Creative Director

The ASU Outreach Hub is a nonprofit organization that supports the outreach and transactional needs of the ASU public enterprise through marketing and engagement solutions that advance the university and strengthen its brand. It specializes in paid media outreach, data-driven insights and outreach to alumni, donors and targeted corporations. 

The Creative Director is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing the development and execution of a cohesive, performance-driven creative vision for the ASU Outreach Hub, driving awareness, consideration and conversion of donor and alumni audiences. This position is responsible for the planning, development, execution and optimization of best-in-class creative strategy and creative development; thriving in a collaborative, fast-paced environment; leading a team of creative professionals (content, design, video/photography) and ensuring the impact of marketing materials in support of the outreach and transactional goals of ASU Enterprise Partners (ASUEP) and the Arizona State University (ASU) public enterprise.

What You’ll Do

• Defines the ASU Outreach Hub creative strategy for all types of marketing and outreach campaigns, shaping and maintaining clear creative direction for all campaigns and projects, working collaboratively with many internal and ASU stakeholders
• Leads and mentors the Creative team, managing, coaching, developing and aligning a multidisciplinary team of copywriters/content creators, designers, videographers/photographers, fostering a collaborative, inspiring and productive environment
• Oversees the entire creative process, from concept development to final execution, ensuring consistency and quality across all creative elements, all deliverables (email, web, social, print and more) and all marketing channels (paid, earned and owned) for a highly integrated approach to multichannel marketing
• Contributes to strategic planning, collaborating within Outreach Hub, with clients and with other teams to align creative strategies with business goals, ensuring that all creative work elevates the ASU brand and deepens audience engagement and KPIs
• Establishes goals for the creative team that integrate with overall department and business unit goals, elevating the work and effectively communicating to assess and improve the team’s output
• Develops and continuously interprets outreach strategies, brand platforms, strategic communication plans, and marketing research and applies them to creative execution
• Partners with the Sr. Director of Marketing Operations and Digital Transformation, Client Solutions, Alumni Engagement and more to ensure alignment and optimization of creative assets that support channel strategies
• Develops and manages vendor and agency relationships; oversees the development of clear and actionable scopes of work in partnership with external and internal stakeholders
• Develops and brings strong knowledge of the ASU brand, ensuring that all creative work aligns with and elevates brand guidelines and standards
• Proactively solves problems, provides clear and constructive feedback, identifies opportunities for refinement and innovation, and drives strategic recommendations for creative growth and a standard of excellence
• Partners with contracted creative resources, university departments, and the ASU Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management team to explore creative options and present creative plans
• Partners across the team to ensure the development of strong, actionable creative briefs that clearly articulate project objectives, target audience, key messages and insights, while also outlining deliverables, timeline and budget, fostering collaboration and inspiring the creative team to do their best work
• Applies best practices and deep knowledge of design, video, content and marketing to oversee the production of effective creative in a highly competitive space
• Integrates and applies research and insights, ensuring understanding and application of audience insights to drive optimization of creative
• Monitors feedback and performance of creative, driving a culture of innovation and excellence
• Establishes and manages process for awards submission, fostering a culture of collaboration, recognition and reputation building
  
  

What You'll Need

• Demonstrated ability as a highly creative, organized and enthusiastic individual who works successfully in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to develop creative outreach plans that meet performance objectives using internal and external/agency teams
• Ability to provide inspirational leadership and facilitate multidisciplinary workgroups to create a common creative vision to deliver long-term goals and immediate business objectives
• Experience overseeing all aspects of creative development, ensuring a consistent and inspiring presence across all channels
• Knowledge of multimedia design and content development; ability to draw upon creative briefs, brand strategies, market research, and industry best practices
• Ability to interpret outreach strategies, brand platforms, strategic communication plans, and marketing research to apply them to a creative strategy and execution
• Strong writing and visual design skills to oversee, evaluate, inspire and develop the work of creative team members
• Experience building and working within creative systems, creating a cohesive and consistent framework for all visual and content elements
• Skill in leading and influencing others in a constructive manner to build and sustain collaborative relationships to achieve business targets; ability to manage people, projects, and resources
• High attention to detail with strong skills in verbal and written communication
• Ability to work creatively, using a variety of resources with a track record of developing actionable recommendations
• Strong service orientation, a disciplined work ethic, and ability to instill a high standard of excellence in the overall marketing team
• Experience fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusive excellence in a team-based environment
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple projects at once
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Enterprise Partners, its subsidiaries and University business and confidential prospect information
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, project management software, and standardized file naming and storage conventions
  
  

Relevant Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Brand Management, Communications, Creative, Design or a related field is required
• Ten (10) years of experience in an in-house marketing team or agency environment, working with established brands and established brand standards, includes (3) three years in a supervisory capacity
  
  

Preferred Education And Experience

• Experience working as a creative director and/or strategist for multi-media campaigns within an agency or education sector using project management systems
• Experience working in-house for a large, established brand
• Experience working on creative solutions in support of fundraising campaigns at a mission-driven nonprofit or education-based organization
• Familiarity with using AI for ideation, content creation and efficiency
  
  

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule. We work from home two days a week!
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution
• 22 days of vacation time
• 11 holidays, including your birthday
• Parental leave
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at ASU Enterprise Partners, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest
• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement
  
  

About ASU Enterprise Partners

ASU Enterprise Partners is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide an ecosystem of services to create solutions and generate resources to extend Arizona State University’s reach and advance its charter. ASU Enterprise Partners supports ASU and several affiliates, including the ASU Foundation for a New American University, ASU Outreach Hub, ASURE, NEWSWELL, Skysong Innovations and University Realty.

ASU Enterprise Partners is home to several Centers of Excellence whose purpose is to provide professional services to its affiliates. The Centers of Excellence include Finance, General Counsel, Investments, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Human Resources, Facilities and Operations, Data Analytics and Insights Planning, Budgeting and Strategy, and Technology and Solutions. 

At ASU Enterprise Partners

We serve

ASU and one another with integrity, trust and compassion

We engage

step up, own it, collaborate

We innovate.

continuously, fearlessly, make decisions and take risks

We care

that everyone feels respected and valued for who they are

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer