Director of Creative Services

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston System seeks a senior creative leader to oversee the visual representation of the UH brand and elevate creative initiatives across marketing campaigns. This role directs a team of writers, editors, graphic designers and photographers within University Marketing and Communications (UMC).

The position entails establishing brand standards, managing end-to-end creative development, presenting strategies to senior leadership, and ensuring timely, on-brand asset delivery.

Qualifications

• Requires a 4-year degree or equivalent professional training.
• Minimum of five years of directly job-related experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop long term strategic creative vision for UH brand and execution strategy across campaigns and initiatives.
• Manage the end-to-end creative development process, from briefing to asset delivery, ensuring deadlines, budget and quality standards.
• Present creative strategy and concepts to senior leadership, articulating vision and brand standards behind design decisions.
• Recruit, mentor and manage cross-functional creative team, including designers, writers, videographers and photographers.
• Step in to perform senior level graphic, design, copywriting or media production work during high-volume periods.
• Analyze creative performance and recommend optimizations and enhancements of campaigns.
• Maintain advanced expertise in creative software and digital production workflows.

Skills

Creative direction

Team leadership

Brand management

Graphic design software

Education

Bachelor's degree

Equivalent training

Tools

Creative software suite

Job description

Responsible for the overall visual representation of the company's brand and elevating existing creative initiatives. Directs a team of writers, editors, graphic designers and photographers in support of University Marketing and Communications' (UMC) projects.

• 1. Develops and delivers creative visual solutions that drive strategy to support merchandising, marketing and branding goals.
• 2. Manages a team of designers to deliver projects on time, on budget and brand and audience appropriate.
• 3. Pushes creativity, keeps abreast of national, global and industry trends, explores new ways to craft unique solutions that reflect and evolve the brand.
• 4. Establishes, implements, and monitors UH graphic standards in partnership with Executive Director of Brand Management.
• 5. Performs graphic design work as needed.
• 6. Manages traditional and electronic publication projects.
• 7. Performs other duties as required.

MQ: Education: Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed. Experience: Requires a minimum of five (5) years of directly job-related experience.

• 1. Develop long term strategic creative vision for UH brand and execution strategy across all major campaigns and initiatives as well as tactical or standalone assets.
• 2. Manage the end-to-end creative development process, from briefing, constructive design reviews to asset delivery; ensuring deadlines, budget and quality standards are met.
• 3. Present creative strategy and concepts to senior leadership and across the university community, articulating creative vision, business rationale and brand standards behind design decisions and recommendations.
• 4. Recruit, mentor and manage cross-functional creative team, including graphic designers, writers, videographers and photographers.
• 5. Ability to step in and perform senior level graphic, design, copywriting or media production and editing work as needed during high-volume periods.
• 6. Analyze creative performance and make informed recommendations for optimizations and enhancements of campaigns.
• 7. Need advanced expertise in creative and design software and technology with a comprehensive knowledge of print and digital production workflows and digital asset management.

- Department is willing to accept education in lieu of experience.

- Department is willing to accept experience in lieu of education.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.