Design Lead

Harvard University • Boston, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Design Lead oversees the creative and visual representation of Harvard Medical School (HMS) by leading and executing high-quality design projects that align with identity guidelines and institutional goals. Based in the Office of Communications and External Relations (OCER), this is the sole in-house design resource and manages, creates, and delivers visual materials across digital and print platforms, collaborating closely with editors, content producers, the identity and policy manager, and other key stakeholders to maintain HMS’ visual/graphic identity and enhance its brand presence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design experience, including demonstrated experience creating digital and print materials.
• Experience in an academic/higher ed, health care, or non-profit setting preferred.
• Creative thinker with a sharp attention to detail and ability to confidently communicate and present ideas.
• Demonstrated ability to create and enforce visual brand standards across various platforms and media, with a strong attention to detail to ensure consistency and accuracy in all deliverables.
• Takes initiative as a self-starter, capable of identifying opportunities, solving problems independently, and taking ownership of projects from concept to completion.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining composure, and demonstrating professionalism in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to conceptualize and execute a project from sketch to finished piece.
• Solid understanding of web interface and user experience design.
• Strong collaboration, written and verbal communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Advanced skills in current design and motion graphics software, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects), Keynote, MS Office.
• Familiarity with content management systems (e.g. Drupal or WordPress) for maintaining and updating web content.
• Experience with email marketing tools (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Acoustic, Litmus) to create, manage, and optimize email templates.
• Experience designing visual content for social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, etc.)
• Strong understanding of printing processes, layout composition, color-matching systems, photography, lighting, and typography.
• Experience creating illustrations, animations, and motion graphics extremely helpful.
• Experience working with collaborative applications, like digital asset management systems and project management tools.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with illustration, animation, and motion graphics helpful.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of high-quality visual designs for all online content, including online magazine issues, news stories, and the HMS flagship website.
• Direct the research, sourcing, creation, and selection of photos, illustrations, motion graphics, video clips, and other artwork to enhance the understanding of scientific research content.
• Manage and oversee photo shoots with professional freelance photographers, ensuring high-quality visuals for OCER’s digital and print assets. Maintain copyright and usage permissions.
• Collaborate with editors and content producers to ensure visual assets are accurate and engaging.
• Design high-profile webpages for the flagship website, Harvard Medicine News, and Harvard Medicine magazine, ensuring alignment with institutional branding.
• Create, update, and maintain templates for Salesforce Marketing Cloud emails, presentations, stationery, and other branded materials, ensuring consistent design quality and adherence to graphic identity standards.
• Manage the design and production of printed materials, ensuring they meet quality standards and adhere to branding guidelines.
• Oversee and manage HMS’ visual identity, including overseeing and protecting logo guidelines, ensuring all design outputs maintain brand consistency across channels, and updating and scaling identity and style guidelines as the organization grows.
• Design logos, signage, and other institutional materials for social channels, departments, units, and key events, ensuring consistency with HMS brand guidelines while coordinating with OCER’s Institutional Identity & Policy Manager to review and support incoming design requests.
• Supervise website content for the School’s identity guide, ensuring accurate and up-to-date resources for branding and visual standards.
• Manage the HMS design email inbox by providing design expertise and addressing inquiries from community members in collaboration with the Sr Director of Digital & Creative and Institutional Identity & Policy Manager.
• Provide feedback to internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure proper rendering and usage of the HMS logo on promotional materials.
• Create materials for high-profile events, including the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize Symposium, HMS State of the School address, Dunham Lecture, Class Day/graduation, Match Day, and White Coat ceremonies.
• Create and manage digital promotional shoutout designs to help publicize HMS’ revenue-generating initiatives in newsletters and news stories.
• Assist with and support Digital Access Management System (DAMS) software and workflows.
• Lead the conceptualization and design of the annual Dean’s digital holiday card. Experience with illustration, animation, and motion graphics helpful.
• Conceptualize, design, art direct, and oversee all graphics and publications supporting dean’s communications, including the Strategic Plan.
• Manage and maintain visuals and playlists for HMS digital displays across campus, ensuring they align with School-wide objectives and identity standards.
• Collaborate with various departments to curate, schedule, and update content for displays as requested.
• Coordinate with HMS IT’s media services to ensure screens are functional.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

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