Associate Creative Director

Responsibilities

• Direct brand stewardship and manage creative workflow. Directly supervise, mentor and develop the art director and graphic designers. Review their work in a timely manner and provide specific, ongoing and constructive creative feedback and professional assessment, ensuring that work is on time and reflects the university¿s visual tone, brand standards and quality expectations set by the executive creative director.
• Review project scopes, assign creative resources based on department objectives, individual strengths and balance team workloads. (35%)
• Ensure technical design quality and compliance with specifications. Ensure files are built correctly and to proper technical standards, including print and digital specifications, preparation and setup, color and prepress requirements, and accessibility standards so that work is production ready. Serve as the design-technical advisor to project managers, providing design specification guidance and troubleshooting they are not equipped to resolve on their own. (20%)
• Lead and develop the creative staff. Coach and evaluate art director and graphic designers, fostering an inclusive culture of creative excellence, collaboration and continuous skill development. Set performance goals and guide professional development paths. (15%)
• Execute high-priority and complex creative projects. Contribute directly to design and creative execution on high-priority and complex projects, serving as a senior creative resource and setting a strong example of craft and quality for the team. (15%)
• Troubleshoot creative roadblocks to keep projects moving, stepping in to execute hands-on when workload, timing or complexity requires. Attend walkthroughs, creative scouts and site visits that call for creative assessment and professional judgment. (10%)
• Assist with on-site photoshoots, assign freelance photography assignments, complete photo editing and archiving within digital asset management systems to ensure the university¿s visual library is comprehensive, visually compelling, current and easy to navigate. (5%)
• Stay apprised of current and emerging design trends, tools and techniques and share them with the design team. (<1%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

Requirements

• Experience: 8 years of related experience. Prefer experience to include 3 years of managing staff.
• Education: Bachelor¿s degree in a relevant discipline is required.
• Proven ability to supervise, mentor and develop graphic designers, providing timely constructive creative feedback and professional assessment of their work, resolving design and execution roadblocks, and keeping projects on schedule or under deadline.
• Strong organizational and leadership-oriented skills with the ability to manage team and execute large-scale projects simultaneously, ensuring quality control across team members and superior time management.
• Mastery of visual design principles, including typography, color theory, and composition, with advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and other industry-standard tools
• Deep understanding of brand strategy and storytelling, with the ability to shape, uphold, and evolve brand standards in alignment with university priorities and audience needs.
• Experience using content management systems such as Asana or Monday.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and execute compelling print and digital projects, including brochures, magazines, digital ads, animations, social media graphics and marketing campaigns, while adhering to strict brand guidelines and leading by creative example.
• Strong command of design technical standards, print specifications and techniques, digital specifications, file preparation and setup, color and prepress requirements, and accessibility (WCAG/ADA)¿and the ability to advise others on them.
• Strong creative judgment and the ability to provide hands-on art direction, brand quality control and balance visual innovation and strategic communication goals.

Benefits

• Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.