented — thrives in dynamic environments and brings energy and resilience to the role.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree preferred. An advanced degree in business or in a similar field is a plus.