Associate Creative Director

Quinnipiac University - Hamden, CT

Full-time - Senior

Hamden, CT

5,001-10,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Creative Director (ACD) at Quinnipiac University is a key leadership role responsible for shaping and enhancing the university's visual identity across various mediums. This position involves leading a design team, mentoring designers, and collaborating with marketing and communications teams to deliver innovative design solutions that align with the university's brand and strategic initiatives. The ACD will oversee projects from concept to execution, ensuring high-quality standards and effective communication throughout the process.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a compelling and innovative creative vision that aligns with Quinnipiac's brand identity, values, and strategic initiatives.
• Create visually stunning and effective designs by personally conceptualizing and designing original concepts and evolving existing work.
• Lead, manage, mentor, and inspire two in-house designers (plus freelancers) to develop high-quality designs for various marketing collateral, ads, logos, long-form publications, digital assets, and more.
• Oversee the conceptualization and execution of environmental design to create immersive brand experiences throughout the campus.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to understand project requirements, goals, and deadlines.
• Conduct competitive research to inform creative strategies and present ideas effectively to various audiences using storytelling techniques.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks effectively, ensuring adherence to deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Oversee brand identity documentation and governance, and act as a brand ambassador by reviewing and approving external designs and overseeing licensing approvals.
• Oversee the technical production of creative assets, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and maintaining organized server management.
• Create presentations and templates in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Canva.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills by identifying design challenges, developing creative solutions, and implementing effective strategies to meet project objectives.
• Stay current with design trends and technologies, integrating innovative approaches into design processes.
• Provide feedback and guidance to team members for professional growth.
• Ability to travel as needed to our three campuses, including navigating active construction sites.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communications, or a related field required.
• 5-7 years of experience in a creative leadership role, with a strong portfolio showcasing creativity, originality, and versatility in traditional and environmental design.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for articulating creative concepts and strategies effectively.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments while managing multiple projects.
• Meticulous attention to detail with a strong focus on accuracy, consistency, and quality in all design and production processes.
• Leadership skills with a track record of inspiring and managing creative teams.
• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking for translating business objectives into design solutions.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, InCopy), Canva, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Wrike), digital asset management (DAM), and licensing approval tools (e.g., Brand Manager 360) is a plus.
• Understanding of print production and accessibility in design (WCAG).
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Wrike), digital asset management (DAM), and licensing approval tools (e.g., Brand Manager 360) is a plus.

Benefits

• Tuition remission
• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time faculty and staff
• Inclusive culture driven by excellence