Director of Digital and Creative Strategy

University of Pennsylvania

4d•$92,592 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications, the Director of Digital and Creative Strategy at Penn Dental Medicine will serve as a senior-level role that blends creative talent with digital strategy, web architecture, technical implementation, and data-driven communications. Penn Dental Medicine seeks a visionary and technically adept individual who will be responsible for elevating Penn Dental Medicine's visual brand identity across all platforms, publications, practices, and divisions — ensuring a cohesive, compelling, and consistent look and feel that reflects the institution's excellence. This role requires exceptional judgment, strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to manage complex initiatives and functions in a fast-paced academic environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required
Expert proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat) for both print and digital deliverables
Demonstrated experience with web design and technical requirements using Drupal and/or WordPress
Demonstrated technical fluency to work with developers, IT teams, and external technology partners, including working knowledge of HTML, CSS and responsive design principles
Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and inclusive design practices
Experience with Salesforce (Marketing Cloud or equivalent) and/or Slate for digital communications, audience management, and campaign deployment
Proven ability to manage large-scale, multi-channel creative campaigns from strategy through execution
Strong portfolio demonstrating range across print, digital, web, environmental, and brand identity work
Deep understanding of and experience with institutional brand standards and visual identity systems
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; ability to lead creative conversations with senior stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Strategist with flexibility and adaptability with high technical aptitude preferred

Responsibilities

Leads the development, governance, and evolution of Penn Dental Medicine's visual brand, ensuring adherence to the University of Pennsylvania's brand guidelines, while developing a distinct aesthetic for Penn Dental Medicine ensuring a cohesive brand experience across a complex portfolio of audiences and channels.
Establish a clear, consistent visual identity system across all assets produced by and for Penn Dental Medicine.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive brand standards guide specific to Penn Dental Medicine's communications ecosystem.
Lead all creative development for high profile and milestone celebration(s), including branding, environmental, digital and print materials.
Oversee design and art direction for the Penn Dental Medicine Journal, a high-profile print publication produced twice annually.
Lead the digital and visual strategy for Penn Dental Medicine's web properties. Ensure websites and digital platforms support institutional, academic, research, clinical, admissions, advancement, and reputational objectives.
Build, maintain, and optimize web properties using Drupal and WordPress (and other open-source CMS platforms as needed).
Apply strong UI/UX principles to all digital properties to ensure accessibility, usability, and visual consistency.
Partner with IT and web development staff on technical implementation and site governance.
Leverage Salesforce and related marketing cloud tools to support data-driven communications strategies, audience segmentation, and campaign tracking.
Utilize Slate (Technolutions) to support strategic marketing and communications.
Serve as Penn Dental Medicine's lead creative representative in cross-university creative and communications networks.
Collaborate actively with creative directors, designers, and communication leaders across Penn's schools and centers to share best practices and pursue collaborative opportunities.
Manage multiple concurrent design projects from concept through final delivery, maintaining high standards of quality and consistency.
Develop and manage creative briefs, project timelines, and stakeholder review processes.
Use web analytics, audience insights, user behavior, and performance data to evaluate digital experiences and inform ongoing improvements to content, design, navigation and engagement.
Provide and maintain expertise in innovative solutions focused on the responsible stewardship of Penn Dental Medicine and its community experience.