University of Georgia
Creative Director
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Posting DetailsPosting Details Posting Number S12233P Working Title Creative Director Department DAR-Communications About the University of Georgia Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education ( The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens. About the College/Unit/Department Division of Development and Alumni Relations The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities. Development and Alumni Relations' Office of Communications Call us DARCOMM. We proudly serve as an in-house marketing agency for the Development & Alumni Relations division (DAR) at the University of Georgia. Twice a year, we plan. The rest of the time, we design mailers, build websites, write, film, photograph, tweet, and a lot more. Collaboration is how we do our best work. White-boarding and idea-bouncing get us going. Data and analytics teach us how to do better next time. We love to learn from one another. We often partner with the Marketing & Communications division and build templates and tools to help all schools, colleges, and units with development and alumni relations. We streamline. And dot-connect. And always do our best to consider our audiences' perspectives. We are always searching for new ways - more creative ways - to reach our alumni and donors. To help our division achieve its mission and help every DAR unit achieve its goals. College/Unit/Department website and and Posting Type External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Work Schedule Additional Schedule Information 8:00am-5:00pm; Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as necessary Advertised Salary $75,000+ Commensurate qualifications and experience Posting Date 06/12/2024 Open until filled Yes Closing Date Proposed Starting Date 08/01/2024 Special Instructions to Applicants
This position guides creative strategy and development for all major initiatives for DAR and provides art direction for major division programs and priorities while also coaching a team of designers to do the same. This position is responsible for managing all design resources, including both staff and freelance designers. The employee develops and manages an efficient process that both ensures colleagues get their design projects completed in a timely manner.
The position provides style guides for all related projects, enabling great efficiency in the work and making the work more streamlined and effective.
This position ensures all DAR's work complies with the visual identity and branding of the University of Georgia as well was the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. The employee develops word marks that accompany the UGA logo to identify and brand specific units within Development & Alumni Relations for specific programs and events. This includes working with the Creative Design Specialists to set rules for the usage of these branding elements to ensure a consistent look and feel. In addition, this position helps brainstorm new communication strategies and tactics to make the work of DAR more effective.
This position is critical to help the division of Development & Alumni Relations create and implement a consistent, branded communication plan. This helps to ensure that alumni and donors recognize UGA communication instantly, and it makes our communication more effective. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies
- This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.
- Graphic Design degree from an accredited college or university and at least 5 years of previous graphic design experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience
- At least 3 years' experience developing brand strategy and working within brand guidelines
- At least 3 years' experience supervising and coaching staff
- Attention to detail a must
- At least one year of experience working with print and promotional item vendors
- At least 3 years professional experience using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
- Comfortable receiving feedback and staying solution-focused
- Experience with building motion graphics in After Affects a plus
- Experience with video editing in Premiere Pro a plus
- Knowledge of CSS, JavaScript, or other web programming a plus
This position guides creative strategy and development for all major initiatives for DAR and provides art direction for major division programs and priorities while also coaching a team of designers to do the same. This position is responsible for managing all design resources, including both staff and freelance designers. The employee develops and manages an efficient process that both ensures colleagues get their design projects completed in a timely manner.
The position provides style guides for all related projects, enabling great efficiency in the work and making the work more streamlined and effective.
This position ensures all DAR's work complies with the visual identity and branding of the University of Georgia as well was the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. The employee develops word marks that accompany the UGA logo to identify and brand specific units within Development & Alumni Relations for specific programs and events. This includes working with the Creative Design Specialists to set rules for the usage of these branding elements to ensure a consistent look and feel. In addition, this position helps brainstorm new communication strategies and tactics to make the work of DAR more effective.
This position is critical to help the division of Development & Alumni Relations create and implement a consistent, branded communication plan. This helps to ensure that alumni and donors recognize UGA communication instantly, and it makes our communication more effective. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies
- Effective supervisory skills
- Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
- Must manage time and adhere to deadlines
- Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups
- Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)
- Organizational skills and ability to multitask
- Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
- Must have expert-level experience in creative design and strategy including branding, color theory, and typography
- Knowledge of the design/printing process; experience working with print shops
- Must be thoroughly fluent with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
- Must have experience with video production and editing
- Experience with image/photo editing and retouching required
- Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia
- Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct
- Knowledge of current industry trends and best practices
- Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
- Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.
- Work in a standard office environment
- Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
- Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
- Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
- Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
- Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
- Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb
- Work evenings and weekends, as necessary
- Travel in and out of state, as necessary
- Manage and supervise employees reporting directly to this position to ensure everyone is meeting all his/her goals, objectives, and project timelines.
- Evaluate performance of each employee reporting to this position annually.
- Lead other designers in producing artwork for high-profile projects and delegate tasks, as necessary.
- Develop performance initiatives and expectations for employees reporting to this position. Mentor and evaluate his/her performance annually.
- Actively participate in planning - and encourage team members to engage - with units and identify creative solutions that can help the division and specific units reach their goals.
- Help prioritize creative projects to ensure (1) focus remains on the most strategically important projects and (2) expectations are set and clear for the units.
- Ensure Development & Alumni Relations Communications (DARCOMM) is consistently putting forth an excellent creative product that is both high-quality and accurate.
- Lead assigned high-profile projects as appropriate (depending on staffing and needs).
- Troubleshoot design challenges with team members as they arise.
- Work through staffing or process problems as they arise.
- Actively seek ways to improve design department processes.
- Identify creative resource for upcoming design projects (team member, freelance, etc.).
- Lead team in creation of appropriate branding for DAR units and programs as appropriate.
- Direct artwork strategy for the division in collaboration with the creative team, communication team, digital team.
- Lead design efforts for division-wide projects from concept to final execution within deadlines.
- Develop style guide - including goals, copy and visuals - for 2+ initiatives per year.
- Distribute style guides to DARCOMM team and beyond; encourage and guide compliance with usage.
- Understand marketing initiatives, strategic positioning, and target audience.
- Work with other members of DARCOMM to evaluate campaign needs, develop project strategies, and create visual elements for campaigns.
- Produce sketches, mood boards, roughs to visualize ideas.
- Generate clear ideas and concepts in tandem with the copywriters and digital specialists.
- Contribute to and in certain projects lead content ideation and development.
- Work with Multimedia Specialist to request and guide photography based on needs of graphic designers.
- Work with DARCOMM team to provide updates, receive feedback, and present final ideas.
- Deliver design assets within established budgets and timelines.
- Stay on top of all trends and maintain best practices.
- Manage division design assets including, logos, typefaces, templates, samples, photography needs and other resources.
- Manage visual identity of assigned units in alignment with university guidelines.
- Manage and steward relationship with print vendors.
- Ensure final designs are up to standards through testing, proofing, and press checks.
- Set clear expectations for brand usage within DAR; interpret and translate the UGA brand for the alumni and donor audience, including:
- Logos and visual assets.
- Brand story.
- Address questions and gray areas about UGA and DAR brand issues as they arise; as appropriate, lead team projects to develop formal DARCOMM recommendation.
- Manage DAR logo needs along with appropriate usage for DAR materials.
- Ensure DARCOMM colleagues and division are knowledgeable about the UGA brand and DAR's use of it.