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Reporting to the Creative Director, the Manager, Art Direction provides creative leadership and hands-on execution across Emerson College's brand, marketing, and storytelling initiatives — spanning print, digital, web, photography, and video. Partnering closely with the Creative Director on flagship efforts such as enrollment marketing campaigns and major brand initiatives, the Manager shapes and evolves Emerson's visual identity through concept development, campaign creation, and photo/video direction. The Manager also mentors and guides designers, freelancers, student employees, and external partners, ensuring consistency and excellence across all visual communications.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
- Serve as a hands-on creative leader within the Office of Marketing and Communications, developing and executing integrated visual communications that advance Emerson’s institutional priorities and engage audiences across channels.
- Partner with the Creative Director to translate creative strategy, branding, marketing objectives, and institutional priorities into compelling visual concepts, campaigns, and experiences.
- Lead the day-to-day creative development and execution of assigned projects and campaigns from concept through production, maintaining a high standard of creative quality and brand consistency.
- Art direct photography and video productions from concept through execution, including creative concepting, storyboarding, shot planning, styling, talent direction, and on-set direction in collaboration with photographers, videographers, producers, and other creative partners.
- Contribute to the creative direction and design of Emerson’s digital presence, including websites, landing pages, campaign experiences, and other digital platforms, with a strong understanding of responsive design, user experience, accessibility, and digital design best practices.
- Design and produce a range of day-to-day creative work across print and digital channels, including marketing campaigns, recruitment materials, advertising, social media, presentations, publications, environmental graphics, event materials, and other branded communications.
- Serve as a steward of Emerson’s visual identity, ensuring consistent application of brand standards while identifying opportunities to evolve and expand the visual system as the College’s refreshed brand is implemented across audiences and channels.
- Provide day-to-day creative direction, feedback, and mentorship to designers, freelancers, student employees, and external creative partners, helping ensure work meets strategic, creative, and brand objectives.
- Collaborate closely with writers, strategists, photographers, videographers, digital specialists, developers, project managers, and College stakeholders to develop cohesive creative solutions.
- Manage multiple projects and creative workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, balancing deadlines, priorities, stakeholder needs, and production requirements while maintaining a high level of craft.
- All other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, art direction, visual communications, or related field, or equivalent professional experience required.
- Minimum of seven years of professional experience in graphic design, art direction, brand development, or integrated creative work required.
- Demonstrated experience serving in an art direction or senior creative role with responsibility for leading creative projects and guiding the work of other designers and creative partners required.
- Experience art directing photography and video productions, including concept development, storyboarding, shot planning, and on-set creative direction required.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in graphic design, art direction, branding, campaign development, digital and web design, and visual storytelling across multiple media required.
- Experience designing for web and digital experiences and collaborating with UX, development, or digital teams preferred.
- Experience working within higher education, arts and culture, media, agency, or other complex, mission-driven organizations preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite Canva, Capcut, and Adobe Creative Suite.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating marketing writing, campaign work, brand storytelling, and social content.
- Exceptional copywriting, editing, storytelling, and content planning skills.
- Strong understanding of marketing campaigns, audience segmentation, channel strategy, and the enrollment or customer journey.
- Strong understanding of the social media landscape, platform trends, and audience behaviors.
- Ability to develop compelling messaging and adapt content across channels and audiences.
- Strong organizational, project coordination, and time management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across teams and departments.
- Commitment to accuracy, organization, and high-quality work.
- Interest in higher education enrollment strategy, student engagement, and marketing communications.
PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- This position is generally sedentary in nature, with movement throughout the area required from time to time.
- The ability to have continuous oral and written communication with colleagues and supervisors is essential.
- Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping, and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color-coding, and read fine print will be expected.
WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.
- Usual Office Conditions
- Exposed to moderate noise levels
Disclaimer: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job duties described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
Compensation: $104,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually, commensurate with experience.
Grade of Position: 23-12E
Employment Category: Regular
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Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25
In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.
Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.
Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.
