Join the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where the North Carolina Collaboratory translates complex research into practical policy solutions for state and local government. This onsite role in Chapel Hill offers a collaborative, impact-driven culture that values accessible design, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and clear storytelling. You will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and programs that support a healthy work-life balance, including paid leave, health and life insurance, retirement plans, and exclusive campus perks.
Be a Tar Heel
UNC Chapel Hill is a global leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, consistently ranking among the nation’s top public universities. The university is renowned for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts, and top athletic programs. Chapel Hill is widely regarded as one of the best college towns and places to live in the United States, offering a diverse social, cultural, recreation, and professional landscape.
Primary purpose of the organizational unit
The North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill shares the university’s policy and research expertise for practical use by state and local government. A collaboratory is a center without walls that enables researchers to work across locations, access instrumentation and data, share resources, and access information in digital libraries in a collaborative manner.
Position summary
The Brand & Design Specialist leads the NC Collaboratory’s visual identity, translating complex research into engaging, accessible materials across print, digital, video, and web platforms. Through graphic design, video production, editorial judgment, and strategic communication, the role strengthens stakeholder engagement and communicates research impact to policymakers, academic partners, and the public.
Responsibilities
- Lead the NC Collaboratory’s visual identity, translating complex research into engaging, accessible, and high-impact materials across print, digital, video, and web platforms.
- Through graphic design, video production, editorial judgment, and strategic communication, strengthen stakeholder engagement and communicate research impact to policymakers, academic partners, and the public.
- Collaborate with Communications, Research, and Leadership teams to maintain a cohesive and professional visual presence.
- Deliver branded reports, digital collateral, video projects, website updates, and the quarterly newsletter, emphasizing consistency, accessibility, and audience alignment.
- Branding and graphic design: Develop the Collaboratory’s visual branding by creating high-impact digital and print materials that support research priorities, elevate leadership visibility, and ensure consistency across public-facing assets; combine strategic design thinking with hands-on execution; manage collaborative design projects; produce print and digital assets; create editorial-aligned graphics; oversee brand and asset management.
- Video production: Lead video storytelling, producing dynamic content that communicates research, leadership, and organizational impact; apply creative direction and technical execution across formats to translate complex research into clear, compelling stories; include concept development, storyboarding, filming, editing, motion graphics, and other enhancements for videos from short clips to long-form features.
- Website development and content management: Manage and optimize the Collaboratory website to keep content current and aligned with strategic goals; integrate technical updates, content management, and user experience enhancements to maintain a dynamic web presence.
Requirements
- Professional experience in visual communications, graphic design, video production, or related creative fields.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or comparable design software, and video editing tools such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or After Effects for producing and editing short and long form video content for web, social media, and events.
- Familiarity with web content management systems, such as WordPress.
- Ability to translate complex research into clear visual and video storytelling while maintaining consistent branding across digital, print, video, and social media.
- Strong attention to detail, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with research teams, leadership, and external stakeholders, and to contribute to both independent and team-based video production, including pre-production, filming, and postproduction.
- Demonstrated ability to create high quality design assets, including reports, presentations, infographics, social media graphics, and video content.
- Proven ability to manage multiple creative projects from concept through delivery while maintaining brand consistency.
- Minimum education and experience: Master’s or Bachelor’s degree and 0-2 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
Preferred qualifications
- Knowledge of best practices in video production workflows, including lighting, sound, and editing techniques for professional quality output; ability to weave visual and video storytelling into organizational narratives that maximize policy impacts and public visibility.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including motion graphics, animation, and video editing in tools like After Effects or Premiere, with a strong understanding of design theory (typography, color, layout, composition) across platforms.
- Familiarity with search engine optimization (SEO) and web analytics tools to optimize content performance and audience engagement.
- Experience designing and leading integrated, multi-format communications or visual campaigns that align with strategic messaging, able to manage complex, multi-channel projects with multiple stakeholders and tight timelines.
- Ability to anticipate communications needs and proactively create solutions that strengthen institutional visibility.
- Experience designing visual assets for research, academic, or policy-focused audiences at state, national, or international levels; progressive experience producing and editing videos for academic, research, or policy contexts, including interviews, event coverage, and explainer videos.
- Prior experience in higher education, nonprofit, or government settings, with the ability to adapt design and messaging for varied stakeholders.
