Creative Director - Marketing and Communications

ArtCenter College of Design • Pasadena, CA

9d • $120,000 - $126,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

ArtCenter College of Design is seeking an experienced Creative Director - Marketing and Communications to lead the creative vision, visual identity, and brand expression of the College. This role involves hands-on creative work and strategic leadership for brand and creative initiatives, including the design and execution of marketing and communications materials across various media channels. The Creative Director will establish and evolve creative standards, lead integrated campaign development, and ensure all visual communications align with institutional priorities and ArtCenter's reputation for creativity and excellence. The Marketing and Communications division is responsible for the College's brand, marketing, and communications initiatives, using strategic storytelling and integrated marketing to promote ArtCenter's educational experience and impact. The division works collaboratively across the College to support institutional priorities and engage key audiences, acting as a steward of the ArtCenter brand.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Advertising, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field from an accredited college or institution.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional creative experience, including at least 5 years leading creative projects, campaigns, or teams.
• Demonstrated success in leading creative functions within complex organizations, agencies, nonprofits, or corporate environments.
• Strong portfolio showcasing brand development, integrated marketing campaigns, visual storytelling, and measurable organizational or business impact.
• Demonstrated expertise in concept development, visual design, art direction, and creative execution across multiple channels, including digital, print, social media, video, and environmental design.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and other industry-standard creative tools, with the ability to execute work at a professional level.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration tools.
• Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining brand systems, visual identity standards, and creative governance processes.
• Proven ability to translate organizational goals, audience insights, and marketing objectives into compelling creative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on creative production and project execution.
• Experience managing and directing external agencies, freelancers, photographers, videographers, illustrators, and other creative partners.
• Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decision-making and build consensus across diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex creative initiatives from concept through execution, balancing strategic priorities, operational demands, and resource constraints.
• Experience using research, audience insights, and performance data to inform creative strategy and evaluate effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter's diverse communities.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in a related field from an accredited college or institution.
• Experience in higher education, enrollment marketing, advancement, fundraising, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Experience working in both agency and in-house creative environments.
• Experience leading brand refreshes, major institutional campaigns, or organizational transformation initiatives.
• Working knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for digital and print communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and visual expression of the College’s brand across all marketing and communications initiatives.
• Serve as the College’s lead creative authority and brand steward, establishing, evolving, and governing visual identity standards, design systems, and creative frameworks.
• Develop integrated creative concepts, campaigns, and visual solutions that support enrollment, advancement, fundraising, institutional reputation, and strategic priorities.
• Design and produce creative assets and marketing materials across print, digital, social media, environmental, presentation, and emerging channels as needed.
• Provide creative leadership for ArtCenter website, ensuring web content, user experience (UX) and visual design align with College brand identity and strategic priorities.
• Lead major brand and marketing initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Provide creative direction and quality oversight for all visual communications to ensure consistency, accessibility, and alignment with institutional objectives.
• Collaborate with writers, strategists, photographers, videographers, and campus partners to develop integrated storytelling and audience engagement initiatives.
• Present creative concepts, recommendations, and rationale to leadership and stakeholders.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on brand strategy, creative direction, audience engagement, and market positioning.
• Partner with Marketing, Communications, Enrollment, Advancement, and institutional leaders to align creative efforts with organizational priorities.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects, balancing strategic initiatives, production demands, timelines, and available resources.
• Champion creative processes, workflows, and project management practices that improve efficiency, quality, and stakeholder experience.
• Leverage audience insights, research, and performance data to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen brand engagement through innovative storytelling and creative problem-solving.
• Provide leadership and oversight for assigned staff including hiring, onboarding, guiding performance effectiveness, coaching, and learning and professional development.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and creative leadership to design staff, student workers, freelancers, and external creative partners as applicable.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and production partners, including oversight of scope, budget, and quality.
• Participate in departmental planning, budgeting, hiring, and resource allocation.
• Contribute to divisional initiatives, committees, and special projects as assigned.
• Follow and enforce ArtCenter policies, including safety protocols. Implement policies and procedures as needed to guide effective practices.
• Monitor and stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices across design, branding, marketing, and creative leadership to continually strengthen the College’s creative presence and effectiveness.
• Participate in professional organizations, conferences, and development opportunities as appropriate.
• Serve on College committees, task forces, and special initiatives as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior