Associate Creative Director

Quinnipiac University - Hamden, CT

Full-time - Mid Level

Hamden, CT

5,001-10,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Creative Director (ACD) at Quinnipiac University is a pivotal role responsible for leading the design team and shaping the university's visual identity across various mediums. This position emphasizes print design, logos, and environmental branding, requiring a hands-on designer who can mentor and inspire both in-house and freelance designers. The ACD will collaborate closely with the Marketing & Communications team to deliver innovative design solutions that align with the university's brand and strategic initiatives.

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 (with charts, maps, and infographics), 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 overcome obstacles and 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, as well as occasional travel to vendors and other off-site locations.

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