Director; Prototyping Client Operations
Kaleidoscope is a creative collective of thinkers, designers and makers that together connect people and brands.
About This Role at Kaleidoscope:
At Kaleidoscope, our work is grounded in four core pillars:
People First
We build strong internal partnerships and long-term client relationships
Client Services plays a central role in fostering trust, collaboration, and accountability across Sales, Production, and Design
Financial Success
Client Services is responsible for accurate scope definition, estimate integrity, and protecting profitability while supporting revenue expansion
What We Do Best
We set the benchmark for creativity and execution in packaging and prototyping
Client Services ensures client expectations are clearly translated into executable production plans
Learning & Development
We promote continuous improvement in our processes, tools, and team capabilities
This role contributes to improving workflow efficiency, reducing rework, and elevating service standards across the organization
Role Summary
The Client Services Director – Prototyping leads the Prototyping Client Services team and is responsible for client relationship management, estimate creation, operational execution, and margin performance within the Prototyping division
This role manages Prototyping CSMs and the Client Operations Manager while personally servicing key accounts. The Manager and all Prototyping CSMs serve as the primary liaison between clients and Production and act as strategic partners to Client Growth Managers (CGMs)
The position balances revenue growth with margin protection and production feasibility, ensuring all client commitments are executable, documented, and profitable
Key Responsibilities:
1. Department Leadership:
· Lead, coach, and manage Prototyping CSMs and the Client Operations Manager
· Establish clear performance standards and measurable KPIs
· Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, quarterly check-ins, and annual reviews
· Ensure consistent adherence to SOPs, workflow systems, and documentation standards
· Address performance issues and capability gaps promptly
· Support hiring and onboarding as business needs evolve
2. Estimate Creation & Pricing Accountability:
The Client Services Manager and all Prototyping CSMs are responsible for creating accurate, production-based estimates that are provided to CGMs for client presentation
Responsibilities include:
· Defining and documenting scope before pricing
· Confirming feasibility with Production prior to finalizing estimates
· Building estimates that account for labor, materials, complexity, and risk
· Protecting target margins while remaining competitive
· Updating estimates when scope changes occur
· Capturing and documenting change orders for billing
· Ensuring alignment between estimate, production execution, and final invoicing
The Director ensures consistency, pricing discipline, and margin protection across all estimates
3. Liaison Between Clients & Production:
The Client Services Manager and all CSMs serve as the primary bridge between clients and Prototyping Production
Responsibilities include:
· Translating client objectives into clear production requirements
· Communicating feasibility, cost, and timeline realities to clients and CGMs
· Confirming scope clarity before work enters production
· Managing expectation resets when constraints arise
· Escalating risks early to prevent delays or margin erosion
· Reducing rework through structured intake and documentation
The Director serves as escalation point for complex or high-risk projects
4. Partnership with Client Growth Managers (CGMs):
· Operate as an extension of CGMs to support account growth
· Participate in client meetings, business reviews, and travel as required
· Provide operational input during opportunity scoping
· Ensure commitments made during sales discussions are realistic and profitable
· Maintain shared accountability for account revenue and retention
5. Direct Client Management:
· Personally manage a portfolio of key or strategic Prototyping accounts
· Maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication
· Serve as senior escalation contact when needed
· Model disciplined client management for the team
6. Financial & Performance Accountability:
Accountable for:
· Estimate accuracy and margin realization
· Account-level profitability
· Revenue growth (in partnership with CGMs)
· On-time delivery
· Reduction in rework and scope creep
· Accurate scope change capture
· Forecast visibility and reliability
· Team performance and development
7. Quality Control Oversight:
· Establish and enforce quality control standards across all Prototyping client projects to ensure deliverables meet defined scope, production specifications, and client expectations
· Conduct structured quality reviews in collaboration with Production and Client Services to confirm accuracy prior to release or shipment
· Implement preventative controls to reduce rework, margin erosion, and scope misalignment
· Monitor quality performance metrics and address recurring issues through process refinement and accountability
· Ensure documentation standards support traceability, change management, and audit readiness
Qualifications:
· 7+ years of experience in client services, estimating, or production-driven environments
· 3+ years of leadership experience
· Demonstrated experience building detailed production-based estimates
· Strong financial literacy and margin management capability
· Experience in prototyping, packaging, manufacturing, or fast-turn production preferred
· Ability to manage high-volume, deadline-driven workflows
· Willingness to travel for client meetings and business development activities
Employment Terms:
Kaleidoscope is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
All new hires participate in a 90-day introductory period designed to ensure mutual fit, provide onboarding support, and align with company objectives.
Compensation: Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000 USD
(Compensation commensurate with experience and demonstrated capability)
- Department
- Client Service Manager
- Locations
- Chicago