ArtCenter College of Design is seeking an experienced Creative Director - Marketing and Communications to lead the College’s creative vision and strengthen its brand presence across marketing and communications. This hybrid role in Pasadena, CA blends strategic leadership with hands-on creative work, guiding visual identity standards, campaigns, and storytelling across multiple media channels.
Responsibilities
- Lead the creative vision and visual expression of the College’s brand across all marketing and communications initiatives.
- Act as the lead creative authority and brand steward by establishing, evolving, and governing visual identity standards, design systems, and creative frameworks.
- Develop integrated creative concepts, campaigns, and visual solutions supporting enrollment, advancement, fundraising, institutional reputation, and strategic priorities.
- Design and produce creative assets and marketing materials across print, digital, social media, environmental, presentation, and emerging channels as needed.
- Provide creative leadership for the ArtCenter website, ensuring web content, UX, and visual design align with brand identity and strategic priorities.
- Lead major brand and marketing initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
- Deliver creative direction and quality oversight for all visual communications to ensure consistency, accessibility, and alignment with institutional objectives.
- Collaborate with writers, strategists, photographers, videographers, and campus partners to develop integrated storytelling and audience engagement initiatives.
- Present creative concepts, recommendations, and rationale to leadership and stakeholders.
- Serve as a strategic advisor on brand strategy, creative direction, audience engagement, and market positioning.
- Partner with Marketing, Communications, Enrollment, Advancement, and institutional leaders to align creative efforts with organizational priorities.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects, balancing strategic initiatives, production demands, timelines, and available resources.
- Champion creative processes, workflows, and project management practices that improve efficiency, quality, and stakeholder experience.
- Use audience insights, research, and performance data to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen brand engagement through innovative storytelling and creative problem-solving.
- Provide leadership and oversight for assigned staff, including hiring, onboarding, performance guidance, coaching, and learning and professional development.
- Mentor design staff, student workers, freelancers, and external creative partners as applicable.
- Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and production partners, including oversight of scope, budget, and quality.
- Participate in departmental planning, budgeting, hiring, and resource allocation.
- Contribute to divisional initiatives, committees, and special projects as assigned.
- Follow and enforce ArtCenter policies, including safety protocols, and implement policies and procedures as needed.
- Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continually strengthen the College’s creative presence and effectiveness.
- Participate in professional organizations, conferences, and development opportunities as appropriate.
- Serve on College committees, task forces, and special initiatives as requested.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Advertising, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field from an accredited college or institution.
- Minimum of 8 years of professional creative experience, including at least 5 years leading creative projects, campaigns, or teams.
- Demonstrated success leading creative functions within complex organizations, agencies, nonprofits, or corporate environments.
- Strong portfolio showing brand development, integrated marketing campaigns, visual storytelling, and measurable organizational or business impact.
- Demonstrated expertise in concept development, visual design, art direction, and creative execution across multiple channels, including digital, print, social media, video, and environmental design.
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and other industry-standard creative tools, with ability to execute work at a professional level.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration tools.
- Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining brand systems, visual identity standards, and creative governance processes.
- Proven ability to translate organizational goals, audience insights, and marketing objectives into compelling creative solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on creative production and project execution.
- Experience managing and directing external agencies, freelancers, photographers, videographers, illustrators, and other creative partners.
- Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with ability to influence decision-making and build consensus across diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex creative initiatives from concept through execution, balancing strategic priorities, operational demands, and resource constraints.
- Experience using research, audience insights, and performance data to inform creative strategy and evaluate effectiveness.
- Demonstrated experience cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment within ArtCenter’s diverse communities.
- Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or institution.
- Experience in higher education, enrollment marketing, advancement, fundraising, or other mission-driven organizations.
- Experience working in both agency and in-house creative environments.
- Experience leading brand refreshes, major institutional campaigns, or organizational transformation initiatives.
- Working knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for digital and print communications.
Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Microsoft Office Suite
Compensation, Location, and Education
- Location: Pasadena, CA (hybrid)
- Salary: USD 120,000 - 126,000 per year
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
Culture and Commitment
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging not only in vision but in practice.
ArtCenter is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record of), or other protected characteristics under applicable law.
Employment Notices
- All employment is for an unspecified term and is at-will.
- Applicants are not asked for information related to prior cannabis use.
- Applicants may request accommodation for a disability by contacting the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2470.
Mandatory Reporting
- Employees who know of or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy must promptly inform the Title IX Administrator/Coordinator (or designee) or the Dean of Students (or designee).
- Faculty with mandatory duties to report must disclose all information, including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.
- Under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), employees who know of or suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 must promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.
