Art Director

American Jewish Committee (AJC); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Medical, vision, dental plans

15 vacation days per year

Paid holidays

403(b) participation

Job summary

American Jewish Committee (AJC) seeks a senior graphic design leader to shape and direct the visual strategy across print, digital, and environmental graphics. You will oversee the Graphics Team, manage budgets, and guide partners in delivering cohesive brand stories that advance our advocacy mission.

You will collaborate with Marketing and Communications to drive major campaigns, including events and fundraising, while keeping up with industry trends and licensing needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8-10+ years of related work experience.
• 12+ years of graphic design experience, preferable in an agency or non-profit setting.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and direct the visual strategy to increase AJC’s brand awareness in a crowded marketplace and build support for the agency’s mission and advocacy objectives.
• Generate and oversee all agency design projects, including brochures, event collateral, direct mail fundraising packages, and digital assets.
• Lead a Graphics Team in creating engaging, relevant, and inspiring visual designs.
• Mentor and manage AJC’s in-house Graphics Team and oversee day-to-day operations.
• Maintain a roster of freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, and external print shops.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications stakeholders to plan major initiatives.
• Set and enforce brand guidelines and ensure consistency across print, digital, and environmental designs.
• Oversee external video projects in partnership with the video specialist.
• Ensure a consistent brand look across AJC offices and channels.
• Maintain knowledge of design trends in the Jewish community and digital advocacy.
• Prepare and monitor the annual graphics budget with leadership.

Skills

Brand strategy

Team leadership

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Creative direction

Budget management

Vendor management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

Job description

About AJC

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. We create trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving.

With an unparalleled reach spanning six continents, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide. Wherever the Jewish people and Israel need us, AJC is there—empowering leaders in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies.

The challenges we face are global. AJC is leading the global response. Join us.

Your Department

AJC uses marketing, branding, communications, and social media to educate the public and shape opinion in pursuit of our mission. We leverage our vast global media presence—which includes the largest social media following of any Jewish organization—as an essential part of our advocacy arsenal.

Your Impact

This position makes an impact at AJC by planning, overseeing, and developing work with significant impact on the organization's mission and goals; manages a small team. Works with significant latitude to solve complex problems and make strategically important decisions impacting the department.

The incumbent leads the visual strategy to increase brand awareness and support the agency's mission. This position is responsible for overseeing all agency-wide design projects, overseeing the work of the Graphics Team, and ensuring AJC's visual presence is consistent and impactful across all platforms.

Your Role

• Conceptualize and direct the visual strategy to increase AJC’s brand awareness in a crowded marketplace and build support for the agency’s mission and advocacy objectives
• Generate and oversee all agency design projects, including promotional brochures, event collateral, direct mail fundraising packages, AJC.org website, AJC’s social media platforms, email templates, and environmental graphics
• Lead a talented Graphics Team in creating engaging, relevant, and inspiring visual designs
• Manage and mentor AJC’s in-house Graphics Team, overseeing an annual goal-setting process, identifying professional development opportunities for all team members, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the team
• Maintain and manage a roster of freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, and external print shops
• Review, adjust, and implement best practices for AJC’s in-house Graphics Team and print shop, ensuring the use of state-of-the-art technology and techniques
• Collaborate with key Marketing and Communications stakeholders, especially the Senior Director of Brand Marketing, to plan major marketing initiatives, like the annual end-of-year fundraising campaign
• Play a key role in setting AJC brand guidelines and ensuring adherence across the agency for all print, digital, and environmental designs
• Partner with the video specialist to provide creative oversight for all externally-produced video projects
• Create and maintain a consistent brand look across AJC offices representing AJC’s global and regional prominence
• Maintain a deep knowledge of compelling visuals relevant to AJC’s priority issue areas and audiences
• Generate and oversee the vision for AJC Global Forum collateral and environmental graphics
• Serve as a consultant and stakeholder to the Department’s efforts to maintain AJC’s digital asset management system, ensuring proper licenses/rights for images and easy accessibility across the agency
• Oversee designs requested by internal clients and train all staff on how to interface with the Graphics Team
• Seek insights from end-users to develop design and graphic request operations best practices
• Identify, negotiate contracts for, manage, and evaluate outside design, photography, and printing vendors, ensuring contracted projects are completed on time and within budget
• Lead all graphics, photography, fabrication, and other visual experiential initiatives, including related vendors, at major AJC events, working outside of normal business hours in the weeks up to and during such events
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of design trends in the Jewish communal organization sector, social media advocacy, and digital advocacy
• Prepare and monitor the annual graphics budget in consultation with AJC’s accounting department and the SVP of Marketing and Communications.
• Research and recommend efficient and justifiable purchases for the graphics team and print shop
• Support AJC regional and overseas offices and national departments with design and branding requests
• Present final layouts for approval, explaining the creative with clear rationale
• Review and approve proofs of printed artwork and copy.

Supervisory Role

Medium office/team of 4-7

Education, Training, And Experience

• Bachelor's degree
• 8-10+ years of related work experience
• 12+ years of graphic design experience, preferable in an agency or non-profit setting.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Passion for the mission, goals, and objectives of AJC
• Committed to AJC’s core values: respect, accountability, integrity, innovation, and collaboration
• Demonstrates professionalism and high standards of conduct
• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and listening)
• Strong organization and project management skills, including the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
• Capacity to multitask and work in a fast-paced and changing environment
• Willing and able to work outside of standard working hours, including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams, and Outlook), Google Suite applications, and Zoom
• Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Understanding of web production and digital design elements
• Familiarity with video production
• Strong managerial skills and the ability to direct, motivate, and develop individuals and/or teams
• Experience with, and ability to oversee, the installation of all event fabrications along with oversight of photography and graphics at major events.

Physical Demands

Office employees

• Remaining in a stationary position, often sitting or standing for prolonged periods
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another

Disclaimers

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute a contract between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $100,000 - $140,000, depending on relevant experience and location.

Benefits

• Regular Full-time employee benefits:
• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Flexible Spending Account options
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) - 15 vacation days per year, that increases with continued employment
• Paid Holidays (many Federal and major Jewish Holidays)
• Hybrid work schedule
• 403(b) participation, after one year of employment
• Transit plan
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave
• After applicable waiting or probationary periods have been met