Senior Director, Creative - University Communications & Marketing

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical

Dental

Vision insurance

Tuition benefits

Paid time off

Life insurance

Transit pass

Family Concierge

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University is seeking a Senior Director, Creative to lead Creative Services and Design Teams and evolve CMU’s brand across publications, websites, videos and digital assets.

The role requires strong leadership, design thinking, and a multi-channel portfolio, with experience guiding large teams and collaborating with campus partners to meet marketing objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience leading Creative Teams or equivalent.
• Experience managing and inspiring a design organization.
• Strong experience with graphic design and branding; expert in Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across the department, division, executive leadership and other campus constituents on a regular basis.
• Evolve the strategic vision of the brand.
• Define design/image criteria of the university's official identity system while designing publications, websites, videos and other creative elements.
• Drive innovation in creative execution, user experience, marketing tactics, workflows and organization.

Skills

Brand design

Design thinking

Creative leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Multi-channel design

Strong communication

Adobe tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Attention Candidates: Portfolios are highly encouraged to be submitted along with your resume/application.

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that challenges the curious and passionate to deliver work that matters. Our world‑class institution has distinctive areas of excellence and culture marked by passion, ambition and a deep, practical engagement with challenges facing society.

University Communications and Marketing is seeking a Senior Director, Creative to lead our Creative Services and Design Teams. We are seeking someone with strong artistic talents that has experience with large‑scale brand design, embraces design thinking, and has experience leading a team of creative professionals. This role plays a major part in helping to evolve Carnegie Mellon's brand as our university continues to further blossom into a world‑class academic and research institution.

Core responsibilities

• Collaborate across the department, division, executive leadership and other campus constituents on a regular basis.
• Evolve the strategic vision of the brand.
• Define design/image criteria of the university's official identity system while designing publications, websites, videos and other creative elements.
• Drive innovation in all aspects of the job: creative execution, user experience, marketing tactics, workflows and organizational structure.
• Ensures that the integrity of the brand is present across all facets of the user experience.
• Provide leadership, creative direction and inspiration to the CMU creative services and design teams.
• Push creativity and explore new ways to craft unique solutions that reflect and evolve the CMU brand.
• Stay current with the competitive landscape, emerging trends and metrics to inform work.
• Work with campus units on strategies, solutions and executions to meet their marketing objectives.

Qualities you should demonstrate

• Strong conceptual and design thinking (campaigns that build brands)
• Ideas-led multi-channel portfolio of work (graphic design, environmental and event graphics, print collateral, digital advertising, video storytelling / campaigns, social media design / video assets)
• Proven Leadership acumen
• Demonstrated relationship-building ability
• Excellent oral and written communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master's degree preferred
• At least 10 years' work experience leading Creative Teams
• Experience managing and leading others
• Experience with graphic design and branding.
• Strong experience with the Adobe Creative Suite.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered

Requirements

• Successful pre-employment background check

Additional Information

• Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Carnegie Mellon is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Carnegie Mellon.
• Work Posture: This position is operating on a hybrid schedule, with an on-campus/in-office presence of four days a week.

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits

• comprehensive medical
• prescription
• dental
• vision insurance
• generous retirement savings program with employer contributions
• tuition benefits
• ample paid time off and observed holidays
• life and accidental death and disability insurance
• free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass
• access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs
• fitness center access

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

If your heart is in your work, come work with us.

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

We are committed to providing an accessible experience throughout our recruitment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application, interview, or hiring process, please contact Equal Opportunity Services by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 412-268-5072.

Prospective Employee Disclosures

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function Communications Position Type Staff – Regular Full Time/Part time Full time Pay Basis Salary More Information: Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.

Learn more about Student Employment. Please see Faculty Careers.

For technical assistance, email HR Services or call 412-268-4600.