Senior Creative Director, Design - WashU Medicine, Marketing & Communications (Hybrid)

Position Summary
The Senior Creative Director (design) is a compelling and inspiring presenter, a senior-level client contact, and is focused on large-scale campaigns and key initiatives that support commercialization, advancement, recruitment and all departments across the education, research and clinical practices at WashU Medicine. The Senior Creative Director is a captivating visual storyteller, an expert communicator and passionate problem solver responsible for all aspects of visual marketing and communications and is responsible for creative operations, overseeing the work of the department’s in-house creative staff as well as freelance and agency partners. Both as manager and hands-on designer, the Senior Creative Director will ensure the team, including its culture, work environment, tools, capabilities and processes support the delivery of inspiring, industry-leading creative that helps Washington University’s School of Medicine (including departments, labs, partnerships and more) achieve their objectives.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Strategy and Design

• The Senior Creative Director (design) is responsible for the development of the creative strategy and visual expression of the brand for all projects, including (but not limited to) print, digital, social, video, and environmental design while providing clear and productive creative direction to team members.
• Works with the team to ensure the work delivers on the strategy, determines the effectiveness of the work after it has been activated, and uses the learnings to make the necessary adjustments and improvements to future work.
• Get your hands dirty, but don’t get stuck in the weeds. Pitches in and helps whenever and wherever needed, but this should not come at the expense of the development and productivity to other team members.
• Strong design proficiency in a variety of capacities with a devotion to grammatical and material accuracy.
• Advanced understanding of typography, composition, color theory and design best practices and technologies.
• Monitors projects through all phases of production.
• Effectively handles multiple assignments and manages multiple team members at one time and adhere to client budget and time constraints.

Concepting and Idea Development

• Leads, inspires, motivates, and develops a creative team of art directors and copywriters.
• Develops strategy, concept ideas, and provides direction to the team throughout the creative process.
• The Senior Creative Director possesses strong creative ideas, but more importantly gives others the confidence to express their ideas, too. People shouldn’t work with you because they have to — they should work with you because they want to.
• Presents and sells in the department’s work in compelling ways to clients. The presentation should demonstrate a clear vision of how the work addresses the client challenge.
• Interacts with members of the creative team to develop creative concepts and executions of assigned project(s).
• Possesses solid understanding of the market dynamics and challenges of the medical and higher education categories.
• Presents new ideas to members of the team.

Mentorship (Talent and Resource Development)

• The Senior Creative Director ensures the professional development and readiness of the creative team so their team members are learning, growing, and getting better every single day.
• Trains and supervises assigned staff of designers, writers, and production personnel; oversees their execution of all assigned creative efforts to insure they are on strategy, on budget, and on schedule.
• Resolves differences with other team members throughout the agency which may lead to discord in the office.
• Effectively promotes the overall creative capabilities of the department.
• Shares best practices to benefit overall creative staff/communications professionals at the School of Medicine.

Performs other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on healthcare, pharma, medicine or higher education.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or related field.
• Experience in both traditional and digital media.
• Strong design background.
• Convey the vision and values of the agency to staff.
• Experience in brand identity development.
• Management experience.
• Strong attention to detail. The Senior Creative Director (design) is required to use a keen eye and sense of design and communication to ensure that every piece of visual work is mistake free and lives up to the Marketing and Communications Team’s high standards.
• Think creatively and strategically and provide marketable solutions in concepts, development, and producing tactics through the filter of brand voice.
• Ability to lead by example and continue their own development within the agency.
• Desire to work collaboratively as part of a larger team in a fast-paced environment.
• Desire to take on new challenges, grow and learn every day.
• Polished presentation skills demonstrating a clear vision of how the work addresses the client challenge.
• Have a passion for marketing, staying informed of industry best practices.
• Be a leader of the overall business and process, working with account and project manager teams to assure appropriate creative strategies, adequacy/accuracy of input, schedules, budgets, production support, necessary reviews, and client presentations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least five (5) years of progressive responsibility in the area of creative services.
• Advertising, public relations, or creative services agency experience.

Grade
G16

Salary Range
$94,100.00 - $165,600.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ .

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [email protected]  or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Want to Live Near Your Work and/or improve your commute? Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees. We also offer a forgivable home loan of up to $12,500 for closing costs and a down payment for homes in eligible neighborhoods.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement
Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.