Senior Design & Creative Production Lead (Hybrid)

AIC/SAIC UPDATED 10/2024; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, seeks an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead the design function within Marketing and Communications. Translate objectives into creative concepts across print and digital media.

You will manage a team, guide design direction, ensure brand consistency, and coordinate with internal partners and vendors to deliver high‑quality work on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in graphic design, creative direction, or marketing communications.
• Experience leading creative projects from concept through delivery.
• Experience in institutional, higher education, arts, or similar environment preferred.
• Experience developing, managing, and evolving brand guidelines and visual standards.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor designers.
• Strong knowledge of design principles and print/digital execution.
• Experience with Asana and project workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provides senior creative direction for brand, marketing, admissions, advancement, and institutional initiatives.
• Leads the design team’s creative process from concept through completion with quality control.
• Manages and mentors design staff, assigning work and balancing workloads.
• Owns project management and creative operations, timelines, milestones, and budgets.
• Manages design projects in Asana and coordinates with partners and vendors.
• Oversees hands-on design for print and digital campaigns and production.
• Develops and evolves brand guidelines, templates, and identity systems.
• Manages freelancers and external partners to deliver on scope and schedule.
• Implements process improvements and scalable workflows.
• Keeps current with design practices relevant to higher education.

Skills

Creative leadership

Brand guidelines

Project management

Asana

Print production

Mentoring designers

Communication

Design systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design

Tools

Asana

Job description

SAIC, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, seeks an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead the design function within Marketing and Communications. Translate objectives into creative concepts across print and digital media.

You will manage a team, guide design direction, ensure brand consistency, and coordinate with internal partners and vendors to deliver high‑quality work on time and within budget.