The Creative Marketing Specialist develops engaging visual and digital content that supports the universitys marketing, communication, enrollment, advancement, and campus engagement efforts. This position blends graphic design, photography, videography, social media content creation, branding, and creative storytelling to strengthen the universitys brand and connect with prospective students, current students, employees, alumni, and donors.
Working collaboratively across campus, this individual transforms ideas into compelling campaigns while ensuring all creative materials reflect the universitys mission and brand standards.
Essential Responsibilities
Design & Creative Production
- Design visual assets for both digital and print platforms, including social graphics, flyers, event signage, advertisements, email campaigns, and web elements.
- Collaborate with the Marketing and Communication team and campus partners to translate ideas and strategies into compelling visual communications.
- Manage and maintain design files, templates, and asset libraries for team use and continuity.
- Support the production of collateral for campus-wide initiatives, recruitment campaigns, and institutional events.
- Work with external vendors to prepare and deliver print-ready or production-ready files for fabrication or distribution.
Social Media Engagement
- Develop and execute content strategies for institutional social media accounts that reflect the brand voice and highlight the university's people, programs, and achievements.
- Create, schedule, and post engaging photo, video, and written content across social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.)
- Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify stories and opportunities for timely and authentic digital engagement.
- Monitor social media activity, respond to community interactions, and track engagement analytics to inform content improvements in Sprout Social.
- Capture and edit photos and short-form videos for use in real-time storytelling.
- Stay informed about trends, tools, and best practices in social and digital media to ensure the university maintains a relevant and innovative online presence.
Vendor Relationship Management
- Coordinate with external vendors and service providers following the completion of design commissions or production projects to process vendor invoices related to creative and marketing production work, ensuring accuracy and compliance with university financial procedures.
- Distribute invoices to the appropriate campus partners for payment or process payment through the marketing department as needed.
Thought Leadership and Collaboration
- Partner with team members across marketing and communication to ensure communications are consistent, coordinated, and audience-focused.
- Contribute creative ideas to enhance communication strategies, strengthen the university's reputation, and improve audience engagement.
- Stay informed about emerging trends in communications, marketing, recruitment, and hospitality, to bring fresh ideas forward.
- Balance multiple projects while maintaining attention to quality, deadlines, and strategic goals.
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Communication, Digital Media, or related field.
- 1-3 years of creative marketing experience.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating design and multimedia work.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects preferred).
- Experience with social media scheduling and analytics platforms.
- Excellent written and visual storytelling skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects independently.
- Understanding of print production processes and vendor collaboration is a plus.
Success Indicators
- Delivery of high-quality design work that aligns with the institutional brand standards.
- Consistent, engaging, and growing presence across institutional social media channels.
- Smooth and timely coordination of creative vendor payments and production processes.
- Positive collaboration with campus partners and external vendors.
- Demonstrated creativity, professionalism, and reliability.