Creative Director

Asian Art Museum • San Francisco, CA

16h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Creative Director leads the visual and conceptual direction of the museum’s branding, marketing campaigns, and products, integrating design with the museum’s mission, vision, and audience engagement strategies. This critical role also serves as the primary branding designer, providing strategic creative direction and overseeing the production of print and electronic materials such as advertising campaigns, fundraising, membership, and marketing collateral, and educational materials. The successful candidate will ensure that all materials adhere to the museum’s brand guidelines; reflect high standards of creativity; and support the museum’s artistic vision and business goals. The position regularly engages with team members, vendors, visitors, volunteers, members, and colleagues in a personable and respectful manner.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in graphic design, user interface design, or advertising in an agency or in-house environment, with two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• A combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Must have previous experience in managing a brand’s visual identity, as well as producing marketing and communications assets.
• Must have previous experience concepting and art-directing photo and video shoots and arranging for necessary design assets (e.g. custom illustrations); should be able to balance design and typography with copy and understand the importance of messaging hierarchy.
• Advanced level design skills with the ability to conceptualize creative solutions that solve project objectives.
• Strong understanding of design principles, techniques, and technologies; a strong visual sense and solid understanding of the creative processes involved in creating high quality online and offline materials.
• Ability to understand and internalize a brand and translate it into materials; develop creative approaches and partnerships; optimize projects to budgets, constraints, and resources; see the big picture while paying impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent project management, organizational, task prioritization, time management, meeting facilitation, decision making, and analytical skills; strong problem solving, relationship building, and client management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask within a deadline-driven environment.
• Outstanding written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to provide art direction for digital brand materials, including ads, and trailers.
• Knowledge of current graphic design, photo editing, and video editing software.
• Motivation to learn new design tools and technologies as they become available.
• Proven track record with leading and managing a department or team, mentoring team members, setting priorities for team members, directing workflow, and evaluating the work of others.
• Experience working with outside vendors such as design agencies, copywriters, illustrators, photographers, and designers; including demonstrated understanding of processes and skills to be supervised.
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented team player with the presence to inspire and coalesce varying points of view, sound judgment, a positive attitude, and the ability to respond well to critical feedback.
• Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences and communicating with culturally diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with museum team members across all department levels and establish and maintain effective relationships with external contacts including designers, photographers, printers, and vendors.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as necessary.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Asian art and culture is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the chief steward of the museum’s brand and directs branding, marketing campaigns, and product design.
• Collaborates with management and the executive team to provide input into the overall creative direction of the museum’s brand.
• Conceives, designs, and produces a wide range of impactful visuals and effective campaigns across platforms.
• Regularly conducts cross-departmental audits to ensure brand guidelines are being met and develop templates to facilitate adherence from various stakeholders.
• Works with internal partners from other departments to understand project requirements, audience objectives, and deadlines to create materials that balance information with brand guidelines and media constraints.
• Proactively seeks opportunities to propose new projects that align with institutional priorities.
• Establishes and maintains standards of creative excellence and timeliness, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve goals.
• Leads and manages the team and workflow of the Creative Department.
• Supervises the writing, editing, and accuracy of copy.
• Establishes and nurtures strong working relationships with museum team members, colleagues from other institutions, consultants, and vendors.
• Performs other related duties as needed.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off (holidays, vacation, and sick leave)
• Immediate eligibility to enroll in a voluntary retirement savings program upon hire
• Group Retirement Plan available after 1 year of employment with employer match
• Hybrid schedule for eligible positions

What This Job Offers

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