Senior Brand & Creative Production Director

School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead the design function, translate objectives into creative strategy, and oversee day-to-day production. You will work with Marketing to align visual identity with enrollment and advancement goals.

The role requires 7+ years in graphic design or related fields, a bachelor’s degree, and strong leadership. The position is hybrid in Chicago, with a salary range of $70,000–$85,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in graphic design or marketing communications.
• Experience leading creative projects from concept through delivery.
• Experience working in institutional, agency, higher education, arts, cultural, or similarly complex environment preferred.
• Experience developing, managing, and evolving brand guidelines and visual standards for a complex organization.
• Demonstrated skill in managing and mentoring designers or other creative professionals.
• Strong knowledge of design principles and aesthetic judgment.
• Experience with integrated print and digital design, including QA and vendor coordination.

Responsibilities

• Provides senior creative direction for brand, marketing, admissions, advancement, and institutional initiatives, developing concepts and visual approaches.
• Leads the design team’s creative process from concept through completion, providing guidance, feedback, and quality control.
• Manages and mentors design staff, including distributing work, balancing workloads, and supporting professional development.
• Owns project management and operations for the design team, establishing priorities, timelines, and processes to ensure on-time delivery within budget.
• Oversees design projects in Asana, tracking status, capacity, deadlines, and dependencies.
• Coordinates with internal partners, vendors, and external contributors to ensure timely, on-budget delivery.
• Leads hands-on design for campaigns, environmental graphics, merchandise, social media, and other materials.
• Ensures quality of final deliverables including print specs, proofs, and vendor coordination.
• Supports evolving SAIC brand guidelines and templates across platforms.
• Manages freelance designers and agencies, maintaining scope and schedule.
• Develops and improves processes, tools, and workflows to handle high-volume work.

Skills

Graphic design

Creative direction

Project management

Asana

Vendor coordination

Print & digital design

Education

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

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Asana

Job description

SAIC is seeking an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead the design function, translate objectives into creative strategy, and oversee day-to-day production. You will work with Marketing to align visual identity with enrollment and advancement goals.

The role requires 7+ years in graphic design or related fields, a bachelor’s degree, and strong leadership. The position is hybrid in Chicago, with a salary range of $70,000–$85,000 per year.