Director of Graphic Design

Rice University•United States,

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Graphic Design leads the graphic design function for Rice University Athletics and establishes and maintains the department’s visual identity across external-facing platforms. The role provides creative direction and oversight for design across Rice Athletics, the Owl Club, and other external initiatives, while producing high-level creative work for priority campaigns and projects. It oversees creative assets for digital, social, print, environmental, recruiting, and in-venue platforms, ensuring consistent application of Rice Athletics brand standards across sport programs and external departments. The position also leads photography coverage for athletic events, games, departmental initiatives, and special events. In collaboration with Creative Services, Communications, Marketing, Development, Ticketing, and sport programs, the Director establishes visual standards, manages creative workflows, and helps shape the overall visual direction of the Rice Athletics brand. This is an exclusively on-site role on campus that requires regular travel and work on nights, weekends, and holidays based on team schedules. The position is exempt (salaried) and is not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Three or more years of relevant professional experience in graphic design, creative services, sports creative, marketing, or a related field.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining visual identities and brand systems.
Strong knowledge of typography, layout, color theory, photography, and print and digital production.
Demonstrated ability to provide creative direction and lead multiple projects from concept through execution.
Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize creative resources in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge of photography equipment, editing, workflows, and asset management.

Nice To Haves

Experience within collegiate or professional athletics.
Experience leading graphic design or creative direction for a sports organization or brand.
Experience photographing live sporting events.
Experience managing or mentoring designers, photographers, interns, freelancers, or other creative personnel.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the graphic design function for Rice University Athletics, establishing visual direction and standards for Athletics, the Owl Club, and other external-facing initiatives.
Develop and execute high-level creative concepts for department-wide brand campaigns, marketing initiatives, postseason campaigns, recruiting efforts, special events, and other priority projects.
Provide creative direction and oversight for graphic design across Rice Athletics, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with departmental and university brand standards.
Create high-level visual content for social media, digital platforms, recruiting, print materials, presentations, environmental graphics, signage, video boards, ribbon boards, and other departmental platforms.
Establish and maintain graphic design systems, templates, standards, and workflows that promote a consistent visual identity across Rice Athletics.
Collaborate with Creative Services, Communications, Marketing, Development, Ticketing, and sport programs to develop creative strategies and visual solutions supporting departmental priorities.
Manage graphic design workflows by prioritizing requests, coordinating projects, establishing timelines, and ensuring successful project delivery.
Lead photography strategy and coverage for designated games, events, practices, recruiting initiatives, and special events.
Photograph designated athletic events and departmental initiatives, and oversee editing, organization, distribution, and archiving of photography assets.
Coordinate and provide creative direction to freelance photographers, student photographers, student designers, interns, and other creative contributors as needed.
Advise coaches and staff on visual branding, graphic design, photography, and creative best practices.
Identify opportunities to evolve the Rice Athletics visual identity and introduce innovative creative approaches while maintaining established brand standards.
Stay current on trends and best practices in sports design, photography, branding, social media, and visual storytelling.
Mentor and develop student interns and other creative personnel.
Perform additional related duties as assigned.