Director of Creative Services, Communications and Marketing

The Director of Creative Services drives the creative strategy to support the University's mission. This role oversees and inspires the creative team, including design and video professionals, ensuring alignment with the University’s objectives. The Director of Creative Services shapes and directs creative efforts across all marketing and communication channels, including web, social media, direct mail, out-of-home, and email. This position ensures brand consistency and standardization, providing guidance and training to campus partners on the university's brand guidelines.

• Leads the development and execution of creative strategies that align with the University's mission, enhancing compelling and cohesive storytelling across all channels, including web, social media, email, direct mail, and out-of-home campaigns
• Responsible for developing brand strategy, brand extensions, and managing the University's comprehensive visual brand identity, while guiding the division to ensure consistent and compelling representation across all communications, materials, and products.
• Partners with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative campaigns that reflect the institution’s goals and resonate with target audiences
• Supervises and inspires a team of creative professionals, including designers and video specialists, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation
• Manages relationships with agencies, contractors, and vendors to supplement the creative team’s capabilities and scale to meet divisional needs
• Oversees the contracting process, ensuring deliverables align with quality standards and budget requirements
• Provides mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities to team members
• Effectively manages resources, timelines, and workloads to ensure timely delivery of projects while maintaining high-quality standards
• Serves as a resource and advisor to campus partners, providing training and guidance on brand standards, creative best practices, and strategies
• Advocates for consistent representation of the university's identity
• Collaborates with partners to ensure alignment with institutional objectives.
• Oversees the approval process for system-wide guidelines, including strict compliance with logo usage and branding policies.
• Work with division team for workflow optimization, data analytics, resource allocation, and other priorities as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Knowledge

1. Branding and Creative Processes

• In-depth knowledge of branding principles, including visual identity, messaging, and adherence to brand guidelines
• Understanding of creative processes across communication channels, including digital (web, social, email), print, video, and out-of-home campaigns
• Familiarity with higher education systems, policies, and system-wide branding requirements

2. Design and Multimedia Production

• Proficiency in design principles, typography, layout, and industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, etc.)
• Understanding of video production, motion graphics, and photography principles

3. Marketing and Project Management

• Knowledge of marketing and communication best practices, particularly for academic institutions
• Familiarity with project management tools and processes, as well as content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) and analytics platforms

Skills

1. Creative Leadership and Strategy

• Ability to inspire and lead creative teams toward innovative solutions while aligning with institutional goals
• Strategic thinking and decision-making skills to develop and execute marketing and branding initiatives under tight deadlines
• Advanced proficiency with creative and project management tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Trello, Asana)

2. Communication and Collaboration

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for articulating creative concepts and providing feedback
• Skilled in navigating stakeholder relationships and resolving conflicts constructively
• Ability to manage relationships with contractors and vendors to ensure quality and budget adherence

3. Team Development

• Skill in fostering talent within teams through coaching, professional development, and training

Abilities

1. Vision and Adaptability

• Ability to align creative outputs with the University's mission and strategic objectives while balancing innovation with institutional standards
• Capacity to adapt to evolving campus needs, industry trends, and feedback metrics

2. Attention to Detail and Quality

• Keen eye for design quality, brand consistency, and compliance with system-wide guidelines

3. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

• Analytical abilities to evaluate creative effectiveness and recommend improvements
• Skilled in balancing competing priorities while ensuring strategic alignment

Review of applications will begin October 9, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration. In addition to the application, an attached resume is required.

Minimum: Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Art, Graphic Design, or related field; and 5-7 years of professional experience in creative development and leadership; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferred: A Master’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Art, Graphic Design, or related field; 10 years of professional experience; and higher education experience is preferred.