Creative Director

Functional Title: Creative Director Classification: Full-time, Salaried Exempt Department: Marketing Reports To: AVP, Marketing & Communications Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is a highly talented creative leader who combines exceptional design instincts with strategic thinking and a heart for service. You understand that great creative work is more than making something look good. It communicates who an organization is, shapes how people experience a brand, and helps tell stories in ways that move people to action. You have a strong eye for design, typography, photography, visual storytelling, and brand consistency. You are comfortable setting the creative direction for a major campaign, reviewing a designer’s work, collaborating with photographers and videographers, and helping campus partners translate an idea into compelling visual communication. You are both a creator and a leader. You can move comfortably between high-level creative direction and hands-on design when needed. You give thoughtful feedback, develop creative talent, and raise the quality of the work around you without losing sight of deadlines, strategy, or the people involved. Most importantly, you believe creative work can serve a greater purpose. You are committed to Christian higher education and see your work as an opportunity to help communicate the mission and impact of Lubbock Christian University. Major Duties: As Creative Director, a typical week might include: Lead the creative direction for LCU’s visual brand across enrollment, retention, advancement, institutional communications, campus initiatives, and university-wide marketing campaigns. Oversee the design and visual execution of all major marketing materials across digital, print, social media, web, email, advertising, presentations, and other university channels. Establish and maintain a consistent creative standard that ensures LCU’s visual identity is recognizable, compelling, and aligned with the university’s brand positioning. Serve as the primary steward of LCU’s visual brand standards, providing guidance to campus departments and ensuring appropriate use of logos, typography, colors, photography, graphic elements, and other brand assets. Partner closely with the AVP of Marketing & Communications to translate institutional, enrollment, retention, and advancement strategies into strong creative concepts and campaigns. Provide creative direction for enrollment and retention campaigns, donor and advancement communications, university events, institutional storytelling, and other high-profile initiatives. Lead concept development for major campaigns from initial idea through final execution, helping ensure creative work is strategically grounded and designed for the intended audience. Direct and review the work of designers, videographers/photographers, and other creative contributors, providing clear feedback and helping elevate the quality and consistency of the team’s work. Collaborate with photographers, videographers, social media professionals, writers, web staff, external agencies, student workers, freelancers, and vendors to create cohesive visual experiences across channels. Provide art direction for photography and video projects, helping establish visual style, shot direction, composition, locations, wardrobe, and other creative considerations when appropriate. Design or assist with high-priority projects when hands-on creative support is needed. Manage multiple creative projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, consistency, and timely delivery. Help develop templates, systems, and creative resources that allow campus partners to communicate effectively while protecting the integrity of the LCU brand. Stay current on design trends, creative technology, higher education marketing, and emerging tools that can improve the quality and efficiency of the university’s creative work. Job Requirements: This role might be right for you if you have: A genuine and active commitment to the Christian faith and a demonstrated ability to integrate that faith into your professional work and leadership style. An exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong visual design, creative concepting, art direction, and brand development across multiple channels. Proven experience providing creative direction for integrated campaigns and major organizational initiatives. A sophisticated understanding of typography, layout, color, hierarchy, photography, visual storytelling, and contemporary design principles. Strong knowledge of brand identity systems and experience maintaining and enforcing visual brand standards. The ability to connect creative decisions to marketing strategy, audience needs, and organizational goals rather than approaching design solely as aesthetics. Experience providing constructive creative feedback and helping designers or other creative professionals improve their work. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with people who may not have a design or marketing background. The ability to present creative concepts clearly and explain the strategic reasoning behind creative decisions. Excellent attention to detail without losing sight of the larger strategic objective. Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-moving environment. A collaborative, service-oriented approach that balances creative excellence with the needs of university partners. Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Familiarity with digital design requirements across web, social media, email, digital advertising, and other emerging platforms. Working knowledge of print production and vendor management. Experience directing photography and video creative preferred. Experience working with external agencies, freelancers, photographers, videographers, or production partners preferred. Experience in higher education, nonprofit, agency, or mission-driven marketing preferred. Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Advertising, Marketing, Communications, or a related field required. Minimum of five years of progressive professional creative/design experience preferred. Experience leading creative projects involving multiple disciplines and stakeholders required. Supervisory or formal team leadership experience required. Must provide a professional portfolio demonstrating relevant creative work. Must uphold and actively support the mission and core values of Lubbock Christian University. Physical Requirements: While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee will be required to do the following: Be ambulatory around campus and in buildings. Required to regularly sit and stand. Frequently use wrists, hands, and/or fingers to make small repetitive movements such as typing, distributing mail, and picking up small objects. Ability to talk frequently to convey detailed and/or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly. Be able to hear average or normal conversations and receive verbal information. Occasionally lift packages and/or move heavy objects, 25+ lbs. Salary and Benefits: What We Will Offer You: Meaningful work in a mission-driven environment where your contributions make a difference. Competitive salary and tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents. Medical, dental, and vision insurance. 403(b) retirement plan with a matching option. Paid time off and university holidays. Access to university facilities and employee resources. A collaborative, supportive, and team-oriented work environment. NOTE: All LCU employees are required to complete Title IX & Information Security (FERPA) training and Data Security Training at the time of new hire and on an annual basis thereafter. Some positions/departments may require additional training for security or data needs. Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and/or other management as required. LCU reserves the right to revise or change job duties, required skills or qualifications as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr