POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Assistant Director, Creative Services - Design
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1736
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of Creative Services
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Assistant Director, Creative Services – Design serves as chief graphic designer for Creative Services. This person works with a variety of university clients to produce a wide range of printed materials (magazines, brochures, recruitment and advertising materials, posters, banners, etc.), and assists with digital graphic design services for the university. The Assistant Director, Creative Services – Design takes projects from concept to delivery, develops project briefs, ideas and designs, directs photo shoots, presents layouts to clients, arranges for the printing of publications with both on-campus and off-campus printers, oversees the training and daily production of electronic project files being prepared for print vendors and troubleshoots file issues with print vendors. The Assistant Director, Creative Services – Design supervises student employees, assists with the supervision of full-time and part-time employees in the development and production of designs, maintains student employee staffing and personnel files and coordinates the printing and billing of projects completed by students. The Assistant Director, Creative Services – Design maintains and enforces the university logo guidelines and distributes appropriate logo files to licensed vendors and the university community as needed.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor’s degree or a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is required, preferably with an emphasis in Graphic Design, Art or Journalism.
Experience: At least three years of experience as a graphic designer is required. An understanding of design and typography, and the process of creating a publication through all its phases from concept through printing is required. Extensive experience in Adobe Creative Suite (including such software as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) is required. Supervisory experience is required. Experience in a university setting is preferred.
Skills: Must demonstrate talent as a designer, including an understanding of the need to balance function and visual appearance to achieve successful communication. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required. Organizational, planning and supervisory skills are required. Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Effort: The scope of the position occasionally requires working additional hours to complete jobs and to attend press checks, and an extensive amount of time working at a computer workstation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Produces innovative and effective publications, including high-profile projects and variable data projects, from concept to delivery by participating in project interviews with clients, developing concepts and designs, directing photo shoots, presenting layouts to clients, producing mock-ups and electronic files, developing printing specifications, coordinating with Procurement Services on bidding of printing projects and arranging for the printing of publications with both on-campus and off-campus printers.
2. Produces materials that support the university’s goals related to recruitment, alumni and donor involvement and the university’s long-range plan.
3. Meets clients’ communication objectives through a thorough knowledge of typography and design to create concepts and comprehensive layouts and by advising the clients of appropriate options to achieve their communication objectives.
4. Ensures effective and timely production by working closely with campus clients, writers, editors, photographers, other designers, and printers to coordinate production schedules and complete printed and digital material on time.
5. Operates within budgets and deadlines established for various publications by managing assigned projects through coordinating a production schedule.
6. Ensures that printed publications meet the quality expectations of the client by monitoring the printing process, including approval of printer’s proofs, and attending press checks as needed.
7. Creates electronic files by utilizing available desktop publishing equipment and software programs and becoming proficient with new software programs.
8. Supports the technology aspect of Creative Services by maintaining a current knowledge of desktop publishing for graphic design and assisting in assessing the office's computer/networking needs.
9. Supports the department by supervising student employees in the development and production of printed materials and processing, printing and billing for student employee projects.
10. Maintains and enforces the university logo guidelines and distributes appropriate logo files to licensed vendors as needed.
11. Provides continuity of management for Creative Services by assuming the duties and responsibilities of the Director of Creative Services during absences or when directed.
12. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
13. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses and attending training and/or courses required by the Director of Creative Services.
14. Contributes to the overall success of the Division of Marketing and Communications by performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Assistant Director, Creative Services – Design is supervised by the Director of Creative Services and supervises student employees and assists the Director in supervising full-time employees.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED AUGUST 2021