Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Brand and Design is the school’s lead designer and is responsible for developing visual concepts, designs, layouts, graphics and other artwork for McKelvey School of Engineering’s print publications and websites, social media and other digital communications and directs creative services for all marketing, advertising, and communications in the engineering school. This work supports marketing and communications for the school, for the dean and for individual departments and supports advancement initiatives, alumni communications and recruitment of undergraduates, master’s students and PhD students.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manages visual aspect of creative services and directs the development of print and digital marketing, advertising and other communications that support the school’s strategic goal:
  • Designs print projects, including the alumni magazine, school and departmental brochures, event invitations and other projects, including marketing collateral for recruitment of undergraduate, master’s and PhD students;
  • Leads design operations, such as print production, press checks, and the print-on-demand system;
  • Coordinates photography and video shoots;
  • Assists in the development and execution of strategy and tactics for new products and initiatives.
• Designs and creates layouts, graphics, animation and other visual content for school and departmental websites, social media accounts, digital signage and other digital media. 
• Manages processes for designing and producing projects:
  • Defines project requirements, visualizing and brainstorming options, soliciting feedback, coordinating production schedules and managing print process with external vendors/printers, including identifying vendors, obtaining bids and negotiating contracts.
  • Manages projects with freelance photographers and illustrators, which includes providing art direction for freelancers. Serve as design liaison when working with outside design services partners on projects.
  • Designs and optimizes visual assets and manage the process with vendors in producing promotional products such as shirts, pens, mugs, etc.
• Supervises additional design staff in developing designs and other visual content for some print and digital projects.
• Develops presentations for the dean and other members of school leadership, including designing slides, selecting and placing photos and creating charts and graphics.
• In collaboration with the director of communications and marketing, establishes and maintains brand standards across departments and programs while advancing the school’s visual identity:
  • Creates and updates branded templates in PowerPoint, Word and other platforms for use by faculty and staff.
  • Designs and optimizes visual assets and manage the process with vendors in producing promotional products such as shirts, pens, mugs, etc.
  • Develops as needed logo lockups, email headers and other brand resources.
• Creates technical graphics based on grant proposals and research manuscript, and faculty feedback.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment

Physical Effort

• Typically working at desk or table
• Occasional lifting (<25 lbs)
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
• Ability to move on and off campus locations

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications:

No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Professional Conceptualizing, Designing, And Producing Printed Materials (5 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Design experience – print and digital -- and creative services management with proven experience with InDesign or other Adobe Creative Suite software and with execution of digital and print projects.
• Previous work experience in higher education or