Senior Director for Creative Services

College Sports Communicators; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Illinois System seeks Senior Director for creative Services to lead storytelling and multimedia production for UIC Athletics. Oversees video, digital content, and social media strategies while managing staff, budgets, and tech resources.

Drives brand visibility and student-athlete success across 18 programs. The role collaborates with External Operations to advance strategic goals, requiring strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a passion for innovative content

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, design or related fields.
• Two (2) years of demonstrated success in applicable field.
• Demonstrated professionalism acumen in multimedia and graphic design disciplines, with particular focus on motion graphics and in-venue video board content.
• Command of digital technology, software and programs (including After Effects, ProPresenter, Display Studio, and Adobe Creative Suite).
• Demonstrated high levels of creativity and the ability to take initiative, work independently, and attend to multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational, management, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing full-time, part-time, and/or student staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership for the Athletics creative content unit, overseeing daily operations and long-term strategic initiatives that elevate the UIC Athletics brand.
• Direct and supervise a multidisciplinary team consisting of full-time staff, student employees, interns and freelancers, and contracted creative professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing culture through regular team meetings, project planning sessions and professional development opportunities.
• Manage a substantial operating budget, making strategic decisions regarding technology investments, equipment procurement, software licensing and resource allocation to maximize efficiency and creative output in collaboration with UIC Strategic Marketing and Communications.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive creative content strategies designed to enhance brand visibility, fan engagement, recruiting efforts, revenue generation and institutional storytelling.
• Conceptualize, produce and oversee the creation of high-impact video, motion graphics, animation and multimedia content across all digital, broadcast, and in-venue platforms.
• Develop year-round digital and social media content strategies that support team recruiting, fan engagement, fundraising, ticket sales, and competitive success.
• Oversee all aspects of creative video production, including pre-productional planning, filming, editing, motion graphics, animation, and post-production workflows.
• Sever as key member of the External Operations team, collaborating with communications, marketing, ticketing, development and athletics administration to advance departmental objectives.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with coaches, student-athletes, campus partners, alumni, donors, media representatives and community stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate project timelines, expectations, and deliverables while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic collegiate athletics environment, including availability for evenings, weekends, and travel as required.
• Ensure strict adherence to all NCAA, Conference, University and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Represent UIC Athletics and the University with professionalism, integrity, inclusiveness, and ethical conduct at all times
• Support a holistic commitment to student-athlete success, competitive excellence and supportive and uplifting culture within UIC Athletics.

Skills

Video production

Graphic design

Motion graphics

Adobe Creative Suite

After Effects

ProPresenter

Display Studio

HTML coding

Team leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or design

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

The Senior Director for creative Services will be the strategic leader for creative storytelling and multimedia production within UIC Athletics. This position oversees all aspects of video production, creative services, digital content strategy, and social media storytelling while managing personnel, budgets and technology resources. This role plays a critical role in enhancing the visibility and reputation of UIC Athletics through innovative content creation that support recruiting, fan engagement, brand development and student-athlete success. This position serves as the primary creative lead for the department’s 18 varsity athletics programs while collaborating extensively across the External Operations unit to advance strategic goals of UIC Athletics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership for the Athletics creative content unit, overseeing daily operations and long-term strategic initiatives that elevate the UIC Athletics brand.
• Direct and supervise a multidisciplinary team consisting of full-time staff, student employees, interns and freelancers, and contracted creative professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing culture through regular team meetings, project planning sessions and professional development opportunities.
• Manage a substantial operating budget, making strategic decisions regarding technology investments, equipment procurement, software licensing and resource allocation to maximize efficiency and creative output in collaboration with UIC Strategic Marketing and Communications.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive creative content strategies designed to enhance brand visibility, fan engagement, recruiting efforts, revenue generation and institutional storytelling.
• Conceptualize, produce and oversee the creation of high-impact video, motion graphics, animation and multimedia content across all digital, broadcast, and in-venue platforms.
• Develop year-round digital and social media content strategies that support team recruiting, fan engagement, fundraising, ticket sales, and competitive success.
• Oversee all aspects of creative video production, including pre-productional planning, filming, editing, motion graphics, animation, and post-production workflows.
• Sever as key member of the External Operations team, collaborating with communications, marketing, ticketing, development and athletics administration to advance departmental objectives.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with coaches, student-athletes, campus partners, alumni, donors, media representatives and community stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate project timelines, expectations, and deliverables while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic collegiate athletics environment, including availability for evenings, weekends, and travel as required.
• Ensure strict adherence to all NCAA, Conference, University and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Represent UIC Athletics and the University with professionalism, integrity, inclusiveness, and ethical conduct at all times
• Support a holistic commitment to student-athlete success, competitive excellence and supportive and uplifting culture within UIC Athletics.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, design or related fields.
• Two (2) years of demonstrated success in applicable field.
• Demonstrated professionalism acumen in multimedia and graphic design disciplines, with particular docus on motion graphics and in-venue video board content.
• Command of digital technology, software and programs (including After Effects, ProPresenter, Display Studio, and Adobe Creative Suite), design standards and principles.
• Demonstrated high levels of creativity and the ability to take initiative, work independently, and attend to multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational, management, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing full-time, part-time, and/or student staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in college or professional athletics environment.
• Expertise in advance audio mixing and video/still photo camera maintenance.
• HTML coding ability and knowledge of website maintenance (familiarity with SIDEARMS Sport and StatBroadcast platform helpful).
• Understanding of lightning and techniques for specialty photoshoots.
• Background in managing live event production.
• Video and audio equipment troubleshooting skills.
• Drone flying experience (with relevant certification).

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation