The Art Director is a creative leadership role within Rowan University's Division of Marketing & Communication. Reporting to the Senior Director, Brand & Marketing Strategy, the Art Director is responsible for developing and overseeing visual design strategy, managing creative execution across all channels, and ensuring the highest quality in brand expression.
This position supervises a team of designers and creative contributors, guiding the creation of print, digital, experiential, environmental, and multimedia assets. The Art Director brings strategic and conceptual thinking to marketing campaigns, advises on university-wide branding applications, and serves as the primary steward of Rowan's visual identity standards. In addition to creative leadership, this role includes team management responsibilities such as performance reviews, mentorship, and workload alignment.
Creative Direction & Visual Strategy
Lead the development of visually compelling creative concepts for university-wide marketing campaigns and initiatives.
Provide conceptual direction and hands-on guidance across a wide range of media formats including digital, print, environmental, video, outdoor, and experiential.
Ensure all creative outputs adhere to Rowan's brand identity, accessibility standards, and design best practices.
Stay informed on emerging design trends, technologies, and tools to keep Rowan's creative output fresh, innovative, and competitive.
Team Leadership & Supervision
Supervise graphic designers and creative specialists, providing direction, coaching, and performance evaluations.
Approve timesheets, assign project responsibilities, and foster a culture of creativity and collaboration.
Coordinate freelance designers, photographers, and illustrators, and maintain a vetted network of external creative partners as needed.
Production & Project Oversight
Manage creative project timelines, budgets, and resources from concept to completion within a project management tool like Wrike.
Oversee internal and vendor-based production processes, ensuring high quality across digital and print deliverables.
Inspect final proofs and provide approvals for creative assets.
Client & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Consult with internal stakeholders to understand project goals and translate them into compelling visual strategies.
Serve as a creative advisor to faculty, administrators, and marketing partners across the university.
Support strategic planning sessions and participate in campaign development as a visual subject-matter expert.
Partner with marketing strategists and data analysts to ensure creative decisions are informed by audience insights and campaign performance.
Tasks as assigned by manager.
Brand Stewardship & Identity Governance
Develop and maintain Rowan's graphic standards and visual identity system.
Review designs produced across the university for consistency and brand alignment.
Advise departments on appropriate logo use, typography, colors, and branding integrations.
Photography, Vendor, and Asset Management
Collaborate with the Director of Digital Media & Production and other internal partners on photo shoots and visual content creation, including on-location and studio settings as needed.
Evaluate and select vendors for creative production, ensuring adherence to budget and timelines.
Maintain organized archives of design files, photography, and brand assets for future use.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communication, or related field; master's preferred.
Minimum 15 years of professional experience in graphic design or art direction, preferably in higher education or a creative agency.
Advanced expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and other design, typography, and layout tools.
Strong understanding of print production, digital design, photography direction, and visual storytelling.
Experience supervising creative professionals and managing multiple concurrent projects.
Strong conceptual thinking and ability to translate abstract ideas into compelling visual formats.
Knowledge of accessibility standards and digital content best practices.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
Ability to interpret client needs, guide creative development, and maintain a consistent brand voice.
Familiarity with project management platforms such as Wrike or similar workflow management tools preferred.
Salary & Benefits:
In compliance with The State of New Jersey's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is Managerial ($110,000.00 - $120,000.00), with placement within the range determined by candidate's qualifications, professional experience, internal equity, and other factors.
For internal applicants, salary is determined per the Pay Adjustment formula (NJAC 4A:3-4.9 & 4.10)
For eligible employees, benefits include: comprehensive NJ State health, dental and retirement benefits, extensive accrued time off/paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement for employee, spouse, and dependents to attend Rowan University, Glassboro. (Tuition reimbursement will apply to undergraduate degrees only for spouse and dependents).
For more detailed information, please visit: https://sites.rowan.edu/hr/benefits/
Notes:
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US, and the university will not sponsor an applicant for a work visa for this position.
Only completed online applications submitted on or before the posted deadline will be considered.
Rowan University is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available persons in every job. Rowan University prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful and prohibited by Rowan University. It is also our policy to comply with all applicable state and federal laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
