Creative Services Manager

LIVING DESERT DBA THE LIVING DESERT•Palm Desert, CA

1h•Onsite

About The Position

The Living Desert seeks an exceptional Creative Services Manager/Editor to lead our internal creative team as both storyteller and creative director. This unique role combines editorial excellence with strong visual creative judgment, requiring someone who can craft compelling narratives while guiding the visual expression of our brand across all touchpoints. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, you will manage a four-person creative team including a graphic designer, visual content specialist (photographer/videographer), and project coordinator. You'll be responsible for developing long-form content, maintaining brand standards (both written and visual), and ensuring every piece of communication reflects our passion for conservation while creating transformative visitor experiences. The ideal candidate brings both the writing expertise to develop, review layouts, and guide the team's overall creative output. You should be equally comfortable editing an annual report as providing creative direction on an exhibition graphic or reviewing photo compositions for a marketing campaign.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Design, or related field
7-10 years of progressive experience in creative leadership roles combining writing/editing with creative direction
Exceptional writing and editing skills across multiple formats and audiences
Strong visual creative judgment with ability to art direct, review layouts, and provide constructive design feedback
Proven ability to lead creative teams and provide direction that elevates their work
Experience developing and maintaining both copy style guides and visual brand standards
Strong project management skills with ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated budget management experience
Portfolio demonstrating both exceptional writing samples and evidence of creative direction/visual judgment
Digital asset management systems (Air or similar DAM platforms)
Project management software (Monday.com or similar)
Email marketing platforms (Brevo or similar ESP)
Content management systems (WordPress)
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
Comfortable reviewing and providing feedback on design files (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator PDFs)
Must hold valid California Driver License and be insurable on The Living Desert’s auto policy.

Nice To Haves

Experience in nonprofit organizations, conservation, museums, or AZA-accredited institutions
Background in environmental science, natural history, or conservation
Experience with scientific or technical writing for general audiences
Art direction or design background/training
Understanding of SEO and digital content best practices
Experience leading integrated creative teams (writers, designers, photographers)
Basic design software knowledge for mockups or concept development
Photography fundamentals and composition principles
Video editing and production workflows

Responsibilities

Develop compelling long- and short-form content for annual reports, FoxPaws member magazine, annual fundraising campaigns, membership materials, donor materials, website, and exhibit signage
Craft messaging that balances conservation storytelling with visitor engagement to drive attendance
Translate complex conservation science into accessible, inspiring narratives for diverse audiences
Own, evolve, and implement The Living Desert's copy style guide to establish a distinctive written voice
Manage Graphic Designer to maintain cohesive visual brand standards
Ensure consistency of voice, tone, messaging, and visual aesthetic across all organizational communications
Proofread and edit all marketing materials to maintain brand standards and editorial excellence
Define and execute publication content that authentically reflect our mission and values
Review all creative work (internal and external) for both editorial and visual quality
Review and approve layouts, designs, and visual treatments to ensure brand consistency and creative excellence
Guide photography and videography direction to achieve desired aesthetic and storytelling goals
Collaborate with Graphic Designer on publication layouts, ensuring visual hierarchy supports written content
Manage Visual Content Specialist, providing direction on composition, image selection, and visual storytelling approach
Ensure visual and written brand elements work together harmoniously across all touchpoints
Oversee management of the organization's content asset management system (currently Air)
Maintain organized digital libraries of written and visual content, ensuring accessibility and version control
Develop workflows and systems for efficient content creation, creative review, approval, and distribution
Lead and mentor a four-person creative team: graphic designer, visual content specialist, and project coordinator
Foster a collaborative, creative environment that produces outstanding work across both editorial and visual disciplines
Provide creative direction and constructive feedback that elevates team members' work
Conduct performance reviews and support professional development
Coordinate cross-functional projects ensuring quality, consistency, and on-time delivery
Balance hands-on execution with strategic creative leadership
Develop and manage budgets for creative services including printing, freelance designers, photographers and writers, and video production services
Source and manage relationships with external creative vendors
Ensure cost-effective delivery of all creative projects
Review vendor creative work for quality and brand alignment
Utilize Monday.com to track projects, deadlines, and team workflows
Prioritize competing demands and manage multiple projects simultaneously
Collaborate with marketing team members and other departments to meet organizational objectives
Lead creative review meetings and facilitate productive feedback sessions
Lead development of FoxPaws member magazine (editorial content and art direction)
Oversee production annual report (writing, design direction, and production)
Manage publication timelines and stakeholder reviews