Creative Services & Design Manager

The Creative Services and Design Manager leads the visual branding and design of creative content and materials, ensuring consistency with National PTA’s mission, strategic vision and brand. Provides creative direction and executes all design projects; responsible for the ideation and workflow of the creative process and works across teams and vendors to deliver projects on strategy, budget and deadline. Responsibilities include creating, designing, producing and delivering designed content; ensures all creative outputs are effective and high quality, supporting National PTA’s programs and initiatives.

Salary: $78,000 per year with consideration for additional experience & skills.

For best consideration, please apply by January 6, 2025.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Drive creative vision:

• Serve as primary client contact, ensuring vision and goals are achieved
• Develop/implement creative strategies aligned with mission, initiatives and operational goals
• Design branding, digital assets, and illustrations for projects

Provide creative direction and project management:

• Manages creative process from concept to final delivery, collaborating with departments and leadership
• Generates, designs and presents creative concepts, incorporating feedback into deliverables
• Advise on creative projects like advertising, production of branded collateral, electronic media/marketing, presentations, video production and event marketing.
• Create PowerPoint graphics and presentations
• Manages projects, bids, and/or contracts with external partners, vendors, and consultants, including budgets, and financial/project reporting

Oversee creative workflow and quality:

• Generates innovative and creative design concepts aligned to National PTA's brand, programs and initiatives
• Collaborates closely with marketing, communications, and other departments ensuring design assets are effective
• Manages relationships with design vendors ensuring quality and timely delivery
• Ensures all creative outputs are of the highest quality, reflecting National PTA’s standards and exceeding client expectations
• Effectively manages design projects, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery
• Maintains, organizes and safely stores all design/image files in shared drive
• Responsible for reviewing printer’s proofs and color keys, conducting press checks, and securing appropriate online approvals and web page proofs

Additional Duties

• Follows team project process and workflow and helps develop and execute communications plans
• Manages the regular review and update of National PTA’s visual identity standards
• Identifies, communicates, and aligns work to PTA DEI values and commitments to move the mission forward

Requirements

Project Management: Ability to manage a project from concept to completion on deadline, within budget and on strategy. Skilled in setting a production schedule and coordinating with project colleagues and vendors to ensure project is successful. Able to juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines

Teamwork & Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively and cohesively with staff, volunteers, sponsors and partner organizations; possess a flexible and solutions-oriented approach to projects. Experience and success working with executives and volunteer leaders and a proven record developing effective working relationships

Brand Leadership: Demonstrated experience and understanding of principles of brand integrity and ensuring all creative output aligns with National PTA's brand identity, mission and strategic vision

Creative Direction: Knowledge, skills and experience in managing the creative process, from ideation through execution of creative projects

Design Skills: Demonstrated skills in design creation and execution, including creating infographics, branding elements, illustrations, and assisting others with presentations and events

Industry Trends: Current knowledge of industry trends and best practices, incorporating new ideas and technologies into work

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree, in graphic design, visual communications, fine arts or equivalent visual management experience.

7-10 years of experience in a design leadership role, preferably in a non-profit or education organization.

Strong portfolio demonstrating diverse print and digital design skills

Experience using design principles and Adobe Creative Suite

Resource Management: Demonstrated experience in effectively managing budgets, resources, and vendors

Quality Control: Demonstrated experience ensuring creative outputs are of the highest quality

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in a professional office environment in Alexandria, Virginia, currently hybrid at least two days per week in-office.

The position may require occasional evening and weekend work

Incumbent uses standard office equipment including computers, phones, etc.

This is a largely sedentary role and may require the ability to lift files, packages, and related materials weighing up to 20 lbs.