Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Client Services

The Client Services Specialist is a strategic relationship manager responsible for cultivating, sustaining, and expanding high-value relationships with clients and key stakeholders. Serving as the primary point of contact and an ambassador of the University, this role ensures an exceptional client experience while driving new business development, organizational relevance, and long-term revenue growth; matches client and stakeholder priorities with the University's services and offerings, clearly communicating value and impact; works collaboratively with internal and external partners to advocate for and secure funding opportunities.

• Serve as the designated point of contact for clients, responding promptly and professionally to inquiries; ensure exceptional client service
• Build, strengthen, and manage long-term client relationships by understanding strategic needs, aligning services, and providing tailored solutions
• Proactively identify opportunities to expand business with existing clients and develop new relationships through networking, centers of influence, and other referral sources
• Serve as a trusted adviser to clients by communicating the University's value proposition, showcasing the impact of services/offerings, and maximizing organizational relevance
• Define, develop, and execute market penetration strategies to expand the University's footprint across key industry sectors
• Prepare and deliver compelling presentations, proposals, and other materials to support client engagement and business development efforts; support contract negotiations
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve client issues efficiently, coordinating with internal teams to ensure timely and effective solutions
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of client interactions, feedback, service requests, and engagement outcomes
• Stay knowledgeable about current and emerging University services and offerings to provide informed guidance and recommendations
• Support onboarding of new clients by coordinating training, sharing resources, and ensuring a seamless, high-quality experience
• Gather, analyze, and synthesize client feedback to identify trends, inform service improvements, and provide insights to leadership
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to advocate for client needs and secure funding aligned with organizational priorities​
• Lead or participate in cross-functional teams to improve processes, refine client experience, and drive operational excellence
• May supervise staff, including hiring, coaching, development, and performance management

Level:

– Senior Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field. Works independently on moderately complex work assignments under limited oversight, reviews progress, and evaluates results. Monitors work and projects ensuring timeliness, quality, and efficiency. Identifies and mobilizes resources to achieve outcomes. Trains others and reviews progress with management. Presents ideas, concepts, and instructions in a clear and persuasive manner. Develops new techniques, concepts, and approaches and applies them to moderately complex and strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor
– May review the work of others to verify accuracy and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Coaches others in using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict; negotiating reasonable compromises; and proposing and evaluating possible solutions
– Give candid and constructive feedback to others to influence and persuade managers and employees to accept and implement findings and recommendations

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $76,700.00
• MidPoint – $95,900.00
• Maximum – $115,100.00

• Business development
• Coordination
• Customer relationship management
• Customer Service
• Feedback
• Outreach
• Presentation Skills
• Prioritization
• Process improvement
• Project Management
• Relationship building
• Revenue management