Director of Creative Services

Texas A&M University; Corpus Christi (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas A&M University seeks a transformative Creative Director to lead the university’s premier social media presence and digital storytelling. You will develop content strategies showcasing campus life, academics, research, student success, and the Islander experience, while guiding editorial direction across platforms.

Partner with Communications and university leadership to align creative development with audience strategy, brand standards, and institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in creative direction, graphic design, branding, multimedia production, marketing communications, or a related field.
• Master's degree with eight years of progressive experience or Doctoral degree with six years.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic creative direction for university-wide social media and digital storytelling.
• Translate strategy into compelling visual concepts and brand standards across channels.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of designers, photographers, videographers, and social media professionals.
• Oversee creative workflows, production schedules, and project management.
• Manage budgets, external vendors, and resources to maximize impact.

Skills

Creative direction

Graphic design

Branding

Multimedia production

Marketing communications

Social media strategy

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field

Master's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field with eight years of experience

Doctoral degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field with six years of experience

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Digital asset management systems

Creative project management platforms

Job description

* Provide strategic leadership and creative direction for the university's top-tier social media presence and digital storytelling.* Develop content strategies and editorial direction that showcase campus life, academic excellence, research, student success, institutional achievements, and the Islander experience.* Identify opportunities to use social media and emerging platforms to increase engagement, strengthen affinity, and expand the university's reach.* Establish university-wide social media policies, guidelines, governance, and best practices for decentralized university accounts.* Monitor social media performance, audience engagement, content trends, sentiment, and emerging platforms to inform strategy and creative development.* Establish key performance indicators and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of university social media and digital content.* Collaborate with Communications and university leadership on social listening, emerging issues, and reputational considerations.* Oversee creative workflows, production schedules, project assignments, and resources across the creative services team.* Establish processes for evaluating and prioritizing creative requests based on institutional priorities, strategic value, audience impact, available resources, and team capacity.* Assign projects based on staff expertise, workload, project requirements, and institutional priorities.* Establish effective creative briefs, review processes, production standards, and project management practices that support efficient and collaborative workflows.* Ability to step in and perform senior-level graphic design or media production and editing work as needed during high-volume periods.* Manage assigned creative services budgets and identify opportunities to maximize available resources.* Oversee external creative vendors, freelancers, printers, photographers, production partners, and related contracts as needed.* Evaluate emerging creative technologies, tools, platforms, and production methods that can improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.* Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop professional staff responsible for graphic design, photography, videography, and social media.* Establish team priorities, performance expectations, workflows, and professional development goals aligned with institutional and departmental priorities.* Foster a collaborative, innovative, accountable, and high-performing creative environment.* Encourage creative exploration and professional growth while maintaining high standards for quality, consistency, and service.* Serve as a strategic creative resource to university leadership and the campus community.* Build effective partnerships across academic and administrative units to improve coordination, planning, and effective use of university creative resources.* Collaborate with Marketing leadership to align creative development with audience strategy, campaign objectives, advertising initiatives, and institutional marketing priorities.* Serve on university committees, task forces, and working groups as assigned.* Represent the university at professional, community, and industry events as appropriate.* Perform other duties as assigned.* Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field.* Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in creative direction, graphic design, branding, multimedia production, marketing communications, or a related field.* Additional education may be considered as a substitute for the minimum experience requirement:+ Master's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field with eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in creative direction, graphic design, branding, multimedia production, marketing communications, or a related field+ Doctoral degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media, or a closely related field with six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in creative direction, graphic design, branding, multimedia production, marketing communications, or a related field* Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, and developing creative professionals.* Demonstrated experience establishing creative direction and translating organizational or marketing strategy into compelling visual concepts and executions.* Significant experience developing and maintaining visual brand identities and brand standards.* Demonstrated experience directing integrated creative work across multiple disciplines, including graphic design, photography, videography, digital content, and social media.* Strong understanding of print and digital production processes, creative workflows, and project management.* Knowledge of major social media platforms, digital content strategy, social media analytics, and emerging content trends.* Advanced knowledge of creative software and technologies, including Adobe Creative Cloud or comparable platforms.* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-profile projects, priorities, budgets, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.* Strong leadership, creative problem-solving, presentation, communication, and collaboration skills.* Demonstrated ability to provide creative direction, constructive feedback, and quality control while maintaining productive relationships with internal clients and creative professionals.* Master's degree in graphic design, fine arts, communications, marketing, advertising, or a related field.* Creative leadership experience within higher education or another large, complex organization.* Experience leading a multidisciplinary creative team that includes graphic design, photography, videography, and social media.* Experience providing creative direction for large-scale institutional, recruitment, reputation, or integrated marketing campaigns.* Experience developing and managing organizational brand and visual identity standards.* Experience with digital asset management systems and creative project management platforms.* Experience developing social media content strategies and overseeing institutional or organizational social media channels.* Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)* Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation PlanThe Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a statewide network of twelve universities, eight state agencies, a comprehensive health science center, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS.The A&M System is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is conducive to the personal and professional development of each employee.Each member institution provides equal opportunity and access to all students, employees and prospective employees.