Design and Brand Lead

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology); Thuwal; On-site; SAR 224,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent university in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Design and Brand Lead to oversee the creative direction for design projects. You will manage a design team, ensure high-quality outputs on time and within budget, and collaborate with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design (Master’s preferred) and has over 5 years of experience in management and creative direction. Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills are crucial for this role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in management and creative direction.
• Ability to lead and coach a talented team.
• Strong understanding of design principles and branding.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design team and ensure projects are delivered on time.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create compelling designs.
• Stay updated on industry trends and incorporate relevant insights.

Skills

Creative leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving skills

Project management

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design

Master’s degree (Preferred)

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Overview

Drawing on stakeholder inputs and creative briefings, the Design and Brand Lead plays a crucial role in establishing and guiding the visual aesthetics and creative direction of design, illustration and animation projects. The role involves leading a design team, upholding and managing brand guidelines, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to produce high-impact creative work that advances the university’s reputation and supports institutional priorities. As part of the team responsible with overseeing KAUST’s brand identity governance and consistency, the Design and Brand Lead plays a crucial role in upholding the brand and maintaining high standards of visual quality and creativity across all design deliverables.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage the design team, provide creative leadership and ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget and meet quality standards.
• Foster a high-performance culture, driving high standards in the team through coaching, mentoring and leading by example, while effectively managing the activities of staff.
• Set performance objectives while providing support and development; to maintain team responsiveness to market and University priorities.
• Track deliverables and provide updates to the Creative Manager for feedback and progress updates.
• Conceptualize, develop and execute creative design, illustration and animation solutions that meet project objectives and align with brand standards and guidelines.
• Establish and provide guidance on the visual direction, style and concept for design projects.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including other designers, web, social, communication strategists and content producers, to translate project requirements into visually compelling designs.
• Stay updated on industry trends, best practices and emerging technologies in design, and incorporate relevant insights into design projects.
• Participate project meetings, articulating design concepts and rationale effectively to stakeholders and incorporating feedback into design iterations.
• Collaborate with external vendors, agencies and freelancers as needed.
• Apply brand standards and guidelines across all design deliverables.
• Perform other applicable tasks and duties as assigned by the Creative Manager.

Personal Requirements

• Ability to adapt to address emerging priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• Collaborative and inclusive communication style.
• Broad strategic outlook to elicit insights from emerging trends, drivers, opportunities, and risks.
• Analytical with proven problem-solving skills.
• Ability to use advocacy skills to deliver advice that positively influences stakeholders and decision-making outcomes.
• Strong personal initiative and motivation, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field. Master’s degree Preferred.

Experience

• Demonstrated track record of achievement (minimum 5+ years’ experience) in management and creative direction.
• Advanced ability to lead and coach a talented specialist team – building rapport and trust to support high performance.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven ability to lead and inspire creative teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to engender trust from senior stakeholders, and insightfully communicate complex information or ideas with influence and brevity.
• Strong understanding of design principles, branding, and marketing strategies.
• Strong art direction and project management skills.
• Familiarity with design software and tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite).
• Experience working within complex organizations and/or cross-functional matrix teams.