Director, Motion Graphics & Design Intercollegiate Athletics

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups. Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs. These 30 programs include more than 850 student-athletes who participate in the various sports programs annually within the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Position Summary

The Director, Graphics & Design is a key member of the Athletics Department's re-imagined Strawberry Canyon Studios and leads the conceptualization and execution of high-impact visual assets that define the Cal identity across various sports and amplifies Cal's brand narrative consistent with the external strategy that overlays the unit. This position captures the energy of live sporting events, produces access-driven content, and develops personalized digital content to promote external revenue generation. The Director, Graphics & Design requires a fast-paced, solution-oriented mindset to achieve brand storytelling that resonates across all Cal Athletics digital platforms, traditional marketing, and in-venue videoboards. This role works independently and proactively to pitch high-level storytelling concepts with leadership and is responsible for bespoke graphic design execution on tight timelines. The position is innovative in its approach and leverages emerging technologies like AI to achieve speed and scale while also maintaining brand guidelines. The Director, Graphics & Design is responsible for recruiting, building, and supervising a consistent workforce of students and interns to scale digital content creation across the department. This position also requires the creation of a comprehensive digital content creation program for student staff, mentoring them in the execution of professional-level storytelling, ensuring a consistent brand story across Athletics.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 22, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Content Conceptualization & Strategic Pitching

• Working independently and proactively to pitch high-level storytelling concepts to Cal Athletics leadership.
• This includes developing content calendars that align with specific recruiting cycles, retention goals, and revenue-generation windows.

Multimedia Production & High-Impact Execution

• Leading the end-to-end execution of visual assets, including graphic design, photography, motion graphics, and identity design.
• This involves capturing the "energy" of live events and producing behind-the-scenes features that define the Cal brand identity for social and digital platforms.

Recruitment & Retention Content Specialized Delivery

• Developing AI-generated personalized digital content and templates specifically tailored to attract elite recruits, enhance the student-athlete experience, and drive external revenue.
• This ensures a consistent brand narrative that aids in both player acquisition, internal program loyalty, and fan affinity.

Revenue Generation

• Developing AI-generated personalized digital content and templates for speed and scale that are specifically tailored to attract elite brands and elevate the Cal Athletics brand.
• This ensures a consistent brand narrative that aids in both traditional and new revenue streams and building fan loyalty.

Technological Innovation & AI Integration

• Leveraging emerging technologies, such as Generative AI and advanced editing tools, to achieve speed and scale in content production.
• This responsibility focuses on maintaining University brand guidelines while modernizing the studio's workflow for faster digital turnaround.

Budgeting & Strategy

• Manage content creation budgets, track expenses, and evaluate the content effectiveness via feedback and data to improve future work.

Quality Control & Post-Campaign Analysis

• Govern the post design review process by analyzing feedback and performance; implement continuous improvements to maintain Power 4 conference excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of program activity and best practices.
• Problem-solving skills; multi-task, work with frequent interruptions, and effective listener.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in the English language.
• Proficiency in the use of computer applications relevant to job duties and/or the ability to learn.
• Technical expertise in capturing high-speed sports action and producing content specifically formatted for stadium videoboards and social platforms.
• Ability to interpret digital performance metrics (engagement, reach, conversion) to refine content strategy and prove ROI for revenue generation.
• The ability to pitch "big picture" concepts to executive leadership and translate them into a cohesive brand narrative.
• Skills in recruiting, training, and mentoring a large student/intern workforce while maintaining quality control.
• Experience managing production budgets and navigating tight, deadline-driven schedules common in collegiate athletics.
• Ability to work independently while remaining aligned with internal teams.
• A solution-oriented mindset capable of integrating emerging technologies into traditional brand guidelines without compromising quality.
• Mastery of the Adobe Creative Cloud and cinematic camera operation.
• Deep understanding of AI tools for automated workflows, asset scaling, and creative brainstorming and visualization.
• Strong skills in coaching and mentoring lower level staff.
• Time and project management skills to effectively establish priorities and meet competing deadlines both for themself and the team.
• Interpersonal communications and people management skills to interact effectively with a variety of clients, staff and vendors.
• Strong skills in collaboration to best meet goals and objectives of the client.
• A strong working knowledge of visual asset design, brand development, and the creative process.
• Knowledge of NCAA/Power 4 landscape, including recruiting cycles, NIL trends, and student-athlete retention drivers.
• Must maintain current knowledge of applicable rules and standards of the Pacific-12 Conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as other associations and agencies to which the Berkeley campus of the University of California adheres, and, at all times avoid any and all violations of these rules and standards and/or the ability to learn.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $105,000-$115,000.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between UAW (United Auto Workers) and the University of California Regents for CM

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.