Design Director

ACLU; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 189,000; Full time

Job summary

The ACLU is seeking a Design Director in New York to lead creative design projects within the Communications & Marketing Department. This hybrid role requires significant design expertise and strong people management skills, overseeing a team of designers to create impactful visuals that align with the ACLU's mission. Compensation for this role is set at $188,816 annually.

Benefits

Generous paid-time off

Comprehensive healthcare benefits

401k plan with employer match

Annual professional development funds

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a leadership capacity.
• Strong portfolio showcasing bold, impactful design work.
• Ability to translate creative strategies into compelling visuals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and execution of design projects.
• Mentor and inspire a team of designers.
• Oversee design processes from concept to final execution.

Skills

Creative leadership

Project management

Strong communication skills

Education

Significant design expertise

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Design Directorin the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York. This is ahybrid rolethat has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The ACLU Marketing & Communications Department creates, maintains , and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and also illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written and social content, branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to create a more perfect union.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Head of Brand Studio, the Design Director will lead the creative vision and execution of design projects that transform campaign strategies into impactful, engaging visuals that advance the ACLU’s mission. This role will create bold visual identities that engage a wide range of supporters and drive strategic goals.

The Design Director will lead and manage a team of designers, overseeing workflows, processes, and resource allocation to deliver high-quality, on-brand work. They will mentor and inspire their team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and professional growth. By guiding the team and upholding design standards, they will ensure a seamless and efficient creative process. The Design Director will also collaborate with teams across the organization, providing design solutions for projects ranging from 360 campaigns to rapid response assets. Through strong leadership and cross-departmental coordination, they will guide the design team to advance the department’s strategic goals set by the Head of Brand of Studio.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

We are looking for a Design Director who excels not only in design but also in people management. This individual will bring a track record of bold, creative work, strong communication skills, and the ability to meet deadlines while managing multiple projects. The following is an expanded list of key responsibilities for this role.

Creative Leadership:

• Develop and oversee the look & feel for all design projects, ensuring alignment with the ACLU’s brand identity.
• Foster innovation within the design team and champion the ACLU’s mission through powerful, bold and visually compelling design.
• Serve as a creative thought partner, collaborating closely with the Head of Brand Studio and team directors to develop strategic design solutions.

Team Management & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Provide clear direction, timely feedback, and guidance to support team members' skill development and professional growth.
• Oversee the team’s workflow, ensuring an equitable distribution of work and efficient high-level project management.
• Manage the design team’s budget and resources effectively.
• Identify freelance needs and coordinate the timely hiring of support staff during high-volume periods.

Design Execution & Oversight:

• Oversee the entire design process, from mood boarding, pitching, managing workflows to final execution.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and to the highest standards of quality.
• Oversee final approvals and internal legal review when needed

Collaboration & Communication:

• Partner with teams across the Marketing & Communications, Policy, Legal, Affiliate Support and Development departments to develop design solutions that support organizational goals.
• Act as a key liaison between the design team and other stakeholders to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Significant design expertise,including proven experience in a leadership capacity.
• Strong portfolio showcasing bold, impactful design work across various mediums (digital & print).
• Strong ability to translate creative strategies into compelling visuals for campaigns.
• Proven experience managing and mentoring designers in a dynamic environment.
• Expertise in design tools and software, including Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a passion for collaboration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working within mission-driven or advocacy organizations.
• Familiarity with branding and storytelling for social justice or nonprofit initiatives.
• Experience in Data Asset Management
• Experience in Event Design

COMPENSATION The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with the ACLU's compensation philosophy there is a set salary for this role. The ACLU also has a locality adjustment policy that applies to salaries. The annual salary for this position is $188,816 (Level D), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. This position is subject to a hybrid schedule of 2 days/week or 8 days/month in-office. WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [e-mail] . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.