Art Director

XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. We work in communities throughout the country, with individual schools and entire school systems, to help them dream big about what high school could be, turn their innovative ideas into action, and create more rigorous and equitable schools. We share what’s working with other schools and districts, so they can tailor new models to the needs of their own students and communities. We know that seeing is believing, so we meet people where they are to share the importance and possibility of change through listening, learning, and storytelling. And our open-source tools, based on research and design thinking, empower people to take up the challenge of transforming their high schools with a unifying goal: unlocking the American promise of a high-quality education for everyone.

XQ is seeking an experienced Art Director to join our dynamic team of cross-disciplinary designers, illustrators, writers, and producers. As the Art Director, your role will involve crafting creative content for digital, video, and print formats across various marketing campaigns and products.

Reporting directly to the Head of Creative, you will play a pivotal role in shaping concepts and bringing campaigns to life. Your work will be instrumental in driving audience acquisition and retention across multiple channels, all while shedding light on the transformative potential of reimagining the high school experience.

(Applications without a portfolio URL will not be considered.)

• Collaborate closely with the Creative Director and relevant stakeholders to translate concepts into top-tier visual designs across various mediums, including print, digital, and video.
• Work across marketing, product development, and other departments to define strategies, brainstorm ideas, and oversee the execution of projects.
• Ensure the XQ brand and its values shine through in everything we produce.
• Take the lead in the artistic direction and design of projects from inception to completion.
• Apply a wide range of creative styles and techniques to bring projects to fruition.
• Be actively involved in hands-on design work as well as guiding freelance talent and external agencies.
• Develop mood boards and storyboards to influence the design direction of new initiatives.
• Source and curate photography and illustration resources as necessary.
• Shape the scope of assigned work and manage expectations effectively.
• Ensure a consistent visual identity and style across all tactics executed by the team.
• Maintain compliance with XQ's file and archive standards.
• Take responsibility for delivering projects on time.

• A robust portfolio demonstrating mastery in your craft.
• 5 years of design and art direction experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a management role.
• Proficiency in designing for web, video, and print. Publishing experience is a plus.
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. After Effects is a plus.
• Experience in art directing photography and video.
• Ability to lead medium to large-scale projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Proven collaboration experience with marketing teams.
• Exceptional organizational and decision-making skills.
• The capability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Innate curiosity about the world, staying attuned to popular culture, trends, brands, and technologies, and understanding their impact on both business and culture.
• A drive to identify and resolve inefficiencies, along with a passion for building cohesive processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be based in Oakland or the greater Bay Area, as this position reports to our Oakland office.

The salary range for this role is $120k - $150k. XQ offers excellent organizational benefits.

Discover XQ's exceptional benefits package, designed with you in mind:

• Immediate eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one.
• Generous 401k matching and vesting to secure your financial future.
• Enjoy the flexibility of paid time off (PTO) and a convenient lunch stipend.
• Elevate your work experience with Apple products.
• Embrace the joys of parenthood with paid parental leave.

Join us and experience the difference with XQ's competitive benefits package. Your well-being is our priority.

Please apply online. In your cover letter, please address why your skills, interests, and experience align with the requirements for this role. If you are selected to interview, we will request a portfolio of your work, demonstrating work artifacts across the entire design and product development lifecycle and across multiple professional products.

(Applications without a portfolio URL will not be considered.)

Ours is a world defined by uncertainty, a society in flux, a state of unprecedented upheavals. While we don’t anticipate any quick fixes, we can anchor ourselves to what we see emerging. That’s why we have established a set of collective XQ Mindsets to ground us.

• 100% accountability: This doesn't mean you have 100% ownership. It doesn't mean you are responsible for every last thing that needs to be done. It means choosing to take responsibility for our collective success and impact.
• Maker mindset: We build stuff. We won’t always get it right the first time—in fact, we rarely will. But by quickly making and testing our work, we can learn what works and what doesn’t.
• We are the ones we’ve been waiting for: Critique is not enough. It is on us to create the solutions—no matter where we sit in the organization. We are a well-resourced organization filled with brilliant people. No one else is coming to our rescue.
• Opportunity knocks: We are ready, willing, and able to take on anything that is thrown our way. Pivots are a natural part of our approach, so let’s embrace them so that we can experience them joyfully.
• Stand on the shoulders of giants: We honor those who came before us, who aren’t seated at our tables, and build on others’ and our own earlier work with respect and reverence.

XQ is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace. At XQ, promoting, celebrating, and supporting diversity is a core value. Individuals are considered without regard to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression, religion, color, veteran status, disability, marital status, or ancestry.