Creative Design Manager
About The Position
The Creative Design Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for building and leading a high-performing, distributed creative function that elevates design quality, accelerates delivery, and strengthens brand impact across Keypath Education and its university partners. This role drives the shift from a reactive production model to a proactive, strategic creative capability that includes establishing systems, setting standards, and developing talent. As the organisation’s leading creative authority, you will shape creative strategy, champion innovative work, and deliver standout design outcomes. This is a “player‑coach” role, balancing leadership, capability building, and hands-on involvement in high-impact projects.
Requirements
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Design, Visual Communications, or a related field.
- 7+ years’ experience in design, including at least 3 years in a leadership role managing distributed or embedded teams.
- Proven ability to build and scale design systems, lead creative strategy, and deliver high-quality work across digital, UX, motion, and print.
- Strong track record influencing senior stakeholders and presenting bold, performance-driven creative that delivers measurable business outcomes.
- Experience leading and developing design teams, managing external partners, and operating in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Advanced expertise in Figma and strong knowledge of design principles, UX best practices, and performance-led creative.
- Experience leveraging AI and emerging tools to enhance design efficiency and output, and using data insights to inform creative decisions.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale.
- Flexibility to attend in-person meetings and travel as required.
- Must reside in Australia with full working rights.
Nice To Haves
- Please attach a PDF portfolio showcasing relevant work across digital, UX, and campaign design. Applications without a portfolio may not be considered.
Responsibilities
- Act as the organisation’s leading creative authority, setting and maintaining high design standards, shaping creative strategy, and delivering compelling, student‑centric work across channels.
- Present and champion bold, differentiated creative to university partners.
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Manage resource allocation, capability development, and external support to meet both BAU and strategic priorities.
- Build scalable design systems, frameworks, and workflows that ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency.
- Own design tools and platforms (e.g., Figma) as the single source of truth and drive best-practice briefing, intake, and delivery processes.
- Drive adoption of AI and emerging tools to enhance creative output and efficiency.
- Identify opportunities to automate repeatable tasks and continuously introduce new ideas, trends, and formats to elevate creative performance.
- Partner closely with marketing teams and university stakeholders to deliver high-impact creative outcomes.
- Balance squad delivery with design standards, improve brief quality, and champion integrated, insight-led creative from concept to execution.
Benefits
- Opportunity to work in office, hybrid or remotely
- All the necessary equipment for success.
- Internet Allowance for remote work.
- Paid Mental Health days for your well-being.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program
- Employee led programs such as Culture Club and RAP
- Company events and activities run in office and remotely
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
