Senior Designer

We are seeking a curious visual storyteller who is motivated by the chance to shape how a brand resonates and creates meaning through thoughtful, compelling design.

The Senior Designer reports to the Vice President, Brand & Content and will be responsible for shaping and elevating the institution's visual identity across all touchpoints. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on design execution and creative leadership. While visual design will be the core expertise, this individual will play a key role in content and creative strategy.

They will direct freelance designers, collaborate with external agencies, and lead internal design strategy to ensure the institution's creative is compelling, cohesive, and forward-thinking. They should not only be a strong visual storyteller but also a brand advocate who understands how design influences perception, engagement, and experience in higher education.

Salary Range: $120,000 - 125,000 annualized, Full-Time, Exempt.

Benefits Plans Include: Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Voluntary Benefit Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, or Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Plan, Transportation Spending Account, Employee Tuition Waiver.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required

• Education: Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience: 5+ years of professional design experience.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, brand development, and multi-channel execution.
• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and familiarity with Canva or similar tools.
• Experience providing design leadership, i.e. to freelancers or agencies.
• Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.

Preferred

• Knowledge of web design principles and CMS platforms.
• Research and experimentation with usage of AI tools in the creative process.
• Motion graphics and/or video editing experience.

Duties & Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Creative Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and evolve the institution's visual design strategy in alignment with brand and marketing objectives
• Inspire the team, as well as internal/external partners, to better understand and appreciate the value of strong design
• Translate institutional priorities into thoughtful, high-impact creative solutions
• Ensure consistency and excellence across all visual communications; and that design enhances brand perception and audience experience from prospective students to alumni and faculty and staff
• Champion and protect the institutional brand across channels and departments; Refine guidelines, templates, and systems
• Contribute to long-term brand development and campaign planning
• Proactively identify creative opportunities for growth and alignment

Design Execution

• Conceptualize and produce creative across multiple mediums, including:

o Print (i.e. brochures, flyers, signage)

o Digital (i.e. website, email, social media, digital ads)

o Experiential and event branding (i.e. booths, presentation materials, branded swag)

o Presentation design

o Video/motion graphics

• Apply design thinking beyond traditional graphic design to storytelling, UX, and integrated campaigns.

Collaboration

• Direct and provide feedback to freelance designers and contractors
• Manage creative collaboration with external agencies and production vendors
• Review and approve work to ensure alignment with brand and strategic goals
• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, admissions, and academic departments

Innovation

• Stay current with emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices
• Explore AI and emerging creative tools to responsibly enhance efficiency, ideation, and production workflows
• Identify new resources and platforms that strengthen creative output
• Conduct design research
• Foster a culture of experimentation and creative curiosity within the team

Skills:

• Proven success developing brand visual identity and creative across digital and print mediums
• Highly proficient with design tools i.e. Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva
• Highly effective communication, presentation, and advocacy skills
• Experience managing cross-functional communication and meeting project timelines
• Experience with design research
• Familiar with project management tools (i.e. Monday.com) and organization systems (i.e. Sharepoint, Dropbox)
• Highly motivated, focused, and results oriented
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities to work with people with diverse sexual orientations, racial, ethnic, cultural, academic, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as those with disabilities

Supervisory Responsibility:

Direct Reports: None.

Indirect Reports: Freelance creatives and agencies.

Contact Responsibility:

Internal: This person will work closely with stakeholders across Marketing, Enrollment, Partnership Development, Campus Directors, and more.

External: Directly manages design freelancers/contractors, interacts with vendors, marketing agencies, and partners.

Primary Work Location, Hours & Travel Requirements:

Office Location: Remote.

Work Hours: Standard office hours, with occasional need to work evenings/weekends.

Travel: Occasional; expect to travel several times a year to oversee priority projects and attend in-person team meetings.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to execute those physical activities required to perform the essential functions including, but not limited to, regular sitting and being mobile; continual communicating both in person and on the telephone; regular keyboarding; regular reading of both print and digital material; and all other activities required to perform essential functions.