Brandcenter Copywriting Lead, Term Instructor

Virginia Commonwealth University•Richmond, VA

6d•$120,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The VCU Brandcenter, a top-ranked graduate program in advertising, branding, and innovation, is seeking distinguished practitioners to join as a Creative Concentration Lead (Copywriting). This role offers an opportunity to share expertise, creativity, and passion with emerging talent in the industry. The program focuses on transforming students into industry-ready leaders through a blend of big ideas and real-world application. The position involves inspiring and mentoring students, staying current with industry trends, collaborating with faculty, and contributing to a program known for producing award-winning creative talent. The ideal candidate is a creative professional with 7-10 years of industry experience, bridging traditional advertising with social media expertise. They should possess patience, understanding, and the ability to motivate students, teaching creative and strategic thinking translated into well-crafted words. This role also includes strategic leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating instructional programs and curricula, partnering directly with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction. Brandcenter faculty are expected to engage in programmatic activities beyond teaching, such as recruiting, mentoring, attending student events, leading groups, hosting workshops, and participating in curriculum development and department meetings. This leadership role involves managing creative faculty teaching assignments, assessing workload distribution, and strategic class allocation in partnership with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction. The role also includes evaluating creative faculty performance and making recommendations for faculty placement to enhance instructional effectiveness and student success, serving as an advisor to the Executive Director.

Requirements

Master's degree strongly preferred, or bachelor's degree with evidence of sustained exceptional accomplishment in the field.
7-10 years of industry experience in advertising, branding, marketing, innovation, or related fields, specifically with a background in Copywriting in a Creative Director-level role or higher.
Must have current and relevant portfolio work that is award-winning and/or nationally recognized.
Proven record of being able to execute and implement projects and the associated deliverables.
Proven record of creative and strategic excellence, whether in campaigns, product development, design, or storytelling at all stages of a campaign or project (creative strategy, concept development, creative execution, and presentation).
Ability to teach courses in person and engage collaboratively with students and colleagues.
Strong grasp on and experience creating content for a wide range of media and platforms.
Ability to translate real-world experience into actionable insights and lessons.
A collaborative spirit and a desire to contribute to a vibrant academic community, along with a passion for teaching and mentoring future industry leaders.
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Nice To Haves

Proven record of leading and mentoring junior talent.
Experience teaching at the college-level.

Responsibilities

Inspire and mentor students who are pushing boundaries in strategy, creative direction, copywriting, brand management, and more.
Immerse yourself in the energy of cutting-edge ideas and fresh perspectives that will invigorate your own professional work.
Work alongside top-tier faculty who bring a mix of academic rigor and industry experience to the classroom.
Be part of a program known for producing the most awarded creative talent, with graduates leading global campaigns and redefining industries.
Develop and oversee the design of Creative curriculum that meets the Brandcenter's high standards, while regularly evaluating and updating materials and instructional methods to strengthen student learning outcomes.
Ensure the integration of technology and innovative teaching strategies.
Align Creative curriculum with industry needs to prepare students for today's workforce.
Responsible for teaching 3-4 courses per semester to graduate-level students.
Responsible for providing recruitment support, in coordination with the Admissions team, for the Copywriting concentration, including but not limited to interviews, open houses, and campus visits.
Responsible for review and selection of prospective students.
Attend all faculty and department meetings.
Make strategic recommendations and adjustments to teaching assignments based on faculty expertise and student needs, ensuring a balanced distribution of courses across faculty members.
Regularly assess Creative faculty workload to maintain optimal instructional performance to prevent burnout and support effective course delivery.
Provide recommendations on faculty involvement in special projects (e.g., NSAC, Cannes, award submissions), aligning opportunities with expertise and workload capacity.
Conduct thorough performance assessments of Creative faculty in partnership with the Executive Director and support and mentor professors to implement best instructional practices.
Provide evidence-based recommendations for Creative faculty placement to optimize instructional impact.
Facilitate collaboration among educators to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences and lead targeted professional development programs to enhance teaching effectiveness.
Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and Associate Director on curriculum strategy and faculty management.
Foster productive communication and collaboration among faculty members.
Advocate for necessary curriculum adjustments to maintain competitive advantage.
Contribute meaningfully to the Brandcenter's long-term academic planning processes.
Collaborate with the senior leadership team to align academic initiatives with the organization's mission.
Identify opportunities for innovation and growth in academic programming.
Communicate curriculum goals and changes effectively to all relevant parties.
Foster productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and develop strategic partnerships with industry organizations to enhance learning opportunities.
Represent the Brandcenter's academic interests in professional forums and associations.
Will attend Senior Administration meetings as deemed appropriate by the Executive Director.
Participate in special projects or initiatives that align with Brandcenter’s mission and goals. This may include research, committee service, or contributing to new program development.
Assist with other responsibilities as needed to support the success and growth of the program.