Client Partner - Retail - Texas

About the role

As a Client Partner for Retail, you will make an impact by driving profitable growth and leading executive-level relationships within key accounts in our Consumer Goods and Retail vertical, with accountability for revenue, operating margin, customer satisfaction, and team development. You will be a valued member of the Retail and Consumer Goods Business Unit team and work collaboratively with delivery, operations, finance, service line, innovation and alliance partners, and clients.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitable growth across regional accounts while owning each account’s current health and long-term potential
• Build and sustain CxO and CxO-1 level relationships, meeting regularly with customer decision makers and influencers, and shaping the thought leadership agenda.
• Collaborate across service lines, innovation teams and business teams to formulate and execute the account business plan, and actively drive the Digital, Transformation and innovation agenda for the portfolio.
• Review account performance metrics with delivery, operations and finance teams and represent the account in senior management reviews.
• Own execution and customer satisfaction across all revenue portfolios within the accounts and identify and forge partnerships and alliances to grow the account.
• Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead through strategic agility, client value creation, AI-led innovation, disciplined execution, collaborative ecosystem building and amplifying human potential through a culture of growth, inclusion and effective human-AI collaboration.

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of experience in a client-facing role in a consulting firm or an account/engagement management role in the IT professional services offshore/outsourcing industry.
• Experience managing client P&L of $50+ million, including reporting and metric assessment, with strong experience of the global service delivery model.
• In-depth understanding of the Retail/Consumer Goods business domain, with thought leadership on technology, services and business trends and their impact on outcomes for these companies.
• Demonstrated recent experience leading or driving AI-enabled business transformations, including the implementation and adoption of AI-driven solutions that deliver measurable improvements in operational efficiency, decision-making, customer experience, or business outcomes. Candidates should be able to provide examples of AI initiatives executed within the past 2–3 years and the impact achieved.
• Proven record of building and maintaining long-term relationships at senior (CXO and CXO-1) levels, with the presence and gravitas to present persuasively to C-level executives and senior business and technology leaders.
• Experience in digital services/solutions, combined with strong leadership skills and demonstrated capability as a thought leader; minimum BS degree.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with strategic vision, client-centric thinking, innovation, disciplined execution, collaboration and a commitment to developing people in line with the Cognizant Way to Lead.
• Proven track record of building trust, demonstrating ownership, exercising sound judgment and fostering an inclusive culture that supports growth and associate success.

Qualifications

• MS or MBA degree.
• A strong performance track record managing diverse portfolios, ranging from sales and new sales to programs and existing annuity business.
• Detail orientation and the ability to manage and maintain all facets of complex assignments, with the flexibility to work across diverse corporate environments, industries and technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to navigate a large, multi-dimensional matrixed organization, with the power of persuasion through content and confidence, and to hold knowledgeable conversations with clients on Digital trends in the industry