Creative Director

Creative Director role shaping and stewarding a cross-platform visual identity for Hawaii Community Foundation, with hands-on design leadership and project ownership.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative projects end-to-end, managing ideation, planning, design, production, review, implementation, timelines, workflows, budgets, and evaluation.
• Create and present creative briefs, concepts, frameworks, and presentations tied to organizational goals, audience needs, and stakeholder requirements.
• Direct creative processes with systems, resources, and capacity planning to support delivery across departments.
• Partner with staff, vendors, contractors, and external creative collaborators to complete projects from concept to completion.
• Collaborate with HCF’s Information Systems Group on website, intranet, and related technology implementation and support.
• Own HCF’s visual brand strategy and identity across print, digital, web, environmental, video, and multimedia platforms.
• Build and maintain standards, templates, guidelines, and governance practices for brand consistency, quality, accessibility, and inclusive design.
• Develop creative strategy and visual storytelling supporting fundraising, programs, initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and organizational objectives.
• Translate departmental strategies and stakeholder needs into compelling creative solutions with HCF leadership and teams.
• Provide creative direction, mentorship, and quality assurance for the Multimedia Designer and assigned creative contributors.
• Monitor emerging design trends, technologies, platforms, and tools to improve creative practices and digital content.
• Serve as a senior hands-on designer producing polished materials for print, digital, web, environmental, presentation, event, and multimedia use.
• Design high-visibility deliverables including reports, donor and campaign collateral, brochures, ads, signage, event materials, presentations, toolkits, templates, and branded resources.
• Develop original, production-ready concepts that meet objectives, audience needs, brand standards, accessibility requirements, and technical specifications.
• Prepare, proof, package, and release print and digital files; coordinate with printers and vendors on specifications, estimates, proofs, quality, and delivery.
• Create and adapt digital assets for websites, email, social media, advertising, presentations, and owned or paid channels.
• Provide backup multimedia production support, including basic video, motion, audio, image compression, captioning, and publishing-ready assets.
• Operate cameras, lighting, microphones, and related equipment for storytelling, events, interviews, and content needs.
• Maintain organized files, templates, multimedia assets, and archives for efficient updates, reuse, and team access.
• Lead multimedia functions through direct supervision of the Multimedia Designer.
• Recruit, oversee, and advance creative talent, including staff, contractors, vendors, and other assigned creative professionals.
• Build and sustain a collaborative, accountable, high-performing creative culture that supports professional growth, design excellence, and innovation.
• Drive performance through shared goals, clear expectations, timely communication, and constructive feedback.
• Advance skills and knowledge through relevant meetings, workshops, seminars, and conferences.
• Represent HCF in the community as a knowledgeable, collaborative resource.
• Collaborate with other staff to ensure effective outcomes.
• Deliver excellent service to internal and external clients and meet HCF service standards where possible.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience required.
• Demonstrated experience developing creative strategies, leading multidisciplinary creative teams, and managing creative projects from concept through delivery required.
• 10+ years of professional design experience, including 5+ years in a senior or lead creative role.
• 4+ years of experience managing staff and/or contractors.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and digital design tools.
• Strong portfolio showing brand leadership, high-impact multi-platform design, and personal execution of complex, high-visibility projects across print and digital channels.
• Advanced print design and production experience, including prepress, proofing, color management, vendor coordination, and press-ready file preparation.
• Working proficiency in multimedia production tools and techniques including video editing, motion graphics, audio editing, image retouching, captioning, and digital asset optimization, plus backup production support.
• Experience with Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects (or comparable video and motion-design applications).
• Working knowledge of photography, videography, lighting, audio capture, and multimedia production equipment.
• Experience managing creative production workflows, budgets, and external partners.
• Deep understanding of inclusive design, accessibility, and audience-centered storytelling.
• Experience with email marketing platforms, content management systems, and SharePoint Online websites.
• Experience managing website redesigns, ongoing site enhancements, content governance, and maintenance.
• Experience communicating interactive ideas in-browser using front-end reference code, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Experience integrating digital and non-digital communications practices and tools to support a seamless user experience across platforms.
• Solid foundation in typography, layout, graphic design, copywriting, creative strategy, and design thinking.
• Excellent visual, written, and oral communication skills and strong aesthetic judgment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including effective communication with government officials, business and nonprofit leaders, donors, community partners, vendors, and other constituents.
• Ability to exercise discretion with sensitive or confidential information related to clients, donors, relationships, and funds.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, timelines, budgets, expectations, progress updates, problem-solving, and deadlines.
• Ability to receive direction effectively and work collaboratively and autonomously.
• Thorough knowledge, sensitivity, and understanding of the history and complexities of Hawai‘i’s multicultural community, as well as current events and social issues.
• Demonstrated passion for the betterment of Hawai‘i and its people.
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative and flexible organization, with appreciation for colleagues of diverse backgrounds and perspectives and enthusiasm to shift and evolve to meet community, client, and donor needs.

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• After Effects
• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• SharePoint Online
• Video editing
• Motion graphics
• Audio editing
• Image retouching
• Captioning
• Digital asset optimization
• Email marketing platforms
• Content management systems
• Cameras
• Lighting
• Microphones

Collaboration philosophy

• Collaborative “ohana culture that respects and cares for each other, innovates, and learns together.
• Partners rely on individual strengths to provide excellent value and achieve effective results for generous donors, community partners, and Hawai‘i’s people.

Position summary

• Shapes and stewards HCF’s visual identity across platforms.
• Works closely with the Strategic Communications Director to co-lead departmental priorities, coordinate workflow, allocate resources, and align communications strategies, creative execution, and organizational objectives.
• Personally executes a significant volume of print, digital, and multimedia design work in addition to providing design leadership.
• Acts as backup to the Multimedia Designer when the team member is unavailable or additional production capacity is needed.
• Serves as project manager for creative projects, overseeing production phases through timely delivery.

Work environment, physical and mental demands

• Regular in-office conditions with ability to work remotely.
• General office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; flexible hours as needed for priority items and events.
• Travel required as needed.
• Multitasking and adapting to changing priorities to meet deadlines, often within tight time frames.
• Ability to operate general office and multimedia production equipment including computer, copier, printers, cameras, lighting, microphones, and related accessories.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds of general office or production materials and equipment.

Location: Honolulu, HI (onsite)

Salary: USD 114,200 - 125,600 per year