Manager, Design

University-of-Waterlo; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Waterloo is seeking a Manager of Design for the in-house Creative Studio. The role leads day-to-day design delivery, aligns outputs with the university’s visual identity, and oversees a team of designers to deliver accessible, high-quality creative work.

The position combines hands-on design with leadership, overseeing resources, timelines, and stakeholder collaboration to meet institutional priorities within a shared-services model.

Qualifications

• University degree or post-secondary diploma in graphic design, visual communication, digital design, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in graphic design, visual communication, digital design, or a related field.
• 1–2 years of experience supervising staff, coordinating workflow, or leading day-to-day delivery in an in-house, agency, or institutional design environment.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholder needs in a high-volume production environment.
• Experience working within brand standards, accessibility requirements, and design systems.

Responsibilities

• Leads the design team within the Creative Studio, accountable for day-to-day delivery, quality, and team effectiveness.
• Assigns work and allocates design resources based on priorities, timelines, project complexity, and team capability.
• Maintains effective team operations and promotes a service-oriented approach to delivery.
• Translates approved briefs and studio priorities into structured workplans, timelines, and assignments.
• Partners with Project Managers and Directors to coordinate workflow, priorities, resources, and delivery.

Skills

Design execution

Brand standards

Workflow management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or diploma in graphic design/visual communications

Tools

Design software

Job description

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day.Learn more about our recruitment process.Job Requisition ID:2026-01771Time Type:Full timeEmployee Group:StaffJob Category:MarketingEmployment Type:PermanentDepartment:Advancement and External Relations - Creative StudioHiring Range:$95,538.29 - $119,422.87Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy. The internal posting deadline for this position is September 11, 2026 at 11:59PM.Job Description:Primary PurposeUniversity of Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. With more than 41,000 students, we are home to the world's largest co-op education talent pipeline, to game-changing research and technology, and to an unmatched entrepreneurial culture. Together, these create partnerships and solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.At the university, the Marketing and Communications function is responsible for enhancing and protecting the university’s reputation. The marketing function specifically leads through advertising and promotion, while developing governance, protocol and templates to uphold consistent, unified and effective marketing activities across campus.The Manager, Design leads the day-to-day delivery of the design function within Waterloo’s in-house Creative Studio. The role translates brand direction, studio priorities and approved briefs into coordinated design execution across print and digital formats. The role manages workflow, allocates resources, ensures quality and develops a team of designers to deliver accessible, high-quality creative work aligned to institutional priorities within a shared-services model.This is a working manager role. The successful candidate will continue to contribute hands-on design work alongside leading the team, not a purely administrative position.Key AccountabilitiesDesign Operations and Service DeliveryLeads the design team within the Creative Studio, accountable for day-to-day delivery, quality, and team effectiveness.Manages team resources and day-to-day operations to achieve service objectives and maintain effective performance.Assigns work and allocates design resources based on priorities, timelines, project complexity, and team capability.Maintains effective team operations and promotes a service-oriented approach to delivery.Monitors workload and throughput to maintain service levels and ensure consistent, high-quality output.Quality, Standards and Brand AlignmentEnsures all design outputs align with institutional visual identity, accessibility standards and quality expectations.Reviews team output and provides clear direction to maintain consistency and usability.Identifies recurring issues and implements process or template improvements.Escalates high-risk or high-visibility work where additional review is required.Design Planning and CoordinationTranslates approved briefs and studio priorities into structured workplans, timelines, and assignments.Manages competing requests and production pressures within established service model and capacity.Partners with Project Managers, the Director, and peer managers to coordinate workflow, priorities, resources, and delivery requirements.Provides feedback on intake quality, timelines, capacity requirements, and feasibility to support effective planning and delivery.Stakeholder Support and Service IntegrationWorks with clients and internal partners to clarify requirements and support effective delivery.Provides practical advice on format, approach and production considerations.Manages relationships with internal clients and partners to support effective service delivery and resolution of design-related issues.Ensures consistent application of brand and design standards across projects.Collaborates with Media Production and Project Management teams for integrated delivery.Measurement, Continuous Improvement and Asset PracticesDrives improvements to templates, toolkits, workflows and production practices.Monitors workflow performance and team capacity trends to identify operational improvements and support effective resource utilization.Ensures consistent file management, documentation and handoff practices.Supports efficient use and reuse of design assets.Uses stakeholder feedback, workflow metrics, and performance information to strengthen service delivery and support continuous improvement.People LeadershipLeads, coaches, develops, and evaluates direct reports, ensuring clear expectations, accountability, and performance management.Establishes team priorities, allocates work, and supports effective resource utilization to achieve service objectives and maintain delivery standards.Supports goal setting, professional development, and capability growth within the design team.Builds strengths in design execution, accessibility, production discipline, and service excellence.Fosters a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture that supports engagement, continuous learning, and strong team performance.Required QualificationsEducationUniversity degree or post-secondary diploma in graphic design, visual communication, digital design, or a related field.Experience5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in graphic design, visual communication, digital design, or a related field.1–2 years of experience supervising staff, coordinating workflow, or leading day-to-day delivery in an in-house, agency, or institutional design environment.Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholder needs in a high-volume production environment.Experience working within established brand standards, accessibility requirements, and design systems.Knowledge/Skills/AbilitiesStrong expertise in design execution, visual identity application, creative production, and quality assurance.Strong knowledge of design principles, accessibility requirements, inclusive design practices, visual communications, and production standards.Ability to translate approved creative direction, brand standards, and project requirements into effective design solutions and coordinated team delivery.Ability to use workflow information, stakeholder feedback, and operational data to support prioritization, service delivery, and continuous improvement.Strong collaboration skills and ability to build productive working relationships with stakeholders, project partners, and team members.Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to provide clear feedback, guidance, and design consultation.Strong understanding of workflow management, resource allocation, and service delivery within a shared-services environment.Demonstrated ability to implement process improvements and support adoption of established standards, tools, and practices.Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities, stakeholder needs, timelines, and resource constraints in a high-volume environment.Sound judgment, attention to detail, and problem-solving capability.Strong stakeholder-management and relationship-building skills.Proficiency with design software, asset-management practices, file-preparation standards, and review workflows.Understanding of higher education or similarly complex organizations is an asset.Equity StatementThe University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.