Creative Director

Position Information

Classification Title Assoc/Asst Director, Subdivision/Unit AD FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graphic Design degree from an accredited college or university and at least 5 years of previous graphic design experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience

• At least 3 years' experience developing brand strategy and working within brand guidelines

• At least 3 years' experience supervising and coaching staff

• Attention to detail a must

• At least one year of experience working with print and promotional item vendors

• At least 3 years professional experience using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop

• Comfortable receiving feedback and staying solution-focused

• Experience with building motion graphics in After Affects a plus

• Experience with video editing in Premiere Pro a plus

• Knowledge of CSS, JavaScript, or other web programming a plus

Position Summary

This position is the driving creative force behind the Division of Development & Alumni Relations Communications team (DARCOMM). This employee leads a sub-team within the DARCOMM department within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) and reports to the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications.

This position guides creative strategy and development for all major initiatives for DAR and provides art direction for major division programs and priorities while also coaching a team of designers to do the same. This position is responsible for managing all design resources, including both staff and freelance designers. The employee develops and manages an efficient process that both ensures colleagues get their design projects completed in a timely manner.

The position provides style guides for all related projects, enabling great efficiency in the work and making the work more streamlined and effective.

This position ensures all DAR's work complies with the visual identity and branding of the University of Georgia as well was the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. The employee develops word marks that accompany the UGA logo to identify and brand specific units within Development & Alumni Relations for specific programs and events. This includes working with the Creative Design Specialists to set rules for the usage of these branding elements to ensure a consistent look and feel. In addition, this position helps brainstorm new communication strategies and tactics to make the work of DAR more effective.

This position is critical to help the division of Development & Alumni Relations create and implement a consistent, branded communication plan. This helps to ensure that alumni and donors recognize UGA communication instantly, and it makes our communication more effective.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Effective supervisory skills

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment

• Must manage time and adhere to deadlines

• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups

• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)

• Organizational skills and ability to multitask

• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service

• Must have expert-level experience in creative design and strategy including branding, color theory, and typography

• Knowledge of the design/printing process; experience working with print shops

• Must be thoroughly fluent with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop

• Must have experience with video production and editing

• Experience with image/photo editing and retouching required

• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia

• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct

• Knowledge of current industry trends and best practices

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.

• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Work in a standard office environment

• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time

• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence

• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening

• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task

• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds

• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

• Work evenings and weekends, as necessary

• Travel in and out of state, as necessary

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Is this a Position of Trust? No Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) No Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities

Provide leadership to the Creative Design team that develops all visual assets - including print material and digital graphics - for all departments within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR).

• Manage and supervise employees reporting directly to this position to ensure everyone is meeting all his/her goals, objectives, and project timelines.

• Evaluate performance of each employee reporting to this position annually.

• Lead other designers in producing artwork for high-profile projects and delegate tasks, as necessary.

• Develop performance initiatives and expectations for employees reporting to this position. Mentor and evaluate his/her performance annually.

• Actively participate in planning - and encourage team members to engage - with units and identify creative solutions that can help the division and specific units reach their goals.

• Help prioritize creative projects to ensure (1) focus remains on the most strategically important projects and (2) expectations are set and clear for the units.

• Ensure Development & Alumni Relations Communications (DARCOMM) is consistently putting forth an excellent creative product that is both high-quality and accurate.

• Lead assigned high-profile projects as appropriate (depending on staffing and needs).

• Troubleshoot design challenges with team members as they arise.

• Work through staffing or process problems as they arise.

• Actively seek ways to improve design department processes.

• Identify creative resource for upcoming design projects (team member, freelance, etc.).

Percentage of time 50 Duties/Responsibilities

Develop creative style guides for appropriate DAR units, programs and initiatives and provide art direction for the division.

• Lead team in creation of appropriate branding for DAR units and programs as appropriate.

• Direct artwork strategy for the division in collaboration with the creative team, communication team, digital team.

• Lead design efforts for division-wide projects from concept to final execution within deadlines.

• Develop style guide - including goals, copy and visuals - for 2+ initiatives per year.

• Distribute style guides to DARCOMM team and beyond; encourage and guide compliance with usage.

• Understand marketing initiatives, strategic positioning, and target audience.

• Work with other members of DARCOMM to evaluate campaign needs, develop project strategies, and create visual elements for campaigns.

• Produce sketches, mood boards, roughs to visualize ideas.

• Generate clear ideas and concepts in tandem with the copywriters and digital specialists.

• Contribute to and in certain projects lead content ideation and development.

• Work with Multimedia Specialist to request and guide photography based on needs of graphic designers.

• Work with DARCOMM team to provide updates, receive feedback, and present final ideas.

• Deliver design assets within established budgets and timelines.

• Stay on top of all trends and maintain best practices.

• Manage division design assets including, logos, typefaces, templates, samples, photography needs and other resources.

• Manage visual identity of assigned units in alignment with university guidelines.

• Manage and steward relationship with print vendors.

• Ensure final designs are up to standards through testing, proofing, and press checks.

Percentage of time 35 Duties/Responsibilities

Manage DAR's compliance with UGA brand usage.

• Set clear expectations for brand usage within DAR; interpret and translate the UGA brand for the alumni and donor audience, including:

• Logos and visual assets.

• Brand story.

• Address questions and gray areas about UGA and DAR brand issues as they arise; as appropriate, lead team projects to develop formal DARCOMM recommendation.

• Manage DAR logo needs along with appropriate usage for DAR materials.

• Ensure DARCOMM colleagues and division are knowledgeable about the UGA brand and DAR's use of it.

Percentage of time 15

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact

Contact Details

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name Development & Alumni Relations' Office of Talent Management Recruitment Contact Email dartalent@uga.edu Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• How did you hear about this vacant position?

• African American Development Officers (AADO)

• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

• Annual Giving Network

• CASE

• Chronicle of Higher Education

• Chronicle of Philanthropy

• Current UGA Employee

• Diverse Jobs

• Handshake

• HigherEdJobs

• Insight Into Diversity

• LinkedIn

• Talent Management Newsletter

• UGAJobs (UGA's job board)

• Other (please provide)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact University HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.