Creative Director

Webster University - St. Louis, MO

Full-time - Senior

St. Louis, MO

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Creative Services at Webster University is responsible for leading, developing, executing, and measuring the effectiveness of creative and brand management across various platforms, including print, digital, and outdoor projects. This role is pivotal in supporting and strengthening the global brand of Webster University. The director will manage and inspire a diverse team of designers, videographers, photographers, and external vendors, overseeing all phases of the creative process to ensure the production of high-quality, strategically grounded creative outputs. Collaboration is key, as the director will work closely with the website and social media teams to effectively deploy creative assets on digital platforms. In this position, the director will deliver innovative and successful solutions for a range of internal partners, leading the ideation and development of creative campaigns and concepts for the Global Marketing and Communications (GMC) department. This includes covering both traditional and digital channels. The director will facilitate creative brainstorming sessions aimed at supporting the university's goals, mission, and vision. Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills are essential, as the director will inspire and lead creative teams within a complex and diverse organizational structure. The role also involves ensuring that the final product aligns with the approved concept and campaign objectives, working closely with the Marketing Manager to enhance and maintain the consistency of Webster University's brand across all materials, while adhering to established brand guidelines. The director will collaborate with other unit directors to ensure consistency across various channels and areas of expertise. A passion for creativity, anticipation of market needs, and a commitment to best practices are crucial for success in this role. The director must possess strong problem-solving skills, the ability to identify key strategic issues, and develop creative design solutions. Organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines are also important.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, execute, and measure the effectiveness of creative and brand management for various projects.
• Manage and inspire a team of designers, videographers, photographers, and outside vendors.
• Collaborate and strategize with website and social media teams to deploy creative assets effectively.
• Deliver innovative and successful solutions for diverse internal partners.
• Lead the ideation and development of creative campaigns and concepts for the GMC department.
• Facilitate creative brainstorming sessions that support the university's goals and mission.
• Ensure final products align with approved concepts and campaign objectives.
• Work with the Marketing Manager to enhance and ensure brand consistency across all materials.
• Collaborate with other unit directors to maintain consistency across channels and areas of expertise.
• Demonstrate a passion for creativity and a commitment to best practices.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in a creative role, either in-house or in an agency environment.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience as a supervisor or managing staff.
• Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe Flash.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with a diverse community.
• Ability to work independently and lead teams, including direct reports and external partners.
• Experience in assessing, evaluating, and managing outside vendors.
• Ability to think creatively and develop new design concepts and campaign assets.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, design, or a related field.
• Experience in a leadership role within higher education is a plus.
• Knowledge of videography/photography production and software is highly desirable.