Assistant Director — Athletics Graphic Design

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University is seeking an Assistant Director of Graphic Design to lead visual branding and creative content across the athletics department. The role focuses on recruiting graphics, marketing campaigns, brand identity materials, print collateral, and digital assets while maintaining a cohesive look across sports and platforms.

The successful candidate will shape visual storytelling for student-athletes and teams, collaborate with coaches and campus partners, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s is required.
• A degree in graphic design or another related field is preferred.
• A minimum of one (1) year of professional experience in graphic design is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative and visually engaging graphics for internal and external communications channels.
• Collaborate with athletics teams, coaches, and campus partners to create impactful visual assets.
• Provide photography support for recruiting, marketing, and communications efforts across the athletics department.
• Assist with home game day coverage that could fall on nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Travel will be required as needed for game day and championship coverage.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Written communication

Creative design

Typography

Branding

Time management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graphic design degree preferred

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Photography editing

Job description

Job Description - Assistant Director of Graphic Design (HR Title: Graphic Designer I) (ATH00000502)

Job Description

Assistant Director of Graphic Design (HR Title: Graphic Designer I) - ( ATH00000502 )

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Assistant Director of Graphic Design will support the development of visual branding and creative content for the athletics department. This position is responsible for designing recruiting graphics, marketing campaigns, brand identity materials, print collateral, and digital assets while helping establish and maintain a cohesive visual identity across all sports and platforms. This role offers the opportunity to shape the visual storytelling of the athletics department and contribute to the success of its student-athletes, teams, and programs.

Job summary

Essential Functions:

Develop creative and visually engaging graphics for use across internal and external communications channels, helping to showcase and elevate athletics programs, student-athletes, and departmental initiatives.

Collaborate with athletics teams, coaches, and campus partners to create impactful visual assets that support the promotion of programs, events, student-athletes, and departmental initiatives.

Provide photography support for recruiting, marketing, and communications efforts across the athletics department by capturing dynamic imagery that enhances engagement and promotes a consistent visual identity.

This role will assist with home game day coverage that could fall on nights, weekends, and holidays.

Travel will be required as needed for game day and championship coverage.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s is required.

A degree in graphic design or another related field is preferred.

A minimum of one (1) year of professional experience in graphic design is required.

Experience working with a college or professional athletics department is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

The ideal candidate is a highly creative designer with strong typography, layout, and branding skills who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced athletics environment. They bring a keen eye for detail, a passion for storytelling through design, and the ability to effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines.

A candidate with a strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite platforms including: Photoshop and Lightroom is essential. A working knowledge of After Effects, Illustrator, and/or InDesign is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Applicants must include a work sample or portfolio link in order to be considered.

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by October 15, 2026.

Position will remain open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.