Associate Director of Creative Services and Brand Identity

Elon University; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Elon University in Charlotte seeks an Associate Director of Creative Services and Brand Identity to lead design across university communications in the Queens campus operations. You will drive brand consistency, mentor designers, and partner with stakeholders to translate the university’s identity into impactful visuals.

The role combines hands-on design with strategy, ensuring high-quality outputs for print and digital channels across multiple units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, art, marketing communications or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in graphic design, with demonstrated ability to manage projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual and production skills across platforms is required and might be used as substitute of education to assess appropriate skill mastery and esthetic qualities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Creative Services resource for Charlotte-based communications and marketing requests.
• Conceptualize, design and produce high-quality visual communications for print, digital and other platforms.
• Manage creative assignments from concept through final production, ensuring accuracy and audience-centered results.
• Develop original concepts and adapt visual systems to meet specific needs.
• Translate goals and messages into effective visual solutions.
• Maintain craftsmanship with typography, imagery and production details.
• Prepare files for print and digital production with colleagues and vendors.
• Support Charlotte needs while contributing to university-wide projects.
• Work within established workflows to ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Graphic design

Brand standards

Adobe CC

Typography

Layout & print

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, art, marketing communications or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Title:

Associate Director of Creative Services and Brand Identity

Position Type:

Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week:

M-F

Hours Per Week:

40

VP Area:

University Communications

Department:

Marketing Communications

Location:

Queens Campus - Charlotte

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Creative Services and Brand Identity is the primary Creative Services professional based in Charlotte, providing comprehensive design and creative support for communications and marketing needs originating from the university’s Charlotte operations.

The associate director is an experienced, hands-on designer responsible for the full range of creative assignments, from routine production needs and adaptations of existing materials to original concepts, campaigns and complex visual communications. Working as part of University Communications’ Creative Services team, the associate director collaborates closely with colleagues across University Communications and with partners in academic and administrative units to develop effective, audience-centered creative solutions.

The position also serves as an on-the-ground resource for brand identity in Charlotte, helping university partners understand and consistently apply established Elon and Queens brand standards, visual systems and related guidance. The associate director exercises independent creative and brand judgment in day-to-day work while consulting with University Communications leadership on broader questions involving brand strategy, architecture, naming and policy.

This position works within established University Communications project-management processes and reports to the Director of Creative Services, who provides overall creative direction and leadership for the Creative Services function.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, art, marketing communications or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in graphic design, with demonstrated ability to manage projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual and production skills across platforms is required and might be used as substitute of education to assess appropriate skill mastery and esthetic qualities.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in higher education, an agency, an in-house creative team or another complex organization serving multiple internal clients.
• Experience providing visual identity or brand standards consultation within an established organizational brand system.
• Experience with motion graphics, environmental design, digital advertising or other complementary creative disciplines.
• Experience working across multiple locations, business units or organizational identities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Significant professional experience in graphic design and visual communications, with a portfolio demonstrating sophisticated creative thinking and strong execution across print and digital media.
• Demonstrated experience working within established visual identity systems and applying brand standards across a variety of communications.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud applications and other tools relevant to professional design and production.
• Strong understanding of typography, layout, color, imagery, print production and digital design.
• Ability to move comfortably between routine production work and more complex, concept-driven assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound independent judgment while working effectively within a collaborative creative team.
• Excellent interpersonal, consultation and communication skills, including the ability to explain creative and brand decisions to colleagues who are not communications professionals.
• Ability to manage one's own workload, balance multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, quality and consistency.

Job Duties

Creative Services and Design Execution

• Serve as the primary Creative Services resource for communications and marketing requests originating from Charlotte, providing design support across a broad range of needs and levels of complexity.
• Conceptualize, design and produce high-quality visual communications for print, digital and other platforms, including publications, marketing collateral, advertising, event materials, presentations, environmental graphics, social media assets and other communications.
• Manage creative assignments from concept through final production, ensuring work is accurate, visually compelling, audience-centered and aligned with communications objectives.
• Develop original creative concepts as well as adapt established visual systems, campaigns and templates to meet specific needs.
• Translate communications and marketing goals, key messages and audience needs into effective visual solutions.
• Maintain a high level of craftsmanship and attention to typography, imagery, composition, accessibility, production requirements and other design details.
• Prepare files and specifications for print, digital publication and other forms of production, working with university colleagues and outside vendors as appropriate.
• Support Charlotte-based needs while also contributing to university-wide Creative Services projects when needed.
• Work within established University Communications workflows, priorities and schedules to ensure the timely execution of assigned creative work.

Brand Identity Stewardship and Consultation

• Serve as a day-to-day resource for brand identity questions in Charlotte, helping university colleagues appropriately apply established Elon and Queens visual identities and standards.
• Provide consultation on the appropriate use of institutional marks, typography, color, imagery, visual systems and other brand elements.
• Review communications and creative materials for alignment with established visual identity standards and recommend adjustments when needed.
• Help university partners determine the appropriate visual approaches for communications needs while maintaining consistency across university touchpoints.
• Educate colleagues about available brand resources, templates, standards and processes and help increase understanding and adoption of those resources.
• Identify recurring brand questions, gaps or emerging brand identity needs in Charlotte and bring them to University Communications leadership for consideration.
• Recognize issues that extend beyond established guidance and elevate questions of brand strategy, architecture, naming or policy to the appropriate University Communications leaders.
• Contribute observations and recommendations that support the continued implementation and evolution of university visual identity systems.

Creative Leadership and Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Creative Services and other members of the Creative Services team to maintain a consistent level of creative quality across all Elon campuses.
• Contribute ideas and creative perspectives to major communications and marketing initiatives and participate in collaborative concept development.
• Build strong working relationships with colleagues across University Communications and with university partners in Charlotte.
• Provide informed creative counsel to clients, helping them understand how design and brand decisions support communications objectives.
• Collaborate with writers, photographers, videographers, web professionals, marketers and other communications colleagues to develop integrated work.
• Share expertise, best practices and emerging design trends with Creative Services colleagues and contribute to the ongoing development of the team’s creative capabilities.
• Provide creative guidance to student workers, freelancers, vendors or other contributors as appropriate.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

A portfolio submission is required to be considered for this position.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Elon University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy or related conditions), age, disability, genetic information, religion, veteran’s status, or any other protected basis under applicable law (collectively, “Protected Categories”) in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, or the operation of any of its programs and activities.