Executive Director of Creative Strategy and Brand

Arizona State University•Mesa, AZ

1d•$170,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The executive director of creative and brand strategy works under the direction of the VP and Chief Brand Officer in Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management and focuses on the launch of high-priority, emerging initiatives. In this role, the position must have a strong background in creative and strategy implementation, project management and customer service. The executive director will spend their day directly working with high levels of leadership to listen and understand their vision for the emerging project, counsel and direct the path forward to ensure full alignment with university brand goals set by the executive administration, and directly work on projects to create base communications assets and an initial communications structure to ensure a successful launch of the program. As a member of the #1 ranked most innovative university in the United States, the executive director possesses a “hands-on”, “roll-up-the-sleeves” mentality and thrives in a “do what it takes” culture. The person in this position must be successful with start-up, first-of-their-kind projects. They must enjoy the challenge of juggling multiple priorities while working in a strategic manner. They must embrace the role of being a creative champion who is equally skilled at directly generating great creative and inspiring others to cohesively build a unified brand.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Strong background in creative and strategy implementation, project management and customer service.
Must be successful with start-up, first-of-their-kind projects.
Must enjoy the challenge of juggling multiple priorities while working in a strategic manner.
Must embrace the role of being a creative champion who is equally skilled at directly generating great creative and inspiring others to cohesively build a unified brand.
Ability to effectively work with and service requests of people holding positions of vice president and above.
Evidence of working with senior leadership including deans and vice presidents.
An individual capable of forging productive working relationships with a broad range of personality types and styles with individuals who do not directly report to this position or to the Brand team.
Effectively communicate to perform essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Previous senior director-level experience working as a creative director and strategist for large complex organizations, preferably in higher education or service industries.
Experience in marketing and product development.
Demonstrated strong creative skills in developing key messages and developing engaging presentation materials.
Demonstrated ability to provide inspirational leadership and facilitate multidisciplinary workgroups in order to create a common creative vision to deliver long-term brand goals and immediate business objectives.
Experience with successfully managing multiple high-priority projects simultaneously.
Strong service orientation, a disciplined work ethic and ability to instill a high standard of excellence to the overall team.
Evidence of a “hands-on”, “roll-up-the-sleeves” mentality and “does what it takes” attitude to drive success.
Previous experience supervising full-time employees, contracted agency resources and matrixed workgroups.
Previous experience reporting progress through project plans and reporting status in project management systems.
Previous experience working with established brands and effectively working within established brand standards.
Previous experience advising on earned, owned and paid campaigns.
Ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to the resolution of conflicts.

Responsibilities

Works with the Chief Brand Officer and the Vice President of Media Relations and Strategic Communications on special initiatives and new programs that require the onboarding and development of comprehensive branding, creative and marketing strategies.
Works with leadership teams from enterprise-wide units to align the needs of the initiative or project with guiding the teams on university brand strategy and standards, often working with deans, vice presidents and heads of unit-based marketing and communications units.
Responsible for creating and delivering detailed documented strategies to ensure the effective launch of the project or initiative and focus on goal.
Serve as a key facilitator and campaign manager, orchestrating the activities of multidisciplinary workgroups in order to create a common vision to deliver long-term brand goals and immediate business objectives.
Tracks campaign progress and ensures alignment with enterprise priorities.
Produce and present a variety of reports to senior leadership (deans, vice presidents and executive vice presidents) including strategies, progress reports and concept proposals.