Director, Creative Services

Job Description

The Director, Creative Services is a member of the University's Marketing and Communications team and reports to the Executive Director. The Director serves as the lead art director and storyteller for the University while demonstrating the ability to develop and implement strategies. The Director will determine the best ways for the University to deliver marketing and brand messages, both through the written word and through visual communications, across traditional and digital media.

This is a people-oriented position, involving the development of high-level concepts and copy for design projects that resonate with the University's key audiences. The position serves as a member of the department's management team and directs a cross-functional team of creative professionals in design, video and photography.

The role is responsible for the University's brand including oversight and enforcement of brand standards, and for driving creative vision for the University in order to achieve the goals and objectives set in the annual Marketing and Communications Action Plan and the University's Strategic Plan. The Director, Creative Services works in close alignment with department team members, professional colleagues and senior leaders across campus to advise on matters pertaining to brand management. The Director also collaborates with vendors to produce best-in-class creative assets from conception to completion for projects and campaigns that bring the University's brand to life.

Brand Strategy and Management

• Serves as an effective brand champion with strong brand awareness

• Establishes, develops and maintains the University's brand identity by continually refining the University brand; consulting on new/proposed uses of the University logo; and advocating for the adoption and use of the University brand by internal and external audiences

• Aids in the creation of sub-brands to coherently exist within the institution's brand identity

• Makes strategic brand recommendations and advises internal partners on best practices, brand guidelines and brand standards, educating marketing and communications colleagues on how to achieve brand adherence

• Ensures consistent use of the University seal, logo and brand structure by establishing standards and guides, and enforces compliance with the standards through granting approval for official production only to those University colleges/schools/divisions and external vendors/partners which comply with the standards

• Ensures accuracy and consistency in all University publications produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications by establishing standards for writing style/tone, copy development, and design, and encourages others throughout the University to comply with the same standards and guidelines

• Maintains the University's Graphic Standards and Style Guide (Hallmarks of the Brand)

• Manages the University's Print Release program (reviews and approves cross-campus designs and branding before it prints)

• Provides creative direction of web, print and multimedia projects to department colleagues and vets high-level communications projects to ensure they adhere to the University marketing strategy and brand identity

• Develops and implements strategies and policies related to visual communication used in marketing including web design, print products, etc.

• Coordinates with different campus departments, including legal, to manage University brand copyrights and licensing

• Provides a high-level of collaboration, communication and teamwork with department team members

Creative Management

• Ability to think strategically and creatively, and keep up on the latest marketing and creative trends to develop, articulate and lead long term projects while responding to immediate demands

• Leads creative ideation, and makes creative recommendations based on research

• Stays abreast of the latest needs and information on an ever-changing key audience, along with additional target markets

• Ability to develop and write strong, creative, and effective taglines, slogans, campaign themes and copy

• Leads the creative process and oversees the work of the team, performing quality control, proofing and design revisions until acceptable results are obtained

• Guides the adaption of creative elements for different marketing channels and mediums including print, web, television, social media, out-of-home, and digital media

• Develops project plans and timelines, assigning projects to team members after developing the creative concepts and copy

• Efficiently manages multiple, diverse projects simultaneously and creates and directs innovative work under tight deadlines

• Presents marketing concepts including rationale, objectives and technological options/solutions

• Establishes and maintains effective work relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the public

• Ensures that the creative concepts/designs fully integrate with the department's overall marketing strategies

• Produces the creative materials for marketing including writing and editing content

• Utilizes department project management system (Teamwork) and digital asset platform (Canto)

• Ensures accuracy, quality and timely completion of project milestones and deliverables

• Resolves issues resulting from multiple objectives and, in consultation with the schools/colleges/divisions, determines priorities to find solutions

• Coordinates projects with photography, video and printing vendors

• Completes requests for proposal (RFP) for stationery and other vendors

Team Management

• Leads, directs and motivates team members, including setting performance standards and expectations
• Holds regular 1:1 meetings to support employees as well as providing development opportunities, mentorship and coaching as appropriate
• Conducts formal evaluations of direct reports and aids in goal creation
• Allocates projects to staff based on strengths, workload and responsibilities; monitors work progress to ensure all deadlines are met
• Reviews all creative work for quality and accuracy
• Assists in budgeting decisions for approval by the executive director
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and six years of related professional work experience, or Master's degree and four years of related professional work experience.

Related Experience

• Journalism, Marketing, Graphic Design, or related area

• Demonstrated experience with brand development and management

• A record of professional experience that demonstrates progressive responsibilities and significant hands-on experience managing a cross-functional team of creative professionals from design, video and photography

Preferred Qualifications

At least ten years of related work experience regardless of degree level is preferred.

Attach the following to your application

1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter

3) Contact Information for Three Professional References

4) Creative Portfolio (links to web-based portfolios are acceptable)

5) Please write a brief statement (one page maximum) about how you would contribute toward our mission of creating a culturally inclusive environment in the role for which you are applying.