Creative Art Director, Marketing & Communications

KIPP•New York, NY

4d•$115,360 - $144,200•Hybrid

About The Position

As KIPP NYC celebrates 30 years of impact, the organization is increasing its focus on storytelling, brand strategy, and community engagement to solidify its position as a premier educational institution serving students and families across New York City. The Creative Art Director is a vital leader within KIPP NYC’s Marketing and Communications team, tasked with shaping and enhancing the KIPP NYC brand's visual identity across all platforms and audiences. This position demands a highly creative, strategic, and systems-minded leader capable of transforming ambitious campaign concepts into impactful creative assets for digital, print, social media, video, and experiential channels. The Creative Art Director will be instrumental in bolstering KIPP NYC’s presence in a competitive educational market through emotionally resonant, New York City-centric storytelling that authentically connects with families, students, staff, and community members. Reporting to the Managing Director of Marketing & Communications, this individual will direct the creative execution of regional marketing campaigns, manage external creative and media agency relationships, and ensure all visual storytelling accurately reflects the dynamism, excellence, and cultural richness of KIPP NYC schools and communities. This is a full-time role with a hybrid work arrangement, requiring at least three days per week in person at our KIPP NYC Midtown Manhattan office. The role also involves travel to KIPP NYC campuses throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, with the frequency determined by the leadership team.

Requirements

5–7 years of experience in art direction, creative leadership, or brand design roles
Experience working within a creative agency, mission-driven organization, consumer-facing brand, or high-growth environment
Proven experience managing creative campaigns from concept through execution across multiple platforms
Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality visual storytelling, campaign execution, and creative leadership
Deep understanding of social-first creative, digital marketing trends, and audience engagement strategies
Experience developing creative for NYC-based campaigns, including hyperlocal and multicultural audiences
Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Experience collaborating with photographers, videographers, editors, and production teams
Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Deep commitment to KIPP NYC’s mission and belief in educational equity and opportunity
Passion for celebrating and amplifying the brilliance of students, families, educators, and communities
Demonstrates KIPP NYC’s core values: zest, grit, hope, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor
Thrives in a collaborative, feedback-driven, and mission-oriented environment

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred
Experience creating culturally responsive or multilingual campaigns preferred
Knowledge of education, nonprofit, or community-centered organizations is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the evolution and execution of a unified, premium KIPP NYC visual identity across all marketing and communications materials
Develop and maintain brand guidelines that balance regional consistency with school-level authenticity and flexibility
Ensure all creative work reflects KIPP NYC’s mission, values, and commitment to educational equity
Serve as the internal creative lead and primary point of contact for external creative and media agency partners
Provide strategic creative direction and actionable feedback to ensure agency deliverables align with KIPP NYC brand standards and organizational goals
Lead creative development for student recruitment, staff recruitment, enrollment, fundraising, and regional awareness campaigns
Oversee the creation of high-impact, multi-channel marketing assets, including social media campaigns, video storytelling, out-of-home (OOH) advertising, transit campaigns, digital advertising, print collateral, and event branding and experiential materials
Ensure creative assets are optimized for platform performance, audience engagement, and brand consistency
Design scalable “grassroots” templates and tools that support school-based outreach and recruitment efforts
Partner with school communities and regional teams to identify and elevate authentic stories that highlight the excellence, joy, and diversity of KIPP NYC students, families, alumni, and staff
Translate organizational priorities and campaign goals into compelling visual narratives and creative concepts
Oversee photography, video, and creative production efforts to ensure high-quality execution across campaigns
Manage and organize the regional creative asset library to maximize accessibility and effective use of brand materials
Ensure all creative work demonstrates deep cultural responsiveness and reflects the lived experiences of NYC communities
Collaborate with agency and internal partners to develop Spanish-language and multilingual creative that is culturally nuanced and community-centered
Bring a strong understanding of NYC neighborhoods, culture, and audiences to all campaigns and storytelling efforts
Partner closely with Recruitment, Talent, Development, Academics, School Leadership, and Regional teams to support organizational priorities through creative strategy
Manage timelines, workflows, approvals, and creative project execution across multiple stakeholders
Support creative direction and branding for high-profile regional events, campaigns, and internal communications
Contribute to the continuous improvement of marketing systems, processes, and creative operations