Saint Mary’s College of California Hiring for Senior Visual Communications Designer at California, United States Full Time

Senior Visual Communications Designer
Salary:
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2015-1603742
Location: CA 94556, CA
Department: College Communications
Closing: 1/29/2023 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

1. A resume
2. The name and contact information for three (3) professional
   references.
3. 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.
4. 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://www.schooljobs.com/careers/stmarys

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