Senior Visual Communications Designer

Salary:

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 2015-1603742

Location: CA 94556, CA

Department: College Communications

Closing:
10/21/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Background

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary's is a residential campus nestled 20 miles east of San Francisco in the picturesque Moraga Valley. Based in the Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts traditions, Saint Mary's currently enrolls more than 4,000 students from diverse backgrounds in undergraduate and graduate programs. The De La Salle Christian Brothers, the largest teaching order of the Roman Catholic Church, guide the spiritual and academic character of the College.

As a comprehensive and independent institution, Saint Mary's offers undergraduate and graduate programs integrating liberal and professional education. Saint Mary's reputation for excellence, innovation, and responsiveness in education stems from its vibrant heritage as a Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts institution. An outstanding, committed faculty and staff that value shared inquiry, integrative learning, and student interaction bring these traditions to life in the 21st century. The College is committed to the educational benefits of diversity.

Responsibilities
*Portfolio is required of all applicants*

Reporting to the Executive Director of Marketing, the Senior Visual Communications Designer is a key member of the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) team, involved in making recommendations and developing the direction and campus-wide adoption of the College's brand identity. The position provides design expertise, produces visual designs via creative briefs and mood boards, and executes on the development of marketing and communications materials leveraging digital, motion graphic, and print expertise. Working independently, under general direction, the incumbent is responsible for day-to-day visual design operations, leads student assistant(s), works with freelancers and manages the production of design projects with select vendors. The incumbent requires extensive design knowledge and specialized, multi-faceted design theory, processes and media.

As a member of the Office of Marketing and Communications, the incumbent will take a leading role in the creative design of marketing, communications and branding initiatives. A highly visible and important aspect of our work is the compelling and consistent presentation of the College in print and electronic media. The incumbent will create marketing/ communications design across various channels including print/online publications as well as setting and monitoring Brand Style Guideline is adhered to across the College and with external parties. The incumbent will work with campus offices and departments to advise and assist them in producing appropriate multimedia materials.The incumbent is a key member of the OMC team working collaboratively with other members of the team as well as with other campus units. As directed by the CMO/CCO and/or Executive Director of Marketing, the incumbent may support a range of enterprise-level strategic marketing/communication design priorities. This job is eligible for a flexible hybrid arrangement with a combination of in-office and remote work.

Planning, Art Direction, Design and Production

• Serves as a key strategist and creative thinker in conceptualizing the College's communications and marketing initiatives; ensures that all design projects are integrated within the College's brand identity.
• Defines design criteria, develops graphic design concepts, and presents them for review by the client or management.
• Coordinates and art-directs (as needed) the services of freelance designers, photographers, illustrators, UI designers, lead student assistants, and vendors such as pre-press services, printers and mail houses. Creates concept compositions, graphic designs and layouts; refines final designs to meet the constraints of budgets, deadlines and client and/or management expectations.
• Prepares or directs the preparations of final designs files for production.
• Identifies, selects and coordinates vendors for printing and production services as appropriate to the project, including printers, other designers, marketing specialists and others to ensure the successful completion of projects, on time and on budget.
• Provides technical advice and guidance, and serves as liaison with production personnel, publishers, clients and others involved with the projects. Participates in or directs production and/or printing and mailing on a project basis.
• Working with a OMC team, makes recommendations to produce, and continually evolve and improve campaign and revenue-generating (e.g. fundraising, enrollment marketing) collateral in terms of concept, strategy, vision, and visual design.

Creative Project Management

• Oversees the development and delivery of client-based creative services projects.
• Manages the unit's project database, ensuring timely completion of projects and adherence to strategic goals.
• Monitors project workflow including comms flow and recommends process improvements to ensure quality and efficiency

Concept Development

• Conceives, researches, and develops written and multimedia content for print and web publications and collateral, as needed for the Office of the President and other key campus stakeholders producing revenue-generation and/or engagement.
• Researches, designs, and reviews copy for special projects and events, as assigned.

Creative Services

• Advises and assists campus stakeholders on effective planning and execution of their own creative projects, as needed.
• Provides marketing, graphic design and technical support to campus committees responsible for planning and coordinating such functions as Commencement, key Athletics events/post-season events, and other special events.
• Oversees the maintenance of graphics and photography library.
• Selects and purchases graphic, photographic and printing materials and supplies.
• Provides images and design-related files to campus offices and departments.
• Keeps abreast of new technologies in information technology, particularly graphic design and photo imaging programs.
• Recommends improvements to the creative process, including workflow and file management.
• Consults with campus clients, as needed and/or as assigned, to understand their marketing/communications goals and ensure that design concepts are appropriate and tailored to the intended audience, and within current visual brand standards.
• Controls testing of presentation or time-based output to ensure functionality for client
• Assists with the development, writing and presentation of design and production standards. Assists with print or environmental specifications for cost estimates and quotes.
• Under the guidance of the CMO/CCO, art-direct students and professional designers, multimedia producers, and photographers as needed.
• Travels to vendor/printer checks to ensure quality control of output when required.
• May be required to work evenings and weekends.

College Branding

• Under general direction, serves as a key member of the College's Marketing/Communications team that makes decisions shaping the College's brand identity; functions as a senior art director, creator and monitor of marketing/communications initiatives to convey the brand.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining professional standards for the visual College's brand, which serves as the foundation for the College's ongoing marketing/communications initiatives.
• Oversees the College's official visual brand-identity guidelines as well as the use of the College's logo, seal, lockups and other official images, for consistency of style, implementation and usage.
• Provides broad creative direction and creative oversight facilitating creative collaboration among other designers (e.g. student workers, freelancers) and ensuring cohesive execution of a wide range of print, online, mobile and video materials.
• Engages campus Schools and divisions to develop proactive strategies to improve the adoption and implementation of the College's brand identity.
• Plans and develops design concepts by studying information and materials; designs layout of art and copy; obtains approval of concept by submitting draft layouts; prepares final layout.
• Participates in selecting the visual materials to be used in the marketing/communication of information.
• Creates visual material, including charts, graphs and diagrams, or motion as needed for presentations, videos or events.
• Participates in the selection of typographical formats. Develops and applies style sheets.
• Assists with campus visual resource creation for digital asset libraries. College Magazine
• Working with OMC's Strategic Communications and Content as well as Marketing teams, makes recommendations to produce and continually evolve and improve the College magazine, in-house, in terms of concept, strategy, vision, and visual design.
• Provides creative direction, design and production support for the magazine; consults and checks in with the Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Content, CMO/CCO and Senior Director of Marketing for final review.

Other creative duties as assigned.

Experience and Qualifications
Education
Required: BA/BFA degree in Graphic Arts, Visual Communications, Creative Design, Marketing or Multimedia Services
Preferred: Master's degree in Creative Design, Graphic Arts, Visual Communications, Marketing or Multimedia Services, Digital Communications, or related field.
Experience (years required and applicable field of experience):

Required:

• Five year's work experience in graphic arts/visual communications for print and digital media in higher education industry or related industry.
• Expert level of strong art direction, project planning and project management.
• Expert knowledge of multi-page print/online publications with a variety of audiences in higher education
• Demonstrated experience working with marketing principles and practice as they relate to print and electronic communications.
• Expert level of experience in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, time-based (AI), presentation and motion graphics, general web design principles and technology.
• 5+ years of experience on brand campaigns and designing across multiple digital environments including web, mobile, digital and video Preferred:
• Experience creating graphic resource or pattern library and its many applications and uses
• Photography experience
• Video editing experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Skills/Abilities (e.g., computer skills, written & verbal skills, trades, laws, procedures, technical):

• Expert knowledge of visual design theory including composition, color, hierarchy and typography.
• Expert skills and knowledge in graphic design practice, including project planning, art direction, layout, prepress production, ink and paper selection, digital and offset printing, etc.
• Extensive knowledge of offset and digital printing, paper selection, press checks, and color correction.
• Expert level of experience in Adobe Creative Suite/Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, time-based (AI), presentation and motion graphics, general web design principles, AfterEffects, and technology to be leveraged across multiple digital environments including web, mobile, digital and video.
• Strong writing and editorial skills with the ability to effectively present ideas and concepts in presentation format.
• Excellent customer service and public relations skills. Expert networking and interpersonal skills including strong consultative skills to work with internal and external constituents. Capacity to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment. Working knowledge of marketing principles and practice as they relate to print and electronic communications
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including HTML.
• Proven ability to create complementary print and online materials
• Strong consultative and persuasive skills in presenting branding and design concepts to clients and partners.
• Strong art direction, project planning and project management.
• Expert knowledge of multi-page publications with a variety of audiences
• Ability to conceptualize and execute integrated print and web elements of hybrid projects.
• Ability to collaborate with other designers and creative team members.
• Ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports.
• Ability to serve as a key contributor on a College marketing/communications team.
• Ability to conceptualize and execute integrated print and web elements of hybrid projects.
• Ability to brainstorm and collaborate with other creative professionals; offer and accept constructive criticism; and adapt creative concepts in response to changing demands and circumstances.
• Ability to perform accurately in a detail-oriented environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications with employees and external agencies.
• Expert knowledge of brand development and multichannel marketing concepts.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of a college/university from an institutional perspective, including academic departments, administrative structures, organizational politics, and alumni relations.
• Strong knowledge in design experience (digital and print) in support of major college key initiatives and projects.
• Strong knowledge of marketing functions, including marketing strategy/planning, direct marketing, event marketing, campaign marketing, collateral and video production, online and social media marketing, and traditional marketing channels and techniques.
• Ability to build relationships with campus constituents (e.g. faculty, student, staff) and mentoring new designers.
• Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of communications, publications, media and/or marketing in order to develop and execute print and web communication strategies to promote fundraising-related communications, such as annual reports, case statements and the Giving to SMC website, among others.
• Establish and manage the College's brand “voice,” key messages and content development guidelines.
• Demonstrated skills in creating and enforcing design standards and guidelines
• Strong knowledge of best practices in the full arc of magazine design development and production for College magazine, with particular expertise in print and online production and maintaining production calendars and schedules
• Expert networking and interpersonal skills including strong consultative skills to work with internal and external constituents.
• Capacity to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to collaboratively work with design, facilities and construction/production professionals, designers, content creators and campus leadership to develop content and visual concepts for installation in campus buildings and for external high-visibility installations that represent the university.
• Ability to set own priorities, perform consistently, organize and plan work and projects; make timely decisions independently; complete projects accurately.
• Demonstrated strong customer service ethic.
• Working knowledge of marketing principles and practices as they relate to print and multimedia communications; ability to use them effectively to create visual materials.
• Proven ability to create complementary print and online materials.
• Strong consultative and persuasive skills in presenting branding and design concepts to clients and partners.
• Ability to brainstorm and collaborate with other creative professionals, including other creative team members; offer and accept constructive criticism; and adapt creative concepts in response to changing demands and circumstances.
• Ability to conceptualize and execute integrated print and web elements of hybrid projects.
• Ability to compose and appropriately format correspondence and reports.
• Advanced skill exercising initiative and using good judgment to make sound decisions
• Advanced skill exercising professionalism, composure under pressure, and flexibility

Some travel, weekend and evening work will be required as needed

Supplemental Information
Application Instructions: Please apply online at http://jobs.stmarys-ca.edu
Include a cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications and are prepared to support the mission of the College

• A resume
• The name and contact information for three (3) professional references.
• In applying for a position, candidates sign a consent authorizing a broader inquiry which may include reference checks, a motor vehicle check, and a third party background check.
• PORTFOLIO attachment or link is required. Saint Mary's is an equal employment opportunity employer. We support inclusive excellence and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all.
College policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, gender stereotyping, and gender identity, taking a protected leave (e.g. family medical or pregnancy leave), or on any other basis protected by applicable laws.
Saint Mary's College annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Saint Mary's College Report, please go to the Public Safety website at http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/public-safety/annual-security-and-fire-safety-report-0. To request a paper copy please call Public Safety at (925) 631-4284. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Please apply online at https://apptrkr.com/3473043

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