Posting Details
Position Information
Job Title Visual Communications Manager Summary
The Visual Communications Manager in Integrated Marketing and Communications supports John Carroll University through visual design, strategic communications, and creative execution of key projects targeting the university's internal and external audiences, focusing primarily on undergraduate enrollment marketing and institutional brand visibility.
The role is responsible for creative discovery, design, writing, editing, and regularly guiding the digital and print design process within university style guides and brand standards.
This position sits with the IMC team, and works closely with Enrollment and the greater campus community to ensure that the content produced is in line with Marketing and Enrollment's national strategic goals.
Duties and Responsibilities
Collaborate with the Graphic Designer and Junior Graphic Designer and serve as a direct report to the Director of Public Relations to deliver the vision and execution for John Carroll University's branding, visual identity, and institutional storytelling initiatives.
Execute creative services projects across a wide range of communication vehicles for IMC, including all Enrollment deliverables, such as digital ads, illustrations, video ad design, slide decks, viewbooks, brochures, traditional ads, and billboards.
Contribute to the writing, editing, and visual storytelling of marketing and communications materials across print, digital, web, email, and social platforms.
Support public relations and media outreach efforts through the development of media- ready visual and written materials and assistance with on-campus media visits.
Design and produce digital assets for jcu.edu, including page graphics, hero images, icons, and visual content optimized for web. Collaborate with the Director of Web Services on site design and digital campaign visuals.
Design digital and physical assets for campus initiatives, including event signage, wayfinding materials, and branded environmental graphics as needed.
Leverage AI and dig into Gemini capabilities to help create systems to scale work
Design marketing materials for all academic marketing projects across the Boler College of Business, College of Health, and College of Arts and Sciences.
Support the president's office and senior leaders with design and PowerPoint presentations as needed.
Partner with enrollment and other departments across campus to align creative with strategic goals.
Maintain brand and visual consistency across projects, and balance competing deadlines to ensure projects are delivered on time.
Present design concepts and rationale to stakeholders and leadership.
Attend and support campus events and seasonal enrollment events.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in graphic design, marketing, communications, or a related field.
4+ years of professional experience and a track record of achieving project goals and meeting the expectations of internal clients.
Outstanding communication and team-building skills, mastery understanding of the creative and editorial process, and the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop). Experience designing for digital channels, including web, email, and social.
High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information, along with an appreciation for the Jesuit Catholic tradition and the mission of John Carroll University, are critical.
Interest in understanding and supporting John Carroll's mission to inspire individuals to excel in learning, leadership, and service in the region and in the world.
Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends when assigned.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior experience in a higher education environment.
Early examples of leveraging AI tools for professional work
Experience with internal and external communications planning and execution.
Portfolio demonstrating digital-first design across web, social, and email. Experience with Figma or prototyping tools. Motion graphics or light video editing a plus.
Normal Work Location, Hours and Conditions
This position is in-person at our campus in University Heights, Ohio. This is a full-time role that works 37.5 hours per week. This position may require work to be performed outside of normal business hours.
Physical Requirements
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other office locations and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Hours Full Time FLSA Exempt (Salary) Compensation & Benefits
Starting salary for this role will be $45,000 - $55,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This position offers a generous Total Rewards package that includes health and dental insurance options, paid vacation, personal, sick, and mission time, holidays, 403 (b) retirement plan, life insurance, and tuition remission benefits for you, your spouse, and children.
About John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit Catholic university, founded in 1886, dedicated to developing people with the knowledge and character to lead and to serve. The University is located in University Heights, Ohio, an attractive residential suburb 10 miles east of downtown Cleveland. Academically, the University consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and the Boler College of Business, which include graduate programs. The University offers more than 70 Academic Programs in the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and business at the undergraduate level, and in select areas at the master's level.
The University enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. John Carroll University is one of 27 Jesuit universities in the United States and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report magazine's top 10 rankings of Midwest regional universities for more than 30 consecutive years.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number AS973P Open Date Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions Summary EEO Statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and value all individuals and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
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