Manager, Art Direction

Emerson College•Boston, MA

5d•$104,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Manager, Art Direction provides creative leadership and hands-on execution across Emerson College’s brand, marketing, and storytelling initiatives, including print, digital, web, photography, and video. Reporting to the Creative Director, the Manager partners on flagship efforts such as enrollment marketing campaigns and major brand initiatives, shaping and evolving Emerson’s visual identity through concept development, campaign creation, and photo and video direction. The role also mentors designers, freelancers, student employees, and external partners to support consistency and excellence across visual communications. Working within the Office of Marketing and Communications, the Manager leads assigned creative projects from concept through production, contributes to the College’s digital presence, and designs and produces communications across a range of channels. The position collaborates with internal stakeholders and creative partners, and manages multiple projects and workstreams in a fast-paced environment while balancing deadlines, priorities, and production needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, art direction, visual communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least seven years of professional experience in graphic design, art direction, brand development, or integrated creative work.
Experience in an art direction or senior creative role leading projects and guiding the work of designers and creative partners.
Experience art directing photography and video productions, including concept development, storyboarding, shot planning, and on-set creative direction.
Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in graphic design, art direction, branding, campaign development, digital and web design, and visual storytelling across multiple media.
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and CapCut.
Strong portfolio demonstrating marketing writing, campaign work, brand storytelling, and social content.
Exceptional copywriting, editing, storytelling, and content-planning skills.
Strong understanding of marketing campaigns, audience segmentation, channel strategy, and the enrollment or customer journey.
Strong understanding of the social media landscape, platform trends, and audience behaviors.
Ability to develop compelling messaging and adapt content across channels and audiences.
Strong organizational, project coordination, and time-management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across teams and departments.
Commitment to accuracy, organization, and high-quality work.
Interest in higher education enrollment strategy, student engagement, and marketing communications.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing for web and digital experiences and collaborating with UX, development, or digital teams.
Experience working in higher education, arts and culture, media, an agency, or another complex, mission-driven organization.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute integrated visual communications that advance institutional priorities and engage audiences across channels.
Partner with the Creative Director to translate creative strategy, branding, marketing objectives, and institutional priorities into visual concepts, campaigns, and experiences.
Lead the day-to-day creative development and execution of assigned projects and campaigns from concept through production, maintaining creative quality and brand consistency.
Art direct photography and video productions, including concept development, storyboarding, shot planning, styling, talent direction, and on-set direction.
Contribute to the creative direction and design of websites, landing pages, campaign experiences, and other digital platforms.
Design and produce print and digital work, including marketing campaigns, recruitment materials, advertising, social media, presentations, publications, environmental graphics, event materials, and other branded communications.
Steward Emerson’s visual identity by ensuring consistent application of brand standards and identifying opportunities to evolve and expand the visual system.
Provide creative direction, feedback, and mentorship to designers, freelancers, student employees, and external creative partners.
Collaborate with writers, strategists, photographers, videographers, digital specialists, developers, project managers, and College stakeholders.
Manage multiple projects and creative workstreams while balancing deadlines, priorities, stakeholder needs, and production requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.