Creative Director, Enterprise Brand

Creative Director, Enterprise Brand

Brand Strategy

Full Time

71017BR

Job Summary

The Creative Director, Enterprise Brand, is a creative visionary, a strategic thinker and an inspiring and engaging team leader. They are the primary creative lead, working with stakeholders and strategic partners, to define and drive the creative interpretation of UCSF’s brand platform and system, its creative expression and application. The Director leverages their deep background in brand design systems, brand story and digital, print and experience design to lead brand identity initiatives; create effective, holistic solutions for scale across the enterprise; and develop concepts and creative expressions that bring UCSF’s brand promise to life. They lead through influence and have an exceptional affinity for creative collaboration and diplomacy in a highly-matrixed environment.

The position reports to the Executive Director, Enterprise Brand and Brand Strategy Group Lead; oversees and guides UCSF’s visual storytelling team of at least 4 creative FTEs; and directs and manages a network of freelance design resources. The Director brings an energetic, can-do attitude and a high level of initiative and drive to inspire others through original and aspirational brand executions. As the chief creative advisor for senior leaders and partners, they deliver solutions that build cohesiveness for the brand family while celebrating individual expression. They are a dynamic, resourceful, driven creative collaborator – balancing hands-on work with directing and managing others. Calm under pressure, they are an adaptive, flexible team player and have a high degree of comfort working through ambiguity in a deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Working with key partners, lead creative strategy for UCSF’s enterprise brand platform framework, identity and brand expression
• Leverage technical and practical expertise in design, branding and modern communications to ensure brand elements enhance one another and solve complex branding challenges
• Create, update and promote UCSF brand identity protocols and guidelines to ensure consistent practices across the enterprise
• Translate marketing and communications objectives into creative strategies
• Use design skills and a storyteller mindset to create compelling cross-channel brand expressions, from concept to completion
• Assess when to leverage internal resources and when to engage external creative partners to optimize deliverables and maximize available budget
• Counsel and guide strategic partners to achieve best in class brand expressions that meet business needs
• Guide and oversee visual storytelling efforts that translate complex content into simple, compelling visual stories
• Develop talent and motivate team, providing direction and feedback to achieve highest results
• Build and manage a robust network of freelance creative resources
• Stay abreast of creative, brand and industry best practices
• Develop an annual creative budget

The Creative Director recommends changes to policies and practices, both at the department and at the enterprise level. They identify risks and respond accordingly, provide priority setting and workflow analysis. This role analyzes and resolves problems, interprets policies (e.g., fiscal management, HR, contracts and grants, resource management in defined areas) and demonstrates solid subject matter knowledge. They exercise judgment within defined procedures and policies to determine appropriate action.

As a member of the Office of Communications’ (OOC) broader leadership team—the Communications Leadership Council—the Director is a generous and collaborative leader who can create alignment in a decentralized, matrixed environment, and can influence outcomes by means of vision, credibility, and domain expertise independently of positional authority. They must be a person of integrity whose beliefs and actions align with, and advance, UCSF’s mission, PRIDE values, and stated policy goals, including its strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Department Description

As UCSF’s enterprise communications team, the Office of Communications provides comprehensive and coordinated leadership in planning, creating and implementing integrated strategies across all media to foster increased awareness and support of UCSF’s mission, vision, accomplishments and strategic priorities among its diverse internal and external constituencies. It serves as the official voice of UCSF to regional, state, national and international news media. In the midst of significant expansion, the OOC is adding new capabilities and staff in order to better serve the growing needs of UCSF’s mission and strategic initiatives.

UCSF’s Brand Strategy unit defines, drives and promotes UCSF’s brand platform, brand family and story to be meaningful, differentiated and salient. It creates and shapes content to deliver experiences consistent with UCSF’s brand promise. It cultivates new audiences, fostering and deepening engagement to promote preference. And it leads enterprise alignment and orchestration, governance and best practices at the enterprise brand level.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, art direction, marketing, communications, advertising; or related area and 6 years of directly related experience, to include 5 years of management/supervisory, lead experience; and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 5 years experience in brand platform development and strategy, brand application and extension, campaign management and directing all aspects of the creative process
• 5 years experience in functional area leadership, including strong knowledge of people management, coaching techniques, and the ability to select, train, evaluate, lead, direct, guide and motivate staff to produce high quality work with skill and confidence
• Portfolio that demonstrates deep knowledge of brand systems, and ability to initiate compelling and original creative that connects with audience targets
• Broad knowledge of and ability to implement industry best practices, including brand strategy, content marketing, audience cultivation and engagement, creative campaign development
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal communication, active listening and political acumen skills; polished presentation skills; and advanced skills to represent the team and department with other institutional and/or external constituencies
• Excellent analytical and problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills. Ability to negotiate, with diplomacy, in difficult situations with both internal and external groups. Provide advice and counsel, using persuasive skills, to help align people around a common vision.
• Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment, effectively prioritizing and managing multiple projects at once, while setting and meeting deadlines. Flexibility and creativity under pressure a must.
• Possess clean design style and a very high aesthetic level – aligned with the vision of UCSF brand.
• Software expertise in design and creative applications – Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Sketch, Figma; and in PowerPoint, Word, Excel, project management tools; animation, motion graphics, illustration, Drupal content management systems and HTML expertise a plus.
• Strong knowledge of the campus / health system, including its mission, vision, achievements, infrastructure, products and services.
• Strong knowledge of current and emerging industry requirements and best practices in areas of marketing.
• Strong skills in strategic planning to effectively organize resources, establish priorities, and achieve desired results.
• Strong skill in managing staff including selection, training, evaluating and mentoring staff at all organizational levels; skill in taking corrective action with staff as required.
• Strong interpersonal communication and political acumen to effectively work with internal customers and external constituencies.
• Strong market research, analytical, and problem recognition / avoidance / resolution skills.
• Strong skills to produce results and achieve predetermined goals within budget and time constraints.
• Strong knowledge of applicable University policies and state and federal laws regarding copyright and other licensing issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in design, marketing, health administration or related field
• 8 years as a Creative lead or Art Director, and at least 3 years of creative vendor management experience.
• Brand management within decentralized, stakeholder-driven environments a plus.
• Familiarity with and interest in health care/sciences, and the role of a public research university.

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $101,300.00 - $192,300.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Night shift
• On call
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• San Francisco, CA: Reliably commute or willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Creative Lead or Art Director: 5 years (Preferred)
• Managment/ Supervisor: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location