Graphic Design Program Manager at University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN, United States

Job description

• The Graphic Design Program Manager is a key member of the University of Notre Dame College of Engineering’s Communications and Marketing team. Working closely with the Director of Communications and Marketing and collaborating with the Senior Writer, Digital Marketing and Communications Strategist, and Multimedia Specialist, this role develops and executes creative strategies that strengthen the College’s visual identity and advance its academic mission and strategic priorities.
• Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing, the Graphic Design Program Manager creates high-quality visual content and manages the College’s graphic design needs across digital and print platforms. The position plays an important role in building awareness, understanding, and engagement with the College among key audiences, including peer academics, prospective graduate students, prospective faculty, prospective undergraduates, engineering alumni, and other stakeholders.
• The ideal candidate is a creative and strategic designer who can translate complex academic initiatives and stories into compelling visual communications while managing multiple projects, deadlines, and evolving priorities.

Responsibilities

• Creative Development
• Design a wide range of primarily digital communications and marketing materials within established University of Notre Dame and College of Engineering brand standards.
• Develop visual content for College and department websites, student recruitment materials, digital advertising and display promotions, social media, presentations, signage, newsletters, invitations, letters, and event promotions.
• Create compelling visual assets that communicate the College’s academic programs, research, people, initiatives, accomplishments, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure all creative work is visually engaging, consistent, accessible, and aligned with established brand standards.
• Digital Content & Design Management
• Manage, update, and refresh visual content across the College’s six websites, including the College website and five department websites.
• Collect, resize, optimize, and prepare photography and other visual assets for web stories, e-newsletters, social media, and other digital communications.
• Partner with communications and marketing team members on art direction for photography and video projects.
• Design and format e-newsletters, presentations, invitations, letters, signage, and other communications materials.
• Identify opportunities to improve and modernize the College’s visual communications as its programs, priorities, and audiences evolve.
• Strategy & Planning
• Collaborate with the Director of Communications and Marketing and other members of the communications and marketing team to develop creative strategies and plans that support the College’s strategic priorities.
• Translate communications objectives and complex academic initiatives into effective visual concepts and creative solutions.
• Contribute to communications strategies supporting new academic programs, faculty and student initiatives, research achievements, major milestones, events, and other College priorities.
• Help ensure visual communications are coordinated across channels and consistently reinforce the College’s identity and messaging.
• Special Projects
• Develop creative concepts and design solutions for special projects assigned by the Dean or Director of Communications and Marketing.
• Lead the visual strategy and design execution for special initiatives, including web pages, presentations, signage, campaigns, and other high-priority projects.
• Balance creative quality with project timelines, stakeholder needs, and established brand guidelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in graphic design, visual communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Experience designing for digital platforms, including websites, email communications, social media, and other digital channels.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt effectively to shifting priorities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders across a complex organization.
• Experience with e-newsletter platforms such as Mailchimp or Emma.
• Experience with content management systems, preferably WordPress.
• Experience working within established institutional or corporate brand standards.
• Experience developing creative for higher education, academic, nonprofit, or similarly mission-driven organizations.
• Experience collaborating with photographers, videographers, writers, marketers, and other creative professionals.

Skills

Required

• Verbal and written communication
• Organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Project management
• Collaboration

Preferred

• E-newsletter platforms (Mailchimp, Emma)
• Content management systems (WordPress)
• Higher education or nonprofit creative